Even in very serious cases, eyewitness testimony doesn’t have to be as strong as you may assume to gain a conviction for the prosecution. Thin evidence and questionable statements from people who claim to have seen something take place often can help sway a jury. One...
Violent Crimes
Violent Crimes
What offenses could be capital crimes in Pennsylvania?
When people quantify or rank criminal charges, misdemeanors are clearly the least significant, while felonies are often more serious both in terms of social stigma and the potential penalties involved. However, there is actually a third tier of criminal charges that...
Eyewitnesses are often wrong, but why?
You may have heard that eyewitnesses are often wrong in criminal cases. They tend to get a lot of support from the court and the jury tends to believe them, but that doesn’t mean they’re always right. When DNA evidence overturns cases, it is found that inaccurate...
Getting caught with a gun after a domestic abuse conviction
The second amendment protects the rights of Americans to own and possess firearms, as well as the right to form a militia outside of the official armed forces sanctioned by the government. Generally speaking, lawmakers at the state and federal levels are reluctant to...
Arson investigation in Weatherly leads to other charges
Police investigations of major crimes often lead to the discovery of other crimes involving the same suspects. The two-year investigation of a suspected arson in Weatherly, has led local police to other crimes as well, including crimes related to drugs and explosives....
Everything families should know about domestic violence charges
Domestic violence is a term we are all familiar with but it can be useful to have a discussion of what the term refers in the legal sense and what the consequences are for domestic violence charges. Domestic violence can impact any family including families and...
The importance of innocent until proven guilty
Most of us have heard the phrase "innocent until proven guilty," as it plays an important role in the criminal justice system and has significant meaning for any individual who has been accused of a crime. The presumption of innocence is a paramount feature of the...
What are manslaughter charges?
Even if you have heard of the crime of manslaughter, you might have a number of questions as to what the term manslaughter refers to and what manslaughter charges include. There are two types of manslaughter charges including voluntary manslaughter and involuntary...
Criminal defense resources for domestic violence
Domestic violence charges are serious charges. In Pennsylvania, domestic violence charges are based on the circumstances and the standard charges include assault, aggravated assault or battery. It is up to the prosecution in Pennsylvania to determine if domestic...
Legal defenses to involuntary manslaughter
Previous blog posts explained the crimes of voluntary and involuntary manslaughter and discussed the legal defenses to voluntary manslaughter in Pennsylvania -- innocence, self-defense, insanity, accidental killing and involuntary intoxication. There are also several...