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State College Keg Toss Incident – What Criminal Charges Could Be Filed?

By Jason Dunkle on G+ According to an online newspaper article, someone threw a keg from the balcony of a downtown State College 7th floor apartment. Luckily no people were injured, but at least one vehicle was severely damaged. The keg was tossed around  12:55 a.m. on a Saturday morning, and, although most people are in… view more

Is “Flipping the Bird” Legal in Pennsylvania?

By Jason Dunkle on G+ While many people “flip off” or give others the bird in public, I often wondered if it was actually legal. Oddly, while I have been a criminal defense lawyer since 2004, I didn’t actually know the answer to that question until recently. Just because many people do it doesn’t mean… view more

IUP Students Copy Penn State – Create IUPatty’s Day

By Jason Dunkle on G+ I was very surprised to discover that students at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) have tried to start their own student sponsored all-day drinking event call IUPatty’s Day, most likely modeled after the infamous, and  much hated, State Patty’s Day at Penn State. While IUPatty’s Day had an event… view more

Life Sentence Imposed for Possessor of Kiddie Porn

By Jason Dunkle on G+ A federal appeals court in Philadelphia recently upheld a life sentence imposed on a Delaware man after he was convicted of possession of child pornography, attempting to produce child pornography, and attempting to coerce and entice a child to commit a violation of the law. In eight years of being… view more

Mechanic Failed to Fix Brakes – Convicted of Reckless Endangering and Manslaughter After Accident

By Jason Dunkle on G+ A recent Pennsylvania Superior Court decision considered whether sufficient evidence was presented to support a mechanic’s convictions of Recklessly Endangering Another Person and Involuntary Manslaughter after the mechanic allegedly failed to fix brakes on a van. In the case, captioned Commonwealth v.  Fabian, the mechanic worked for a company that… view more

Pennsylvania’s Rejection of Automobile Exception to Warrant Requirement Questioned

By Jason Dunkle on G+ I recently spent a Thursday evening watching taped oral arguments from lawyers before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on the Pennsylvania Cable Network. In the case of Commonwealth v. Gary, the Court is considering whether or not it should adopt the Federal standard regarding the search of automobiles, generally referred to… view more

Attempt to Avoid Underage Drinking Leads to Aggravated Assault Charge

By Jason Dunkle on G+ At the recent Penn State football game, an overly intoxicated student tried to avoid charges of Underage Drinking and Public Drunkenness by attempting to flee from the police, and, when officers stopped his retreat, it is alleged that the student resisted arrested and assaulted at least one officer. In trying… view more

DUI Charges Filed For Driving Motorized Cart in Walmart

By Jason Dunkle on G+ A Florida man recently decided to take a joyride through a Walmart store on a motorized shopping cart while helping himself to alcohol from the shelves without  paying for it. The man was charged with Driving Under the Influence (DUI) and Retail Theft. Grading of Pennsylvania Retail Theft Charges The… view more

Hotel Maid Find 1,400 Bags of Heroin In Guest’s Room

By Jason Dunkle on G+ If they have not already done so, police in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, will soon be filing felony charges of Possession With Intent to Deliver after a maid found 1,400 packets of heroin in a room at a Comfort Inn. The maid discovered the drugs while cleaning the room and turned them… view more