General
State College Woman Steals Police Cruiser After Being ArrestedPosted in General on January 12, 2015
By Jason Dunkle on G+ A Pennsylvania State Police trooper in Williamsport arrested a State College woman, handcuffed her, and put her in the front passenger seat of his police cruiser. While the trooper was driving down the road towards the Pennsylvania State Police barracks, the woman apparently attempted to open the passenger door and… view more
State College DUI Patrol Results in Five ArrestsPosted in Centre County DUI, General on January 12, 2015
By Jason Dunkle on G+ In order to enforce Pennsylvania DUI laws in Centre County more aggressively, members of the Ferguson, Patton, and Spring Township police departments recently conducted roving patrols that focused on enforcement of traffic violations. The increased effort led to the issuance of 32 traffic citations, 2 Underage Drinking non-traffic summary citations,… view more
Pennsylvania Judge Holds School Zone Mandatory Sentence for Drug Delivery UnconstitutionalPosted in General on January 12, 2015
By Jason Dunkle on G+ Pennsylvania criminal defense lawyers that handle felony drug cases like delivery or possession with intent to deliver charge should pay close attention to a decision recently issued by a judge in eastern Pennsylvania that held the “drug-free school zone” mandatory minimum sentence unconstitutional. The drug-free school zone requires a judge… view more
Assault with a Sexual Weapon – Daughter Hits Mother with VibratorPosted in Assault, General on January 12, 2015
I am sure that almost everyone has heard the phrase “assault with a deadly weapon,” but few, if any, of us have heard of someone being accused of assault with a sexual weapon. According to a Huffington Post story, a 35-year-old New Mexico woman was arrested for assault after her 60-year-old mother contacted the police… view more
Man Sentenced to In-Home Detention After Convicted of Raping WifePosted in General on January 12, 2015
A man in Indiana was recently convicted of rape after the jury or judge found that the man had drugged his wife and sexually assaulted her while she was unconscious. The victim told police that her husband had been doing this for over three years, and she only became aware after she saw three sex… view more
Pennsylvania Superior Court Rules Drug Mandatory Sentences Are UnconstitutionalPosted in Felony Drug Delivery / Possession with Intent to Deliver, General on January 12, 2015
I believe that it is undisputed that the current drug-related mandatory minimum sentences in Pennsylvania, like the “drug-free school zone” and “drug trafficking,” are unconstitutional. The laws as written do not require a prosecutor to actually charge a person with the mandatory, and prosecutors are not required to prove applicability of the drug mandatory sentences… view more
Pennsylvania District Attorneys Are Gatekeepers to First-Time Offender Program Called ARDPosted in ARD, General on January 12, 2015
A recent Dauphin County case has brought attention to who decides whether a person charged with a criminal offense is permitted to participate in a pretrial diversionary or first-time offender program known as Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition, commonly called “ARD.” With the ARD program, a person pleads not guilty to the criminal charges, but the person… view more
Will Criminal Charges Be Filed in Fraternity Nude Photo InvestigationPosted in General, Invasion of Privacy on January 12, 2015
The State College Police Department was notified in January of 2015 that members of the Kappa Delta Rho fraternity at Penn State had posted photos of drunk girls in compromising positions on a private Facebook page. A former member of the fraternity brought the matter to the attention of police, most likely to obtain favorable… view more
Pennsylvania’s New Law Legalizing Medical MarijuanaPosted in General, Manufacturing Marijuana on January 12, 2015
We’ve all heard of the fight for medical marijuana going on in many states throughout the country. This battle was won in Pennsylvania this week, but that doesn’t mean it will not be without its challenges. Following years of lobbying, Governor Tom Wolf signed the use of medical marijuana into law. The reason some of… view more
Centre County Inmate Escapes from Trustee Program at PrisonPosted in General on January 12, 2015
By Jason Dunkle on G+ I expect that all of our parents have told us to forgo judging another person until you have walked the proverbial mile in his shoes. I have tried to apply that philosophy in my field as a criminal defense lawyer and do not judge clients. While I try to refrain… view more