General

Posted in General, Operating a Watercraft Under the Influence on January 12, 2015

Kevin Kolb, a NFL quarterback that once played for the Philadelphia Eagles, recently discovered the hard way that drinking and boating can lead to boating under the influence or BUI charges. Many people like to boat or ride a skidoo for fun and relaxation, and when people relax, they often like to enjoy a few… view more

Posted in DUI, General on January 12, 2015

It is my understanding that the Elf on the Shelf may get into some minor trouble from time to time, but such an elf was recently charged with driving under the influence after being found asleep behind the wheel of a running vehicle with its headlights on and music playing. I feel bad for this… view more

Posted in General, Harassment/Stalking on January 12, 2015

I have been a criminal defense attorney for over 10 years and often read interesting criminal case fact patterns, but I recently read a story that surprised even me. I have represented many clients in Centre County over the years that have been charged with harassment and stalking, but the charges generally involve former lovers… view more

Posted in Criminal Records/Expungement, General on January 12, 2015

Why would Ironman, a superhero and member of the Avengers, need a pardon? While Ironman has often saved the world from villains, he and his Avengers team often cause a significant amount of damage to property, and damaging the property of another is a criminal offense of Criminal Mischief. The severity of a  Criminal Mischief… view more

Posted in General on January 12, 2015

Mere Encounter or Detention People often question whether or not they are required to stop and talk to a police officer if they are approached on the street. As with almost everything, the answer is “it depends.” There is a distinction in the law between a “mere encounter” with a police officer and an “investigative… view more

Posted in General, Penn State on January 12, 2015

Despite the Penn State football team’s disappointing loss to Ohio State yesterday, Penn State continues to rally in support of the university.  Many outsiders point to the Sandusky travesty and claim that the football program was above the law and bigger than the university.  They use the allegations that school administrators covered up the early… view more

Posted in General on January 12, 2015

By Jason Dunkle on G+ Anyone who has watched the wildly popular TV series “The Walking Dead” knows that it incorporates everyday life issues in the context of a zombie-filled world. For example, the series is currently taking a Jerry Springesque turn of “who’s the daddy?” Just a brief background for those who might be… view more

Posted in General on January 12, 2015

By Jason Dunkle on G+ A judge in Illinois won a retention election despite serving a suspension since March with pending misdemeanor assault charges for pushing a sheriff’s deputy. Similar to sitting judges in Pennsylvania, judges in Illinois that are seeking re-election are not actually opposed by another judicial candidate. Instead, voters  basically choose to… view more

Posted in General on January 12, 2015

By Jason Dunkle on G+ Everyone knows that it is illegal to drive under the influence of alcohol if a person’s blood alcohol level is above the legal limit. With alcohol, a person is “under the influence” or affected by the alcohol as long as it is present in the body. The body is able… view more

Posted in General on January 12, 2015

By Jason Dunkle on G+ While some states have legalized or decriminalized marijuana, no state has pushed for the legalization of methamphetamine, and the fact that a meth user was recently accused of destroying a 3,500 year old tree while getting high isn’t going sway public opinion in favor of legalization. The 120 foot tall… view more