General
Ohio Judge Imposes Unique Sentences on First Time OffendersPosted in ARD, General on January 12, 2015
After being a criminal defense attorney in State College for almost 11 years, I have seen Pennsylvania judges impose sentences on thousands of people, and those sentences generally include a period of jail time, probation, community service, payment of costs and fines, and completion of counseling. The sentences are relatively uniform, and in many cases,… view more
Why Does Pennsylvania Suspend a Driver’s License for Drug Possession?Posted in Drug Possession, General on January 12, 2015
Massachusetts recently repealed a law that had been on the books for almost 30 years which imposed a license suspension for drug possession crimes even though the offenses had nothing to do with driving or a vehicle. According to a Boston Herald article, the legislation was actually supported by law enforcement and passed unanimously by… 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
Penn State Marijuana Possession Is a Serious OffensePosted in General, Penn State Marijuana Possession on January 12, 2015
By Jason Dunkle on G+ Many Penn State students incorrectly assume that marijuana possession is not a big deal because marijuana is legal is some states. The problem with that thinking is that while marijuana is legal is SOME states, it is NOT legal in most states. Former LSU football player Tyrann Mathieu found out… view more
Centre County Judges Should Use Creative Sentences to Deter CrimePosted in General on January 12, 2015
By Jason Dunkle on G+ As a State College criminal defense lawyer, the majority of my cases are handled by Centre County judges, and many of my clients are Penn State students that have never been in trouble before. In dealing with such clients, I wish that the Centre County criminal cases would be handled… view more
Christmas Grinch Part Two – Thief Steals from Toys for TotsPosted in General on January 12, 2015
By Jason Dunkle on G+ A Grinch-like burglar broke into a storage facility in Seattle and stole over $6,000.00 in toys that had been donated to a Toys for Tots program. The local YWCA used a donation of $6,250.00 to purchase approximately 250 toys to give to underprivileged children. Hopefully the police are able to… view more
Could You Be Charged With Recklessly Endangering Another Person?Posted in General, Recklessly Endangering Another Person on January 12, 2015
By Jason Dunkle on G+ In an article last week, I wrote about a recent Pennsylvania decision involving a mechanic’s conviction of Recklessly Endangering Another Person and Involuntary Manslaughter after he had failed to fix the brakes on a van transporting special needs students. While the van was heading down a steep Pittsburgh hill, the… view more
Man Drinks $100,000 Worth of Whiskey, Charged With TheftPosted in General on January 12, 2015
By Jason Dunkle on G+ In Greensburg, Pennsylvania, a caretaker at a historic mansion was charged with Theft and Receiving Stolen Property after allegedly drinking 52 bottles of Old Farm Pure Rye Whiskey. The main problem for the man was that the whiskey was not your garden variety Jack Daniels but was instead a whiskey… view more
Pennsylvania DUI Lawyer Accepted Oral Sex In Lieu of PaymentPosted in General, Legal Ethics on January 12, 2015
By Jason Dunkle on G+ In a relatively routine situation in Pennsylvania, a woman was charged with driving under the influence, and she met with a DUI attorney to discuss representation. The current DUI was a second offense because the woman had previously completed the Pennsylvania Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program. At the meeting, the… view more
Centre County DA Loses State College DUI Charge, Must Pay Own Expert BillPosted in General on January 12, 2015
By Jason Dunkle on G+ In a recent State College Driving Under the Influence case, the person was charged with a few separate DUI charges. The most severe DUI charge, in violation of 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 3802(b), alleged that the person was driving with a blood alcohol level of at least .10% but less than… view more