General
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
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
Off-Duty Police Officer Arrested for DUI with Kids in CarPosted in General on January 12, 2015
By Jason Dunkle on G+ A nineteen-year veteran police officer was recently charged with a Pennsylvania DUI offense after he was involved in an accident and it was discovered that his blood alcohol concentration was .276%. While the high blood alcohol concentration is alarming, more troubling is the fact that the man had been drinking… view more