Centre County DUI

Brother of Penn State Cocaine Godfather Charged with BUI

Posted in Centre County DUI on September 5, 2026

Sebastiano Abbatiello, the brother of Agostino Abbatiello, the “Godfather” in the Penn State fraternity cocaine distribution case, was recently charged in Centre County with Boating Under the Influence and related offenses.  Surprisingly, the charges allege that the younger Abbatiello was under the influence of both alcohol and cocaine. Centre County BUI Charges Abbatiello was officially… view more

Penn State Wide Receiver Charged With Drug DUI

Posted in Centre County DUI on September 5, 2026

Regrettably, another Penn State athlete recently got into legal trouble in Centre County after being charged with a drug-related DUI by the State College Police Department. More specifically, the player was charged with two counts of Driving Under the Influence under 75 Pa.C.S. 3802(d) and one charge of One Way Roadways. Most likely, the police… view more

PA Judge Upholds DUI Traffic Stop Based on Driving Too Slowly

Posted in Centre County DUI on July 21, 2025

In Commonwealth v. Surovec, CR-868-2024, the Centre County Court of Common Pleas denied a motion to suppress evidence after a DUI arrest, ruling that the traffic stop was lawful because the driver was traveling at an unreasonably slow speed. This case highlights how driving too slowly—if it disrupts traffic—can provide Pennsylvania law enforcement with probable… view more

Judge Rules “Hot Pursuit” Justified DUI Stop Outside Jurisdiction

Posted in Centre County DUI, Fourth Amendment on July 17, 2025

In Commonwealth v. Lee, CP-14-CR-1136-2024, the Centre County Court of Common Pleas ruled that a Bellefonte police officer lawfully stopped a suspected drunk driver outside of her jurisdiction under Pennsylvania’s Municipal Police Jurisdiction Act (MPJA). This case provides important guidance for anyone facing DUI charges in Pennsylvania, especially when questions arise about whether officers acted… view more

Judge Denies Suppression Request in Centre County DUI

Posted in Centre County DUI on June 28, 2025

DUI Traffic Stop in Centre County: What Happened? In May 2023, police in Spring Township, PA, received a radio report about a recklessly driven silver Chevrolet truck with tinted windows. Minutes later, an officer spotted a similar vehicle and followed it. The driver pulled to the side of the road without activating a turn signal… view more

State College DUI Charges Dismissed After Unconstitutional Stop

Posted in Centre County DUI, Constitutional Rights, Fourth Amendment on August 20, 2022

A recent State College DUI case highlights the importance of protecting constitutional rights during traffic stops. When police officers conduct an unlawful stop, any evidence obtained afterward may be excluded from court, potentially resulting in the dismissal of criminal charges. If you have been charged with DUI in Centre County, an experienced State College DUI… view more

Judge Dismisses Charges in Centre County DUI

Posted in Centre County DUI on July 10, 2022

In a recent Centre County DUI case, a judge was required to determine whether or not the prosecutor had presented sufficient evidence to show that the suspect had been intoxicated to the extent that he was incapable of safe driving.  The charge was a bit outside the norm because the suspect had refused to submit… view more

Evidence Suppressed in State College DUI Case – Illegal Traffic Stop

Posted in Centre County DUI on April 5, 2020

The law applies to everyone, including police officer when performing their duties and conducting investigations.  If the police violate a person’s constitutional rights during an investigation, then the law requires that evidence seized as a result of the violation must be suppressed and cannot be used at future court proceedings.  It is a simple concept,… view more