General
State College Thieves Forget Christmas Is a Time of Giving, Not TakingPosted in General on January 12, 2015
According to a State College newspaper, some Christmas day shoppers at the Benner Pike Wal-Mart in Centre County appear to have forgotten that the Christmas season is the time for giving and not taking after they were charged with Retail Theft and Receiving Stolen Property. Maybe they thought that the “giving” portion of the season meant… view more
Judge Rules School Zone Sentence is Constitutional in State College Drug Delivery CasePosted in General on January 12, 2015
A Centre County judge has recently issued a ruling in a State College drug delivery case that held that the “drug-free school zone” mandatory minimum sentence is constitutional. The school zone mandatory sentence can be invoked by prosecutors in Pennsylvania drug distribution, possession with intent to deliver, or manufacturing cases if the alleged criminal activity… view more
State College Burglar Steals Sandwich and SaucesPosted in Burglary, General on January 12, 2015
Most people have enough sense to refrain from breaking and entering into a house or place of business. Those that do make the bad decision to commit such a trespass normally do so with the intent to steal something of value, such as electronics and money. A State College burglar recently broke into into a… view more
Man Facing DUI Charges After Splashing Police Car With Mud PuddlePosted in General on January 12, 2015
Who hasn’t seen a video on TV or on YouTube in which a driver hits a mud puddle after a recent storm and splashes a person walking nearby? I do not believe that I have ever done such a thing, but I am sure that I have been tempted when the situation arose. In a… view more
Judge Resigns After Caught Texting Prosecutor During TrialPosted in General, Legal Ethics on January 12, 2015
A Texas judge recently resigned after it was discovered that she had been texting a prosecutor during the trial. Not only was the judge texting the prosecutor, which constitutes ex parte communications, meaning communications without the defense side being present, but the content of the communications were intended to assist the prosecution’s case. The judge… view more
Posting Nude Photos of Ex Is a Crime in PennsylvaniaPosted in General, Invasion of Privacy on January 12, 2015
Many people are now aware of the recent passage of “revenge porn” statutes across the country, but many people do not even know what the phrase “revenge porn” means. Generally speaking, it often arises in the context of one person posting naked or nude photos of an ex-paramour or spouse on social media sites such… view more
Will Penn State Decriminalize Possession of a Small Amount Marijuana for Personal Use?Posted in General, Penn State Marijuana Possession on January 12, 2015
According to online news reports, the State College Borough is considering following the lead of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia and passing a local ordinance to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana. This does not mean that marijuana is now legal in Pennsylvania. In Pennsylvania, a person that possesses less than 30 grams of marijuana for… view more
Centre County Trick or Treating – Remember that Texting While Driving is IllegalPosted in General on January 12, 2015
By Jason Dunkle on G+ With Halloween quickly approaching, our streets in State College, Centre Hall, Bellefonte, and other local towns will be filled with kids going door-to-door as part of the annual trick-or-treating adventure. My three kids are excited to have the opportunity to obtain more candy in one evening than they should consume… view more
Penn State’s Delay of McQueary Suit Scheduled for Centre County HearingPosted in General, Penn State on January 12, 2015
By Jason Dunkle on G+ Former Penn State assistant football coach Mike McQueary has filed a defamation and whistleblower suit against Penn State seeking over $4 million. Much of McQueary’s claim is based upon former Penn State President Graham Spanier’s public support of former Penn State administrators Tim Curley and Gary Schultz after they were… view more
Defense Lawyers for PSU Administrators Claim Privilege Prohibits TestimonyPosted in General, Legal Ethics on January 12, 2015
THe criminal defense lawyers for former Penn State Administrators Tim Curley and Gary Schultz are trying to prohibit former General Counsel for Penn State, Attorney Cynthia Baldwin, from testifying against them in their upcoming preliminary hearings. The criminal defense lawyers claim that Curley and Schultz believed that Baldwin was representing them when they appeared before… view more