General
Blair County Rules School Zone Sentencing Law UnconstitutionalPosted in Felony Drug Delivery / Possession with Intent to Deliver, General on January 12, 2015
Following the 2013 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Alleyne v. U.S., defense attorneys across the state of Pennsylvania have brought challenges to the constitutionality of various mandatory minimum sentencing laws related to felony drug convictions for delivery and possession with intent to deliver controlled substances. A constitutional challenge to mandatory minimum sentences for drug-free school… view more
Woman Arrested After Using Indecent Weapon – Throwing UnderwearPosted in General, Public Drunkenness on January 12, 2015
A Florida woman did not believe that her verbal assaults were getting the appropriate response from another woman that was walking by on the street, so the Florida woman bumped it up a notch and threw a pair of underwear at the other woman. Police were summoned. Surprise, surprise, alcohol appears to have been involved…. view more
Drunk College Student Turn Pumpkin Festival Into RiotPosted in General, Public Drunkenness on January 12, 2015
New Hampshire residents near Keene celebrate an annual pumpkin festival at which attendees try to set a world record of the largest number of carved and lighted jack-o-lanterns in one place. Sounds like it would be a nice family gathering. It just so happens that students from nearby Keene State College also attend. Regrettably, a… view more
American Girls Arrested In Italy for Vandalizing Roman ColosseumPosted in Criminal Mischief, General on January 12, 2015
When I read the headline, I had to click and read the article because I could not imagine that people would vandalize such a historic site and building. I was wrong. Two American girls, one twenty-one and the other twenty-five years of age, decided to add their own historical element to the Roman Colosseum by… view more
DUI In A WheelchairPosted in DUI, General on January 12, 2015
A Florida man was recently arrested and charged with Driving Under the Influence after he was operating his motorized wheelchair and allegedly blocking multiple lanes of travel on a roadway. I suspect that many people are surprised that a person can be charged with a DUI offense when they were not driving a car or… view more
Investigative Detention or Custody – Why Does it Matter?Posted in General on January 12, 2015
By Jason Dunkle on G+ In a prior blog, I discussed interactions between police and citizens, noted the distinction between a mere encounter and an investigative detention, and used typical Penn State Underage Drinking investigations at a Penn State tailgate as examples of both. There is a third type of police-citizen encounter that occurs when… view more
Marijuana Grower Calls Police to Report Theft of Marijuana PlantsPosted in General, Manufacturing Marijuana, Penn State Marijuana Possession on January 12, 2015
By Jason Dunkle on G+ While many people are questioning why a person that was growing marijuana would call the police to report a theft, this case is very different in the marijuana grower was doing so legally in Maine. The 17 marijuana plants that were stolen had a total estimate value of slightly under… view more
State College Marijuana Investigations – Reliance on InformantsPosted in General, Penn State Marijuana Possession on January 12, 2015
By Jason Dunkle on G+ In State College, many felony marijuana delivery and possession with intent to deliver investigations rely heavily upon information being provided from informants. In a recent blog, I discussed how a State College DUI investigation had started based upon information that was provided to the police by a concerned citizen. There… view more
Right to Vote & Bear Arms – Not a Right for Some Convicted FelonsPosted in General on January 12, 2015
By Jason Dunkle on G+ Today is election day, a day in which many Americans are taking advantage of their constitutional rights and casting a vote for the politician of their choice, or perhaps casting a vote for the lesser of two evils. While most U.S. citizens believe that rights set forth in the U.S…. view more
“Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers” – Not So in PennsylvaniaPosted in General on January 12, 2015
By Jason Dunkle on G+ I am sure that most of our parents told us the old adage “finders keepers, losers weepers,” basically telling us to take care of our possessions because if we lost or misplaced them, the finder got to keep them. Many of us understand basic human nature and understand that if… view more
