General
Pittsburgh Area Man Gets DUI for Riding Lawn Mower on RoadPosted in General on January 12, 2015
By Jason Dunkle on G+ Murrysville police recently stopped a man driving with an open can of beer, which is a violation of Pennsylvania law. Did the police stop the man solely for an Open Container violation? Probably not. It is more likely that the police stopped the man because he was driving a lawn… view more
Judge Suppresses Twelve Pounds of Marijuana in Centre County Possession With Intent to Deliver CasePosted in General on January 12, 2015
In what is a somewhat routine fact pattern in Centre County, a traveler on interstate 80 was stopped for a relatively minor traffic violation but a search of the person’s vehicle ultimately led to the discovery of drugs. In this particular case, the Pennsylvania State troopers stopped a man for speeding and decided to only… view more
State College Burglars Caught on Apartment Surveillance VideoPosted in Burglary, General on January 12, 2015
While the crime rate overall has decreased in State College over State Patty’s Day weekend, it doesn’t mean that serious crimes do not occur. The police received reports of items missing from the Meridian II apartment building, so the police contacted the realty company that manages the building and reviewed video footage. The video shows… view more
DUI, Hit and Run, and Assault on Officer All on Golf Course at U.S. OpenPosted in Assault, General on January 12, 2015
I am sure that many people have heard incidents of recreational golfers sometimes having a few too many drinks while hitting 18 holes, and some of those incidents have resulted in DUI charges because the person drove the golf cart while under the influence. However, a U.S. Open fan recently topped it all. When a… view more
Man Convicted of DUI Has Child Blow into Ignition Interlock DevicePosted in General on January 12, 2015
Repeat drunk driving offenders in Pennsylvania are often required to install ignition interlock devices in their cars for a period of time before they are able to obtain their driver’s license. An ignition interlock device prevents a person from driving a vehicle until someone blows into the device and no alcohol is detected. A Millersburg… view more
Pennsylvania College Student Charge With Jogging While DrunkPosted in General, Public Drunkenness on January 12, 2015
As a State College criminal defense attorney, I have heard many fact patterns involving how students at Penn State, Lock Haven, and Juniata have been charged with Underage Drinking and Public Drunkenness. However, I recently read an article in which a DeSales University student was stopped by police after he was drunk jogging along a… view more
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Holds Drug-Free School Zone UnconstitutionalPosted in General on January 12, 2015
In a very important decision for lawyers across the state of Pennsylvania, but especially important for defense lawyers in State College that handle drug distribution and possession with intent to deliver cases, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court is holding that the drug-free school zone law is unconstitutional and cannot be used by prosecutors or imposed by… view more
Compassionate Judge Spends Night in Jail with Sentenced VeteranPosted in General on January 12, 2015
As a criminal defense lawyer, I am before judges quite frequently for sentencing hearings. Because my law firm is located in State College, I represent a lot of Penn State students that get into trouble, often as a result of having a bit too much to drink. Most of my clients are good people at… view more
Will Higher Fines Reduce Underage Drinking in State College?Posted in General on January 12, 2015
Penn State Underage Drinking Problem Centre County Senator Jake Corman has proposed amendments to Pennsylvania law that would increase the maximum fine for Underage Drinking and Public Drunkenness to $1,000.00. I believe that it is safe to presume that Senator Corman’s proposal was not intended to garner votes amongst the 40,000 Penn State students at… view more
Penn State Files Motion in Centre County Court to Delay McQueary’s LawsuitPosted in General, Penn State on January 12, 2015
By Jason Dunkle on G+ Former Penn State assistant football coach Mike McQueary is suing Penn State for defamation and a whistleblower claim, seeking $4 million dollars in lost wages and legal fees. McQueary, a former Penn State football coach, claims that his mistreatment by Penn State damaged his reputation and thereby damaged his ability… view more