Latest Blogs
- Attorney General Kane likely focused on her criminal defense
Jul 3, 2015
A Pennsylvania district attorney’s office sent investigators to the offices of the state’s Attorney General. It is believed they were there regarding an allegation against Attorney General Kathleen Kane that she revealed information from a 2009 grand jury to a local news agency. Depending on the outcome of the investigation, Kane is surely focusing on her criminal defense. Last year, secret information from the grand jury was leaked to the news agency. For a reason...Read More - Study says Pennsylvania's drunk driving laws are lenient
Jun 25, 2015
Since law enforcement agencies began cracking down on driving under the influence in the 1980s, the percentage of fatalities due to drunk drivers has decreased nearly 52 percent in the United States. In 2012, the percentage of deadly drunk driving accidents nationwide was 31 percent. This is despite the fact that some states, like Pennsylvania, are considered lenient on drivers who get behind the wheel when they are intoxicated. In fact, the study says that...Read More - Automatic review of death sentence next step in criminal defense
Jun 18, 2015
On behalf of Applebaum & Associates posted in Criminal Defense on Thursday, June 18, 2015. Recently, it took a Pennsylvania jury just short of eight hours to determine that a 22-year-old man deserved the death penalty for the murder of a 4-year-old girl. His criminal defense attorney believed that enough mitigating circumstances existed to keep the death penalty from being imposed. Perhaps this could be a factor in the automatic review of the man’s death sentence...Read More - Drunk driving may be prevented by new device
Jun 12, 2015
Currently, every state in the union — including Pennsylvania — uses ignition interlock devices as a penalty for an individual convicted of DUI or DWI. The device must be used before the car will start. It is designed to prevent further instances of drunk driving. The device requires the drier to blow into the machine. If the breath test reveals a blood alcohol concentration higher than a predetermined limit, then the vehicle will not start...Read More - Pennsylvania man asks the court to dismiss his drug charges
Jun 4, 2015
In Oct. 2009, an undercover police officer made arrangements to purchase cocaine as part of an investigation into a Pennsylvania man. The man was taken into custody for eluding police, possession with the intent to deliver and possession. Now, he is requesting that his case be dismissed because the officer — who is the only witness in the case — was indicted for allegedly not filing drug charges against a teenager in exchange for sex...Read More - 2 hotel employees accused of white collar crimes
May 29, 2015
Federal law enforcement agencies conducted an investigation that ultimately led to two men. The two men were formerly employed by the management company running a hotel on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania. They were recently arrested for fraud. Federal prosecutors say that the white collar crimes these men are accused of committing involved kickbacks and fraudulent invoices totaling over $3 million. Reportedly, over the course of the past four years, the general manager...Read More - A Pennsylvania state senator is arrested for drunk driving
May 22, 2015
Police recently responded to a single vehicle accident that took place on one of Interstate 78’s off ramps. When they arrived, they found Pennsylvania State Senator Pat Browne sitting on the guard rail near a wrecked motorcycle. Browne was arrested for drunk driving. Browne stated that his motorcycle slid on cinders, which caused the accident. Troopers claim that Browne’s speech was slurred and he exhibited signs of intoxication. As field sobriety tests were conducted, he...Read More - Criminal defense often continues after a conviction
May 7, 2015
Some Pennsylvania readers may be under the mistaken impression that once prosecutors secure a conviction and the accused is sentenced, the case ends. That is not necessarily true. Criminal defense teams may continue to fight for their clients for months or years thereafter. For example, a Pennsylvania judge recently vacated the conviction of a woman who has thus far spent approximately 42 years in prison. She was found guilty of arson and murder back in...Read More - Police officers are entitled to a criminal defense too
Apr 30, 2015
These days, news articles in Pennsylvania and around the nation seem to be filled with stories about law enforcement officers who are abusing their authority and breaking the law in violation of their duties. The media is quick to condemn these officers in spite of the fact that they, too, are entitled to be presumed innocent. It is also their right to present a criminal defense against any charges that may be filed as a...Read More - Pennsylvania DOT contractor faces fraud charge
Apr 23, 2015
A grand jury was recently convened regarding an investigation into contractors working for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. The information presented to it convinced the jury to recommend the filing of a fraud charge against the president of an engineering company here in the state. Allegedly, he made $1 million in profits from PennDOT contracts that supposedly were not obtained legally and/or properly. Investigators claim that the company’s president befriended an Assistant District Engineer (ADE) from...Read More