On June 22, Whitemarsh Township police arrested 47-year-old Edward Barnes, Jr., while he was allegedly breaking into a home. According to police this was not Barnes’ first time burglarizing…he is suspected of being a serial burglar who has broken into more than 20 homes in Whitpain Township, Conshohocken, Plymouth Township and Northeast Philadelphia in the […]
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PA Superior Court Ruling: 6 Month Max On First & Second Offense DUI
The Superior Court of Pennsylvania recently decided Commonwealth v. Musau, in which it sought to answer the question: Can a defendant receive a sentence of more than six months for a first or second DUI conviction when the defendant refused a blood or breath test, which constitutes a misdemeanor of the first degree? The court […]
Pennsylvania Senate Passes Bill Requiring Post-Arrest DNA Collection
In early June, we wrote about the Supreme Court’s decision on Maryland v. King, affirming the constitutionality of post-arrest DNA collection for individuals charged with committing felonies and certain misdemeanors. The Pennsylvania Senate has not wasted any time acting on this decision, and has already passed Senate Bill 150. SB-150, passed by a vote of […]
Duty To Retreat or Stand Your Ground? Self-Defense in Pennsylvania
One oft-mentioned aspect of Pennsylvania criminal law that is imperative to understand is self-defense. The Trayvon Martin case has turned legalisms such as “duty to retreat” and “stand your ground” into household phrases, but these phrases are more complex than they sound. This primer will educate you on what exactly these terms mean, as well […]
Murder Conviction Reversed based upon Prosecutorial Misconduct
A Judge has ordered that Brooklyn District Attorney Charles J. Hynes must be available for deposition by the lawyer of a man who was in prison for 16 years because the prosecution convicted him – allegedly based upon threats made to coerce witnesses to lie at trial. A federal Judge agreed with the allegations enough […]
