Winter is here and so is the snow with more on the way! Unlike previous years, the white powder has arrived and this presents a great opportunity to talk about evidence! While most wouldn’t associate snow with evidentiary principles, snow is often used to explain circumstantial evidence to juries and even law students.
The first snow/wintery mix accumulation (1-3 inches) arrived late last night and early this morning in the Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Most wouldn’t classify it as a storm and most local schools responded appropriately, remained in session, with delayed opening as opposed to cancellations? Most would think that a snow would reduce criminal activity in Pennsylvania and New Jersey but this simply not true.
The weekends are a great time to catch up on projects, meet with friends and spend time with family. The weekends, however, are also a time when most criminal problems occur in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Recently, the son of Pennsylvania State Senator, Sharif Street, and the grandson of former Philadelphia Mayor, John Street, was charged in Philadelphia with Simple Assault and Disorderly Conduct. This is not his first arrest within the Commonwealth.
No contest plea offers a client the opportunity to obtain most, if not all, the benefits of a guilty plea. Unlike a guilty plea, a no contest plea does not involve any acknowledgment as to having committed an illegal act but rather admits that the allegations, if proven beyond a reasonable doubt, meet the elements of the offense or offenses charged.
New Year’s Eve is celebrated everywhere and in some major cities like Philadelphia it continues into New Year’s Day. Philadelphia has its annual Mummers’ parade, but local restaurants, clubs, and neighborhoods have planned events. While these events start with good intentions, historically they are also a source of criminal problems throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey due to excessive alcohol consumption along with drug use. While drugs like Marijuana are decriminalized, their use can still cause criminal issues for many people. There will be an increased police presence on all major highways and cities.
Philadelphia Flyers General Manager Danny Briere’ son, Carson Briere, was recently admitted into a criminal diversion program (Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition) (ARD) in Erie County, Pennsylvania. You may recall that the younger Briere was charged with criminal mischief and disorderly conduct following an incident where he threw a empty wheelchair down a flight of stairs in a local Pub. No one was injured but the incident was captured on video which went viral on social media.
While negotiated and open guilty pleas require a defendant (accused) to admit to certain facts, a plea of no contest or no contendere is much different.
Criminal defense lawyer Alfonso Gambone explains sentencing procedure in New Jersey and Pennsylvania
Bail hearings in New Jersey: What are the factors a criminal court will consider to determine release and how is it different from Pennsylvania?
