As you can imagine, failing to appear in court in Pennsylvania, when you are legally required to do so because of criminal charges, will result in stiff penalties. It could mean a bench warrant for your arrest or a “default in required appearance,” which could be a misdemeanor or a felony. This is Pennsylvania law. And with the guidance of… READ MORE
News & Blog
On June 4, 2022, the US Supreme Court handed down a decision that overturned Roe v Wade, the landmark 1973 ruling that allowed abortions to be performed before a fetus would become viable outside of the womb. The decision to overturn Roe v Wade was 6-3 and had immediate ramifications throughout the country. Many states had laws in place (trigger… READ MORE
In Pennsylvania, the charges of burglary and criminal trespassing may seem relatively similar, at least on the surface. Both of these charges involved unlawfully entering another person’s property. However, there are very distinct differences between the two charges that we want to discuss here. Understanding Burglary Under Pennsylvania Law Under Pennsylvania law, a person commits burglary if they enter an… READ MORE
If you are arrested in Westchester or anywhere else in Pennsylvania, you are going to get taken to jail. You will go through the booking process, and likely have a chance to make a phone call and then have a bail hearing soon after (maybe the next morning). From the moment you are approached by the police, you can and… READ MORE
Bars are usually friendly, social gathering places, but with alcohol involved, these areas can quickly take a turn for the worst and end up as a fight club. If you find yourself in a situation where you go from throwing back drinks to throwing punches at someone in a bar fight, you could be arrested for assault. It’s good to… READ MORE
Drinking and driving can be a dangerous combination. Add to that, if you are underage and drinking and driving, it can be dangerous and illegal. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 10 percent of alcohol consumption in the United States is by minors between 12 and 20 years old. If that is not enough, here are… READ MORE
If you have been charged with a DUI in West Chester, there are many consequences that come in the wake of the conviction, including the penalties related to your car insurance. There are enough consequences to sort through following a DUI conviction, including jail time, fines, and more. Here is some detailed info on how to better understand the after-effects… READ MORE
There are approximately 1.3 million active-duty military service members today in the United States. That is out of the country’s total population of 258.3 million, ages 18 and older. Once they return to civilian life at home, these veterans often find it challenging and face battles with addiction, mental illness, homelessness, or other disorders. This is why Pennsylvania provides Veterans… READ MORE
Unfortunately, it is a myth that police officers are not allowed to lie. And, tagged onto that are several other myths surrounding police officer misconduct during interrogations, which is something suspects have had to learn the hard way. This is why it is important, for your protection, to understand the laws in Pennsylvania that apply to what police officers are… READ MORE
Misdemeanor convictions happen across our nation every day. From one corner of the country to another, people find themselves caught in a sticky legal web after misunderstandings and accidents. The Pennsylvania criminal defense lawyers at Ciccarelli Law Offices know this – meaning we want to do everything in our power to protect those in need. Our firm not only provides… READ MORE