Legal Blog

As experts in our craft we like to provide our past, current and future clients, as well as our community with resources to better help them navigate the complex world of criminal law. Whether you're seeking guidance in one of our practice areas, looking for practical tips to navigate legal challenges or simply finding a deeper understanding of your rights, our blog is designed to be a valuable resource to you.

You can search blogs by category or use the search bar to find what you need. You can also visit our FAQ page which has specific questions and answers about Pennsylvania law, procedures, as well as information about our firm.

Please note, our legal blog is intended for informational purposes only. While we strive to offer accurate content, the legal landscape is constantly changing and no blog can substitute personalized advice and guidance of a qualified attorney. For a free consultation, please contact us directly.

What Is Unlawful Contact With a Minor Under Pennsylvania Law?

attorney in suit walking up courthouse steps beneath American and Pennsylvania flags

When One Message Becomes a Felony Charge Key Takeaways: Under 18 Pa.C.S. § 6318, unlawful contact with a minor means intentionally contacting someone under 18, directly or indirectly and by any means, for the purpose of engaging in a listed sexual activity. The contact itself is the crime even if no sexual act or meeting happens. The statute also covers contact with on-duty officers posing as minors, so online sting operations are a common source of these charges. The offense…

What Causes a Car’s Black Box to Save Crash Data in a PA Accident?

mechanic's workbench with diagnostic scanner and electronic control module near open garage door

Why Your Car’s Black Box May Become Key Evidence After a Serious Crash Key Takeaways: A car’s event data recorder (EDR) keeps overwriting a short loop of driving data. It generally saves crash data when a sudden change in velocity meets or exceeds the trigger threshold, or when a non-reversible restraint such as an airbag deploys. Under 49 CFR 563.5, an event can be recorded even if the airbags don’t deploy, so a record from an earlier minor impact can…

How To Find The Best DUI Lawyer

Facing a DUI charge can be extremely distressing and overwhelming. Between the legal complexities and potential long-term personal consequences, it is essential to have expert assistance and representation every step of the way. A skilled defense attorney can mean the difference between a favorable outcome and harsh, life-changing penalties. It is important, however, to choose a defense attorney based on a number of factors, not just the proximity of a law firm or the first lawyer that shows up in…

Mistrials & Double Jeopardy

Mistrials and double jeopardy both deal with the concept of trying an individual for the same offense more than once. Double jeopardy means that a person cannot be prosecuted for the same offense more than once in the same jurisdiction. The Fifth Amendment embodies the right against double jeopardy. However, in certain circumstances a person can be prosecuted for the same offense in different jurisdictions. For example, if someone is accused of trafficking controlled substances into Pennsylvania from New York, they can be prosecuted…

Prior Record & Mandatory Minimums

Prior records and mandatory minimums are some of the factors taken into consideration during a criminal DUI case. Maximum Penalty When the law prescribes a range of appropriate sentences for a given offense, the court cannot order a sentence longer the maximum penalty. For example, because possession of paraphernalia has a maximum penalty of 12 months’ incarceration, the court cannot order a 2-year sentence.  Mandatory Minimum In addition to the maximum penalty, some offenses have a minimum sentence which cannot…

The Difference Between A Public Defender and A Private Defense Lawyer

The justice system is designed in a way that any individual who has been accused of a crime is protected and gets a fair trial. When someone is faced with a criminal charge, the defendant has the option to be represented by a public defender or a privately paid defense attorney. Both a public and private defender are educated and have the same goal in mind: provide fair and just legal representation. However, there are some key differences between the…

Remain Silent Or Else

Before deciding to waive your 5th Amendment right and talk to the police, contact an experienced attorney from the law offices of Manchester & Associates. “[Any] lawyer worth [their] salt will tell [their client] in no uncertain terms to make no statement to the police under any circumstances.“ Justice Robert Jackson The 5th Amendment allows those in police custody to remain silent. Many find this difficult based on the idea that remaining silent when you have nothing to hide makes…

Are Delta 8 And Delta 10 Illegal In Pennsylvania?

The Short Answer Is “Yes”. Both Delta 8 and Delta 10 are Tetrahydrocannabinols, and both are illegal in Pennsylvania. Even if the Delta 8 or Delta 10 are derived from hemp, and not marijuana, the compounds are illegal because the entire category of Tetrahydrocannabinols, most commonly referred to as THC, is illegal in Pennsylvania. THC is listed as a scheduled substance in Pa. Code 25.72 (b)(3)(xvi). Most people think just Delta 9 is illegal, but legally Delta 8, 9, and…

Can you be arrested in Pennsylvania for Wielding a firearm in self-defense?

Unfortunately, the answer is yes. Please note that I didn’t say convicted: arrest and conviction are very different things. Arresting is what cops do and it doesn’t mean you are guilty. Neither the police nor Prosecutors decide if you are guilty; that’s up to a jury. With that said, let us get into why you can be arrested for displaying a firearm in Pennsylvania in self-defense. The answer is simple and disturbing at the same time. With no pun intended,…

Resisting Arrest and DUI Charges in Pennsylvania

Can you be charged and convicted of resisting arrest after you have been stopped for DUI? Yes, you can. Here is the statutory language as to resisting arrest in Pennsylvania: “With the intent of preventing a public servant from effecting a lawful arrest or discharging any other duty, the person creates a substantial risk of bodily injury to the public servant or anyone else, or employs means justifying or requiring substantial force to overcome the resistance.” That is the legal…