On Behalf of Law Offices of Patrick F. Lauer, Jr. LLC | Feb 3, 2023 | Criminal Defense
The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees your right to refuse to give testimony that could incriminate you. Pennsylvania law requires law enforcement officers to explain your rights to you when they arrest you. This explanation is part of the...
On Behalf of Law Offices of Patrick F. Lauer, Jr. LLC | Jan 6, 2023 | Criminal Defense
Witnesses to a crime are extremely valuable when it comes to proving both innocence and guilt. Unfortunately, the mind does not work as a recorder and can accidentally and purposefully trick itself into remembering things it did not see. According to the Innocence...
On Behalf of Law Offices of Patrick F. Lauer, Jr. LLC | Nov 25, 2022 | Criminal Defense
You work for a living if you are a commercial driver. If you have a problem with your CDL, you might end up doing more — you might end up fighting for your livelihood. Pennsylvania can temporarily or permanently take your license away for many reasons. You can find...
On Behalf of Law Offices of Patrick F. Lauer, Jr. LLC | Nov 14, 2022 | Criminal Defense, DUI
Regardless of whether you have multiple DUI related convictions or just one on record, it is possible that a judge may still deem it necessary for you to install an ignition interlock device. These devices are somewhat difficult to work with, and many people find...
On Behalf of Law Offices of Patrick F. Lauer, Jr. LLC | Oct 14, 2022 | Criminal Defense, Firm News
Did you know that drunk driving accidents are responsible for the death of 32 individuals every day? In 2020, drinking and driving deaths increased by 14% to 11,654 people. Because of the dangers impaired driving presents, a DUI conviction typically has significant...
On Behalf of Law Offices of Patrick F. Lauer, Jr. LLC | Oct 11, 2022 | Criminal Defense
Charges of child pornography carry severe consequences, both legally and socially. The state takes them very seriously. Child pornography includes possessing, viewing, photographing, videotaping and distributing materials involving sexual acts or nudity of minor...
On Behalf of Law Offices of Patrick F. Lauer, Jr. LLC | Oct 5, 2022 | Criminal Defense
The harshest sentence a person can receive for a crime is the death penalty. Because of the severity of the sentence, it is only an option in limited cases. In addition, not every state has the death penalty. Pennsylvania does have the death penalty as an option in...
On Behalf of Law Offices of Patrick F. Lauer, Jr. LLC | Sep 19, 2022 | Criminal Defense
It is one thing if a witness who saw a supposed crime testifies about the incident in court. It is another matter if the witness only claims to have heard about an alleged offense from another person. This gets into the realm of hearsay, which may not be admissible as...
On Behalf of Law Offices of Patrick F. Lauer, Jr. LLC | Sep 3, 2022 | Criminal Defense
A recently announced one-time pardon program may allow some Pennsylvania residents to receive forgiveness for minor marijuana crimes. The application process is open until September 30 and is only available online. Who is eligible for this program? Pennsylvania...
On Behalf of Law Offices of Patrick F. Lauer, Jr. LLC | Aug 17, 2022 | Criminal Defense
Anytime you have an interaction with the police, you have specific rights available to you under the U.S. Constitution. If an officer places you under arrest, he or she will read you these rights. The reading of the rights is known as a Miranda warning. The name comes...
