As a parent, you are well aware that college students can make mistakes. Unfortunately, some mistakes have much more severe consequences than others. Selling and distributing drugs is one of these serious mistakes.
Getting caught selling drugs is a grave offense and you might be worried about what will happen to your child as a result. Here are the various legal consequences for drug charges, so you know what your child may be up against:
For residents of State College, Pennsylvania, being arrested for assault can have a profound impact on the rest of their lives. This is especially true when there are allegations of domestic assault and a man is accused of assaulting a female. The penalties that accompany a criminal conviction are difficult enough, but the act carries with it a stigma that can be hard to shake. It can follow a person around for an extended period and hinder their daily lives personally and professionally. Regardless of the situation, it is imperative for those arrested on these charges to have legal assistance to craft a strong criminal defense.
If you are young and just starting your life at college or even just entering the workforce, you may believe that a misdemeanor conviction is not that big of a deal. If you believe that a misdemeanor is equivalent to a slap on the wrist, you should know that the penalties from a misdemeanor can negatively impact you a long time to come. This is especially true if your conviction is drug or violence-related.
In State College, people might be taking part in activities that they think are little more than time-honored rituals and are relatively harmless, but they can lead to a criminal charge if someone becomes injured or there is a complaint about it. People will automatically have a negative reaction to the word "hazing" without knowing what criminal allegations it can lead to and the penalties they might face if there is a conviction. Having a legal defense from a law firm that understands the unique circumstances in a predominately college town is imperative.
Hazing occurs when a person is attempting to initiate, admit or affiliate a student or a minor into an organization and does so in an intentional, knowing and reckless way. The following acts are criminal violations if the person is caused or coerced into doing them as part of the initiation: commit a criminal violation of federal or state law; consume substances that can do physical or emotional damage such as alcohol and certain foods; cause physical brutality like branding, beating and whipping; cause mental abuse such as sleep deprivation, social exclusion and embarrassing acts; sexual brutality; and other acts that could cause injury.
With State College being so rife with young people who might decide to go to parties and drink with relatively high frequency, there is a good possibility that people will do just that. When they are legally allowed to do so, there is nothing wrong with it. However, many might decide to get behind the wheel after drinking. Whether they have had a small amount of alcohol or not, this is dangerous and can lead to a charge of driving while intoxicated.
There are many subsets of DUI and it is important to understand them when facing charges. An example of what people facing charges should understand is the difference between general impairment, a high rate of alcohol and the highest rate of alcohol. This can also be helpful when planning a defense. With general impairment, a person cannot be in control, operate or drive a vehicle after imbibing enough alcohol so they are incapable of driving safely. Nor can they do any of the above after imbibing enough so their blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) is a minimum of 0.08 percent and less than 0.10 percent within two hours after having been in control, operated or drove a vehicle.
In State College and throughout Pennsylvania, the drug problem is a growing concern for legislators and law enforcement. To try and reduce the frequency of people buying and using drugs, there are frequent traffic stops and investigations of those believed to be involved in drug offenses. That, however, does not automatically mean people who are placed under arrest for drug violations are guilty. The circumstances will inevitably differ in these cases and those charged should make certain they have a legal defense that can do whatever is necessary to combat the allegations and avoid the most serious consequences.
A man who was experiencing a drug overdose led to the arrest of four people. A woman who was in a vehicle with her boyfriend and two other people - a man and a woman - was allegedly going to another part of the state to purchase heroin. As they were returning, one of the men was unresponsive and they thought he had died. The woman was reluctant to call for emergency assistance due to her criminal record. The man who had become unresponsive also had a criminal record.
For students at State College, alcohol will undoubtedly be present whether they are of legal age to consume it or not. It is unavoidable in college. Many will violate the law by drinking underage and try to purchase alcohol. While they might not see it as an egregious legal violation, the fact is that they can face charges for alcohol-related offenses. This is especially problematic if the underage person gets behind the wheel and is accused of driving while intoxicated. Not only could they face charges for DWI, but the blood-alcohol content level to warrant DWI charges is lower for a person under 21 than it is for someone of legal drinking age. Understanding Zero Tolerance in Pennsylvania is critical toward a defense.
If a person is arrested and charged with DWI and is under the age of 21, there can be severe penalties. Since they are not legally allowed to drink in the first place, the penalties will be enhanced. If a person has .02 percent BAC, their driver's license can be suspended for 12 to 18 months. They might face between 48 hours and six months of jail time. And there can be a fine ranging from $500 to $5,000.
Getting stopped by a police officer in Pennsylvania can be intimidating, particularly if the officer proceeds to question you regarding your alleged involvement in a crime. If you are stopped and questioned by a police officer, it is important that you know your rights. A criminal defense attorney can evaluate your case and determine whether the questioning you endured was lawful.
Legally, a police officer is allowed to stop you and ask you questions if they have legitimate reason to believe you committed or helped commit a crime. However, under the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, you are protected against self-incrimination. This means that you do not need to answer any questions that could expose you to criminal charges. The only information you are required to provide when asked is your name.
Sometimes parties can get a little out hand, especially in college. But, loud music and damages are the least of your worries when dangerous amounts of prescription or illicit drugs are involved.
When you fear a friend may have gone too far, you can request emergency help while securing immunity from prosecution for you and your friend if you follow certain procedures.
You may think that once you are arrested on DUI charges in Pennsylvania you are all-but-guaranteed to be convicted. However, the reality is that some people have their DUI charges dismissed, or at the very at least reduced. If you choose to hire a criminal defense attorney to help you, you may be able to use one or more of the following defenses to fight the charges against you.
Many of the most common DUI defenses relate to the legality of the traffic stop and arrest. A DUI arrest generally starts with an officer stopping a vehicle for a traffic violation. However, in some cases, the officer did not have probable cause to make that initial traffic stop, therefore making the ensuing arrest unlawful.
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Law Offices of Lance T. Marshall
209 East Beaver Avenue
State College,
PA
16801
Phone:
814-308-0422
Fax:
814-308-8552
State College Criminal Defense Attorney Office
