Category: Pennsylvania Courts

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A Look at the DUI Trial Process in Pennsylvania

Posted by Steven E. Kellis on


When you are charged with a DUI in Philadelphia and decide to take your case to trial, there are several things that you can reasonably expect to occur. While no two trials are exactly alike, they do tend to follow the same pattern of events. If you have decided to take your case to a judge or jury, here is what may happen.

1. Expert Witnesses

Your attorney or the prosecutor may call expert witnesses. The prosecution will typically call a law enforcement officer to the stand. These men and women are trained on enforcing DUI laws and will introduce testimony meant to have you convicted. Your attorney may call expert witnesses to point out the flaws in the prosecution’s case.

It’s important to understand that expert witnesses do not come free, and you will pay for their assistance. It is safe to figure that you will pay at least $1,000 for each expert who testifies on your behalf.… Read More

Legislator Gets Lucky with DUI Sentence

Posted by Steven Kellis on

philadelphia-county-300x200A Pennsylvania lawmaker, who had been accused of riding his motorcycle while under the influence, will be accepted into a program for first-time offenders, even though this latest DUI arrest will be his third.

According to court records, Senator Pat Browne (R., Lehigh) was charged in May after he crashed his vehicle on an I-78 off-ramp. At the time of the accident, tests indicated that Browne had a blood alcohol level of 0.09 percent, just slightly above the legal limit of 0.08 per cent.

Lehigh County Court Judge Kelly Banach has allowed Browne to enter into the state’s accelerated rehabilitative disposition program. If Browne abides by the conditions of the program, he will avoid a mandatory three-day prison term and $1,000 fine and the DUI incident will not appear on his permanent driving record.

This marks Browne’s third DUI in 20 years, with the prior DUI incident on record being 16 years ago.… Read More

Man Convicted of DUI Manslaughter

Posted by Steven Kellis on

download (3)A man from Brighton Heights was sentenced to jail for his role in the death of a pedestrian in 2013 while driving under the influence of alcohol.

According to court documents, Gregg R. Baratka, 38, has been sentenced by Common Pleas Judge Edward J. Borkowski of Allegheny County to serve eight to 23 months’ imprisonment and four years’ probation.

In December of 2013, Baratka told police was turning left in a pickup truck from Brighton Road onto Woods Run Avenue about 7:30 p.m. Baratka heard his side-view mirror hit his window and he stopped his vehicle. Witnesses informed him that he had struck a pedestrian. Baratka called 911 and waited for police to arrive at the scene.

The victim in the accident, pedestrian James Lepinsky, 88, died four days as the result of blunt force trauma suffered in the accident.

Police administered a blood-alcohol test which indicated that Bartaka’s blood alcohol level was 0.09… Read More

Retired District Judge Pleads Guilty to Fixing DUI Case

Posted by Steven E. Kellis on

download (28)A retired district judge has come under scrutiny for his part in fixing a drunken driving case for the nephew of an assistant prosecutor who is now sitting on the bench in a southwestern Pennsylvania county.  He has pleaded guilty to the charge.

According to court documents, Dwight Shaner, 71, of Dunbar Township, pleaded guilty before a Dauphin County Judge last week.  He will spend 18 months on probation.

Shaner and his defense attorney declined comment after the plea was entered.

Shaner could still possibly forfeit his $3,600 monthly pension according to Senior Deputy Attorney General L. Todd Goodwin, even though the charge is considered a misdemeanor by law.

Shaner had been the district judge in Dunbar Township in Fayette County, when he dismissed the charges of DUI and leaving the scene of an accident filed against the nephew of Linda Cordaro, Robert Rudnik, 31, of Connellsville, in 2011.  Cordaro was an assistant district attorney at the time.… Read More

Third Cruiser Crash in as many Weeks

Posted by Steven E. Kellis on

download (63)Crashing into a police cruiser is a sure way to get the attention of an officer, but lately there’s been a string of crashes involving alleged drunk drivers in Philadelphia. The latest one caused the suspect’s vehicle to catch fire.

Early in the morning on Whittaker Avenue, a police officer was in the median with his emergency lights on. The suspect crashed into the cruiser and bounced off into a concrete pole at a high rate of speed. The officer was uninjured and was able to remove the driver as the car caught fire. The officer was uninjured but the driver had a broken leg.

While searching the car, the officer found a zipper bag with an unknown powder in it. The officer also reported smelling alcohol and the man having glassy eyes.

Another crash involved an officer on construction detail at Broad and Tioga streets. The officer involved in that crash had to go to the hospital.… Read More

Officer Facing Trial for False DWI Accusation of Assemblyman

Posted by Steven E. Kellis on

download (62)Here’s an example of a case where a DUI arrest led to exoneration and to the trial of the officer who allegedly made false statements. Assemblyman Paul Moriarty (D., Gloucester) was arrested for DUI after leaving a Nissan dealership in Turnersville. The officer claimed he could smell alcohol and ordered the Assemblyman to perform field sobriety tests before getting handcuffed and taken to the station for a breath test.

The Assemblyman refused the breath test because he “had no faith in the process at that point.” When footage of the incident was shown at trial, the officer’s narrative was completely refuted and the criminal charges were dismissed. The prosecutor even went so far as to tell jurors “None of this happened.” Now the officer faces 14 charges in his own trial, including official misconduct and tampering with records.

During the Assemblyman’s testimony in Officer DiBuonavenutra’s trial, he said that he felt targeted, but had no idea why.… Read More

Bell Enters Pennsylvania’s ARD Program

Posted by Steven E. Kellis on

download (61)A while back, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell was arrested for DUI. Now he has had his time before the judge. He was arrested back in August after an officer smelled marijuana coming from his vehicle.

He has been sentenced to 15 months of probation, a sixty-day license suspension, must attend rehab classes, and has also been enrolled in Pennsylvania’s Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program.  The ARD program is a special program for first-time DUI offenders with no prior criminal record. The court costs for this program are around $2400.

By entering into this program, he avoids going to trial and possibly facing a stiffer sentence. If he completes it, his record will be expunged. He may face further disciplinary actions from the NFL now that a sentence has been handed down, including possible suspensions.

The ARD program is one of the ways that Pennsylvania tries to help people who may have made a single mistake and got caught with DUI.… Read More

Senate Unanimously Approves Increase in Use of Interlock Ignitions for DUI Offenders

Posted by Steven E. Kellis on

HBarrisonThis month, the state Senate of Pennsylvania has unanimously agreed to send a bill the state House that would increase the use of ignition interlock devices. If this bill passes through the house, the ignition interlock devices would be required for all everyone that is found guilty of driving under the influence. This includes first time offenders if their blood alcohol level is at or above 0.10. The device will be required to be installed in the offender’s car for a minimum of one year.

 The current law in Pennsylvania requires the use of an ignition interlock device for a year if the driver is facing his second DUI and beyond.

 Increasing the punishment for driving under the influence also increases the need for a good attorney. It makes it that much more imperative that the accused has someone to fight for their rights. With the proper attorney, charges can be lessened or dropped.… Read More

DUI Vehicular Homicide Case Starts in Washington County

Posted by Steven E. Kellis on

A 42-year-old Ellsworth man will be standing trial for the charge of vehicular homicide for his part in an alleged hit-and-run accident that left a female pedestrian dead in Washington County.

On August 15th of this year, Brittany Martie Chapman, 29, was walking on South Main Street when she was hit by a pickup truck, allegedly being driven by Robert Lee Meyers Jr., 42.

A judge has ordered Meyers to stand trial for vehicular homicide and other related charges in an alleged hit-and-run accident that claimed the life of a pedestrian in Ellsworth, Washington County.

According to State Police investigators, Meyers struck and killed Chapman around 8:40 p.m. The accident occurred approximately 100 yards south of Juniper Street as Chapman was walking home from a local bar. Meyers fled the scene of the accident and Chapman was pronounced dead just after 9:30 p.m.

Myers has been charged with homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence of alcohol, leaving the scene, aggravated assault by vehicle and other related charges.… Read More

Pro Football Player Issued DUI for Marijuana

Posted by Steven E. Kellis on

Royabrool via Wikimedia Creative Commons LicenseThere is more than one way of driving under the influence, as Steelers’ running backs LeGarrette Blout and Le’Veon Bell leaned on Wednesday hours before they were scheduled to board a flight Philadelphia for a preseason game.

According to reports, a Ross Township police officer on a patrol motorcycle stopped at a red light on McKnight Road.  Next to the police officer was a black Camaro, also stopped at the light.  According to the officer, he was able to smell the odor of marijuana coming from the partially opened window on the driver’s side door, although he could not see into the vehicle due to its tinted windows.  He made the traffic stop at the time. Bell was driving the Camaro, with teammate Blout in the passenger seat, and a female in the back seat.

According to the police report, Bell’s eyes were red and glassy, and his pupils were dilated, and after questioning he admitted that they had smoked within the past two hours and that there was a small amount marijuana in the glove compartment. … Read More