West Chester Criminal Defense Blog

ekatherine.stamatis@lawrank.com | October 10, 2014 | Drunk Driving

 Under the vehicle code, a police officer in Chester County, or anywhere in Pennsylvania, may conduct an investigatory detention if he has reasonable suspicion to believe that a motorist violated a provision of the motor vehicle code.  (For example, he suspects the driver is committing… read more

ekatherine.stamatis@lawrank.com | October 6, 2014 | Evidence

In many Chester County criminal cases evidence against the accused comes in the form of writings, recordings, or video evidence (surveillance videos). For example, a theft or retail theft case where the evidence of the theft was only observed on video. During a preliminary hearing… read more

ekatherine.stamatis@lawrank.com | October 3, 2014 | Criminal Law

When someone is arrested in Pennsylvania and charged with state misdemeanor or felony crimes, the first court date that they will have to appear at is called the preliminary hearing (excluding the Philadelphia Court system). This will be scheduled in the magisterial district court that… read more

ekatherine.stamatis@lawrank.com | October 1, 2014 | DUI

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as a condition of maintaining a driver’s license, all drivers are subject to the implied consent requirements of the Motor Vehicle Code – thus, a driver must submit to blood and breath tests under appropriate circumstances. Practically speaking, what this… read more