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What Are Juvenile Shoplifting Penalties?

April 22, 2022
West Chester Criminal Defense Lawyers at the Law Offices of Heather J. Mattes Will Protect Your Child if They Are Accused of Juvenile Shoplifting.

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania takes juvenile shoplifting seriously, however, its penalties are designed to teach and not necessarily to punish. The goal is to demonstrate to the youth that they have made a mistake and they should not engage in that activity again. It is still a serious affair if your child has been arrested…

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How Can I Avoid a DUI Charge on St. Patrick’s Day?

March 8, 2022
West Chester DUI Defense Lawyers at the Law Offices of Heather J. Mattes Fight for Those Charged with Drunk Driving

Although St. Patrick’s Day was intended to honor a revered priest in Ireland, it has become a drinking holiday around the world.   Parades, parties, special events at bars and clubs, and pub crawls are scheduled all over the United States for St. Patrick’s Day, and often the days around it. Many drink heavily at…

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What Are the Underage Drinking Laws in Pennsylvania?

March 2, 2022
underage drinking

The lawful age to buy or drink liquor in Pennsylvania is 21. Under Pennsylvania law, it is unlawful for anybody under 21 to buy, drink, possess, or transport alcohol, malt, or mixed drinks. The punishments for a conviction are obligatory fines and loss of driving privileges. These fines and subsequent suspensions increase with each ensuing…

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What Is the Expungement Process in Pennsylvania?

January 27, 2022
expungement process

With the wide range of digital search options employers now use to screen job applicants, misdemeanors from a decade ago or even longer may come up when a person is being considered by a firm. We live in an era in which people have lost their jobs from inappropriate social media postings. A lot of…

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What Are Types of Fraud and Their Consequences?

December 17, 2021
fraud

The crime of fraud is treated very seriously in Pennsylvania and can have severe consequences if you are charged and convicted. Criminal fraud is when a person engages in a scheme or plan to cheat and/or steal something from another, either money or something else of value. It is illegal in Pennsylvania for someone to…

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How Can Drivers Avoid Blackout Wednesday?

November 19, 2021
drivers DUI

For most of us, Thanksgiving Eve is a time of great anticipation for spending the holidays with family and friends. Unfortunately, there are those who take to drinking on the night before Thanksgiving and are even encouraged to do so. The phrase Blackout Wednesday earned its name from people passing out from heavy drinking on…

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How can I Avoid a DUI Charge on Halloween Night?

October 21, 2021
DUI on Halloween

Many people see Halloween as one of the first of many year-end holidays. Even adults get into the fun by dressing up and attending costume parties. However, Halloween is not all fun, games, and laughter. It has a darker side related to the higher-than-average level of drunk driving accidents that occur on and around October…

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What are Criminal Drug Charges?

September 23, 2021

The penalties for criminal drug charges vary based on the type of drug or drugs found, and the pain and suffering resulting from a sale. The idea is that a single user causes less overall harm than someone who supplies drugs to other individuals. Users are seen as victims to their suppliers and therefore receive…

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How Does Juvenile Court Differ from Adult Court?

August 20, 2021
Juvenile Court

Under the United States legal system, unlawful acts committed by an adult is seen differently if the same act is committed by a juvenile.  The definition of a juvenile may differ from state to state.  Someone is considered a juvenile if they are under the age of 18, but some states classify juveniles if they…

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How can Drivers Avoid a DUI during Labor Day Weekend?

July 23, 2021
DUI

When it comes to summer celebrating and holiday weekends, the chances of being in a car accident or getting pulled over at a DUI checkpoint increases greatly. During any holiday weekend, all drivers should expect to be pulled over or questioned at some point or another. If in the event something goes wrong and legal…

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