Have prosecutors charged you with criminal offenses? Facing prosecution for a crime can cause you significant embarrassment and anxiety over your future. However, you don’t have to go through the criminal justice system alone. A dedicated lawyer can prepare you for what to expect in a criminal prosecution, prepare a tailored, effective legal strategy aimed at securing a positive outcome, and advocate for you before trial and in court. Contact Andrew F. Skala, Esquire, for an initial case evaluation with a knowledgeable Pennsylvania criminal defense attorney to learn how I will fight to protect your rights and interests as you face prosecution.
Why Choose Andrew F. Skala, Esquire?
After an arrest, having dedicated legal representation can help you fight for a favorable resolution to your charges. Choose Andrew F. Skala, Esquire, to advocate for your rights and interests when facing the criminal justice system because of my firm’s values, including:
- Collaboration and Input – I believe that the client should decide how to proceed with their case. I take the time to explain your case and legal options, ensuring you can make an informed decision that best serves your needs and objectives.
- Comprehensive Legal Knowledge and Experience – I have over two decades of experience representing clients facing criminal charges, ensuring that you will have an attorney with the knowledge and insights necessary to handle your case.
- Honesty, Transparency, and Respect – When you hire my firm to represent you in a criminal case, you can expect to receive an honest, clear assessment of your case, even if you might not obtain the outcome you want. However, I will always show respect for the challenging situation you find yourself in.
Types of Criminal Cases the Firm Handles
Andrew F. Skala, Esquire, can help you seek a favorable resolution to criminal charges when you face prosecution for offenses such as:
- Theft and other property crimes
- Domestic violence charges (including protection from abuse order proceedings)
- DUI/drunk driving charges
- Sex offenses, such as rape, sexual abuse, child molestation, possession/distribution of child pornography, and prostitution/solicitation
- Drug crimes, including simple possession, possession with intent to distribute, drug distribution, and drug cultivation/manufacturing
- Campus crimes/college student offenses, including underage drinking/alcohol possession, DUI, drug possession, theft, rape/sexual assault, or violations of restraining orders
- Firearms-related charges, including unlawful use of weapons, possession of weapons by prohibited persons, or possession of unlawful weapons
- Indirect criminal contempt
I can also assist with post-trial proceedings, including filing direct appeals of criminal convictions or pursuing Post Conviction Relief Act (PCRA) petitions after direct appeals to raise issues such as ineffective assistance of trial or direct appellate counsel, the legality of the conviction or sentence, or newly discovered evidence of innocence.
Consequences of a Criminal Conviction
A criminal conviction in Pennsylvania can have various consequences for your freedom, reputation, and future. First, a conviction will result in a criminal sentence that may include incarceration, fines, or other penalties, such as restitution obligations, probation, community service, mandatory substance abuse or mental health counseling, or driver’s license suspension.
The potential sentence that a court may impose for a criminal conviction will depend on the grading of the offense. Pennsylvania law classifies criminal offenses as felonies or misdemeanors, recognizing several degrees of each. Sentencing ranges for criminal offenses in Pennsylvania include:
- First-Degree Felony – Up to 20 years in prison and a potential fine of up to $25,000
- Second-Degree Felony – Up to 10 years in prison and a potential fine of up to $25,000
- Third-Degree Felony – Up to seven years in prison and a potential fine of up to $15,000
- First-Degree Misdemeanor – Up to five years in prison and a potential fine of up to $10,000
- Second-Degree Misdemeanor – Up to two years in prison and a potential fine of up to $5,000
- Third-Degree Misdemeanor – Up to one year in prison and a potential fine of up to $2,500
- Summary Offense – Up to 90 days in prison and a potential fine of up to $300 (or higher if specified by the offense)
Criminal convictions can have other long-term collateral consequences. For example, a felony conviction or a conviction for a domestic violence offense may result in losing your firearm rights, precluding you from lawfully owning or possessing guns. A conviction for a sex offense may also require you to register as a sex offender, which imposes an obligation to report to law enforcement periodically and update the police with changes in your personal information, such as your residence, contact information, or place of employment. Criminal convictions can also disqualify you from certain government benefits, licenses, or occupations.
Finally, a conviction will leave you with a criminal record that can have adverse effects on your ability to pursue professional licenses, employment opportunities, educational programs, or housing due to the stigma of having committed a crime. Given the potentially severe and long-lasting consequences of a criminal conviction, you need experienced legal counsel to help you protect your interests and pursue the best possible resolution to your charges.
Potential Defenses to Criminal Charges
A person facing criminal prosecution may have various defenses to raise against the prosecution’s case, depending on the facts and circumstances surrounding the case and their arrest. Examples of defenses used in criminal cases include:
- Lack of Intent – A defendant may assert that the evidence fails to show they acted with the level of criminal intent required by the charged criminal statute.
- Lack of Possession – In drug and weapons cases, defendants may argue that the prosecution’s case does not prove they had actual or constructive possession of the contraband.
- Consent – Defendants facing sex charges may assert that the alleged victim validly consented to sexual activity with the defendant.
- Self-Defense – A defendant charged with a violent offense may claim they acted in self-defense or defense of others because the alleged victim posed an imminent threat of inflicting injury as the perpetrator of an altercation.
- Mistaken Identity – Defendants may challenge the reliability of victims’ or eyewitnesses’ identifications by arguing that police used improperly suggestive identification procedures with the victims or witnesses or highlighting factors that could have adversely affected a victim’s or witness’s perspective of the perpetrator.
- Alibi – A defendant may deny having committed an offense by presenting alibi evidence to prove they were elsewhere when the crime happened.
- Unreliable Forensic Evidence – When cases involve forensic evidence like DNA, ballistics, or fingerprints, a defendant may challenge the reliability of the evidence by highlighting issues with the state’s forensic testing or identifying breaks in the chain of custody of the evidence.
- Unlawfully Obtained Evidence/Statements – A defendant may try to exclude evidence from the prosecution’s case before trial by arguing that police officers obtained the evidence or statements through an unlawful search of the defendant or interrogation that violated the defendant’s rights.
How Can an Attorney Help You?
A criminal defense attorney can help you resolve charges by:
- Independently investigating your case to ensure we have all available evidence
- Reviewing the facts of your case to identify defenses and legal strategies
- Helping you understand your situation and walking you through your legal options to help you make informed decisions
- Challenging the prosecution’s case at every opportunity
- Fighting for the best possible outcome for your case, even if that means going to trial
Contact Us Today for Experienced Legal Advocacy
If you face criminal charges in Pennsylvania, you need experienced legal counsel to help you protect your rights, reputation, and future. Contact Andrew F. Skala, Esquire, today for a confidential consultation with a knowledgeable criminal defense lawyer to discuss your charges and review your options for seeking a favorable resolution to your case that allows you to move forward with your life.