Pittsburgh Criminal Law Blog

A 28-year-old resident of the Brookline neighborhood in Pittsburgh has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. A police officer reportedly pulled the man over around 2:35 in the morning on Jan. 15. The officer claimed the young man was driving erratically through Baldwin Township. Such statements are typical in police reports, as is the officer's claim that the driver's vehicle smelled of alcohol.

It was said that the driver was subjected to field-sobriety tests, though what kind or where the tests were administered (on rough terrain or concrete) was not indicated in a local news story. In any case, the officer reported that the man failed the field-sobriety tests. He was then arrested for DUI and taken to the hospital for a blood-alcohol test, which was still pending more than a week after the young man was arrested. He has since been released from jail.

Due to the accessibility features of the Internet and its reach across state lines, Internet crimes are considered federal computer crimes and may be punishable with a federal prison sentence. But, due to the nature of the Internet, prosecutors may have a difficult time obtaining a conviction, and a reduction of charges is often possible with a strong criminal defense.

Recently, a 29-year-old Pennsylvania woman became aware of the seriousness of Internet crimes allegations. The young woman was sentenced to five years in a federal prison and to pay $1,500 in fines for allegedly committing Internet crimes. Prosecutors claimed that in September 2006, the woman hired a hit man online from a "hitmanforhire" website. It was said that she asked the hit man kill her ex-boyfriend's current love interest.

A Pennsylvania man who recently pled guilty to sexual assault attributed his behavior to stress and emotional problems that eventually led to a nervous breakdown. The 57-year-old was employed as a residential services aide at an assisted-living facility in Pennsylvania for 17 years. He was accused of sexually assaulting a mentally handicapped resident there.

After pleading guilty to first-degree misdemeanor indecent assault, the 57-year-old will now be registered as a sex offender for 10 years in accordance with Megan's Law. He will also have to be evaluated by the Pennsylvania Sexual Offenders Assessment Board, which aims to determine if a person is a violent sexual predator.

Pennsylvania readers know that some drug charges are more serious than others. One of the most serious drug crimes to be accused of is illegally selling controlled substances on federal property. Just such a case is currently making its way through the legal system, as a Pennsylvania man faces federal drug charges for allegedly selling marijuana and cocaine at Tobyhanna Army Depot.

The man was charged with both drug and weapons charges on Dec. 1. According to authorities, he confessed to selling drugs to other people who worked on the depot. Investigators claim the depot worker has been engaging in illegal drug activity for over 10 years. It was also alleged that FBI agents seized two pounds of marijuana and two guns from the man's home. It was said that he would travel to Philadelphia to buy the drugs and return to sell them.