by Marc Neff
Corruption Trial for Pennsylvania State Senator Begins This Week
Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent Fumo, a member of the Pennsylvania Senate since 1978, will stand trial starting this week on corruption charges. Fumo was indicted nearly a year and a half ago on 139-counts of corruption and related offenses, including but not limited to conspiring to defraud the Senate, conspiring to defraud a South Philadelphia non-profit organization, conspiring to...
by Marc Neff
Pennsylvania Appellate Court Upholds Suppression of Evidence Obtained through Coercive Traffic Stop
The Superior Court of Pennsylvania recently upheld a Cumberland County trial court’s decision to suppress evidence obtained through a traffic stop. Terry Moyer was stopped when a Corporal from the Pennsylvania State Police noticed a hole in his rear taillight. The Corporal turned on a spotlight and observed frantic movement between the driver, Mr. Moyer, and his passenger. The Corporal...
by Marc Neff
Prosecutors Given New Guidelines for Investigating White Collar Crime
On the same day that the United States Court of Appeals upheld the dismissal charges against 13 former KPMG executives due to a finding that their constitutional rights had been violated, the United States Justice Department announced new guidelines for the prosecution of white collar crime. In the KPMG case, federal prosecutors would not allow KPMG to pay the legal fees of its executives....
by Marc Neff
Former Philadelphia Area Camp Counselor Indicted on Charges of Child Pornography
A former Friends’ Central camp counselor was recently indicted on charges of distributing child pornography. The defendant was under FBI investigation for three months prior to being arrested earlier this month. The FBI used an undercover agent, posing as the mother of a thirteen year old girl, as part of their investigation. In the complaint, it is alleged that the defendant told the agent...
by Marc Neff
Man Convicted of Sexual Assault in Philadelphia, Extradited to Idaho to Stand Trial on Additional Charges of Rape
Jeffrey Marsalis, convicted on two-counts of sexual assault by a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas judge last year and sentenced to 10 ½ to 21 years in prison, has been removed from the Forest County Correctional Institution in Pennsylvania and extradited to Blaine County, Idaho to face a third rape trial. Marsalis lived in Philadelphia between 2003 and 2005 where he attended...
by Marc Neff
Pennsylvania Superior Court Upholds Conviction of Attempted Murder, Despite Absence of Deadly Weapon
A man convicted of attempted murder of a police officer, and aggravated assault in relation to others, recently had his convictions upheld by the Pennsylvania Superior Court. Edmond Jackson was convicted on charges of attempted murder and aggravated assault, stemming from a shooting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 2004. Police officers were investigating a shooting which had occurred...
by Marc Neff
Pennsylvania Man Given Permission to Enter ARD Program, Despite Being Convicted of a Prior Felony Which was Expunged
A recent Pennsylvania Superior Court decision upheld a ruling by the Court of Common Please, York County, allowing a defendant with a prior felony conviction to enter an Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) Program; following his arrest for Driving Under the Influence. Brian Fleming was arrested and charged with two counts of Driving Under the Influence and a summary traffic offense...
by Marc Neff
Recorded Phone Conversation Ruled Inadmissible in Pennsylvania Sex Abuse Case
The Superior Court of Pennsylvania recently upheld a Trial Court’s decision that a taped phone conversation between a child and her alleged abuser was inadmissible at trial. David Deck, a resident of Cumberland County, was charged with statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault, and sexual abuse of children, when the child...
by Marc Neff
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Ruling Requires More than Police Experience to Constitute Probable Cause to Search Following a Perceived Drug Deal
A Philadelphia, Pennsylvania man, who was arrested outside of a bar when patrolling police officers witnessed what they perceived to be a drug deal, has had his conviction overturned by the Pennsylvania Superior Court. Philadelphia Police were driving by when they observed the defendant exit the bar and approach a man who had been standing out front. The officers, experienced members of the...
by Marc Neff