DRUNK DRIVER SENTENCED TO 56 YEARS IN PRISON

A West Virginia circuit court judge recently sentenced a habitual drunk driver to up to 56-years in prison. Brian Stone was convicted on 14 misdemeanor counts and 12 felony counts of drunk driving and related offenses, and was sentenced to 14-years in a regional jail, to be followed by 27-56 years in a state penitentiary. He was also fined $64,000.

Mr. Stone’s involvement in an accident, July 2007, killed five people and seriously injured seven. Stone had seven previous DUI convictions and nine DUI related arrests prior to this accident. Mr. Stone was found to have a BAC of 0.23 after his vehicle rear-ended another while traveling on a West Virginia interstate, causing the vehicle to cross the median and strike another car. He was charged and convicted with DUI causing death, DUI with injury, leaving the scene of an accident involving death and injury, and DUI. Stone will likely now be extradited to Pennsylvania to face charges of tampering with public driving records and committing automobile insurance fraud.

Driving Under the Influence (DUI)

In Pennsylvania, DUI convictions carry certain mandatory minimum penalties. Elements of the conviction determine the sentence, and other mitigating factors such as past convictions increase penalties exponentially. In the case where fatalities are involved, a mandatory sentence of 3-years in prison, per victim, will apply. Other penalties such as license revocation and fines are also associated with DUI convictions.

If you have been arrested for Drunk Driving, DUI, DWI, or Underage Drinking, contact a Philadelphia Criminal Defense Attorney immediately. These are defenses which are available to you, which can reduce or eliminate penalties associated with the

FOOTBALL PLAYER ARRESTED, CHARGED WITH FELONY FRAUD

A West Virginia University football player was arrested last week after he allegedly charged over $1,000 on credit and debit cards which were not his. Charles Pugh, a safety for the Mountaineers, will face felony charges for fraudulent schemes. Pugh allegedly found car keys in the school’s student union, used the panic button to locate the associated vehicle in a parking garage, and then illegally entered the vehicle from which he removed both a credit and debit card.

Police Chief, Bob Roberts, explained that Pugh would be charged with a felony because the amount of unauthorized charges exceeds $1,000. If convicted of a felony, Pugh would serve, at the minimum, one year in prison.

Felony Crimes

Felony offenses are the most serious crimes and carry potential prison sentences. In Pennsylvania, the two/three strike rule is applicable and states that if you have a previous conviction for a violent crime, a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years for a second offense and 25 years to life for a third offense will be imposed upon conviction. Non-violent felonies, although not applicable to the two/three strike rule, are still very serious infractions which carry potentially long prison sentences.

If you have been charged with a felony criminal offense, contact the Law Offices of Marc Neff immediately. We will assist you in your defense and can potentially lessen or eliminate the charges against you.

PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER SENTENCED FOR DUI, RESISTING ARREST

John Adonizio, a Pittston Area school board member, was sentenced this week for driving under the influence and resisting arrest. Adonizio was arrested this past December in Hughestown, Pennsylvania, when police observed him speeding and swerving towards a snow-covered intersection, just after 2 a.m. Police attempted to stop the vehicle, but Adonizio eluded the police for several blocks before coming to a stop in front of his home. The defendant exited his vehicle, refused a field sobriety test, refused to submit to a blood-test, and resisted arrest, claiming he was “good friends” with the county’s District Attorney.

Adonizio pled guilty to DUI and resisting arrest charges, and was sentenced to at least thirty (30) days of house arrest. He was given the option of serving the house arrest sentence or spending seventy-two (72) hours in prison. As terms of his house arrest, he will only be allowed to leave his home for work, religious worship, doctor’s visit, and other “necessities”. Further, Adonizio was ordered to pay a $1,000.00 fine, cover the cost of the house arrest bracelet, and perform community service. Mr. Adonizio’s driving privileges have also been suspended for a period of one year.

Drunk Driving

Driving under the influence in Pennsylvania is a serious matter, as it is in every state, and carries minimum penalties required by Pennsylvania statute. The mandatory minimum is based on elements of the conviction, with increases in the mandatory minimum based on any previous conviction for DUI or comparable offense within the past ten years. Penalties can range from six months probation to up to one year in prison; along with other fines and penalties.

If you have been arrested Drunk Driving, DUI, DWI, or Underage Drinking, contact a Philadelphia Criminal Defense Attorney immediately. There are defenses which are available to you, which can reduce or eliminate penalties associated with these charges.

LANCASTER MAN CHARGED WITH DRUNK DRIVING FOR BEING A GOOD FRIEND

Pennsylvania State Police arrested a 20 year old man from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania over the weekend, when he attempted to bail his friend out of jail early Sunday morning after he too was arrested for drunk driving.

According to the Intelligencer Journal, police stopped and arrested a 20 year old Lancaster county man, just after 4:00 a.m. Sunday morning, when they suspected he was driving under the influence. About an hour later, police arrested another man when he arrived at the Lancaster police barracks to pick-up his friend. Police suspected the friend had been drinking when they questioned him upon his arrival to the station and after performing sobriety tests, determined the man was over the legal limit for driving and arrested him.

Drunk Driving

Driving under the influence in Pennsylvania is a serious matter which carries mandatory minimum penalties. These penalties are even harsher for individuals under the legal drinking age of 21. For example, a 20 year old arrested for DUI (Blood Alcohol Content 0.2 or greater) will serve 48 hours in jail for a first offense, 30 days for a second, 90 days for a third, and 1 year for subsequent offenses occurring within a ten year period; in addition to other serious penalties such as a loss of driving privileges. These penalties increase upon a higher BAC level or testing positive for controlled substances.

If you have been arrested for Drunk Driving, DUI, DWI, or Underage Drinking, contact a Philadelphia Criminal Defense Attorney immediately. These are defenses which are available to you, which can reduce or eliminate penalties associated with these charges.

DRUNK DRIVER GIVEN PROBATION FOR ACCIDENT WITH SANDRA BULLOCK

An Essex County, Massachusetts judge sentenced a 64-year-old woman to one year probation for a drunk-driving accident involving actress Sandra Bullock which occurred last month. According to the Associated Press , the woman pleaded guilty to driving under the influence along with other traffic violations.

According to the Essex County District attorney, not only will the woman serve one year of probation, but she will also lose her driving privileges for sixty days and must complete an alcohol safety program.

Drunk Driving

Driving under the influence in Pennsylvania is a serious matter, as it is in every state, and carries minimum penalties required by Pennsylvania statute. The mandatory minimum is based on elements of the conviction, with increases in the mandatory minimum based on any previous conviction for DUI or comparable offense within the past ten years. Penalties can range from 6-months probation to up to one year in prison; along with other fines and penalties.

If you have been arrested for Drunk Driving, DUI, DWI, or Underage Drinking, contact a Philadelphia Criminal Defense Attorney immediately. There are defenses which are available to you, which can reduce or eliminate penalties associated with these charges.

DRUNK DRIVER DETAINED BY PARAMEDIC HELD LAWFUL

The case involved a DUI charge from Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The defendant was stopped by an off-duty paramedic; who was still in uniform, driving a minivan. The paramedic called 911 when he noticed a vehicle being operated suspiciously. He asked the defendant to turn into a nearby gas station. The paramedic notified the defendant that he intended to call 911, and asked that the defendant turn-off his vehicle and relinquish the keys. The police arrived shortly after, concluded that the defendant was intoxicated, and arrested defendant for DUI and possession of marijuana.

The Court refused to grant 4th Amendment protection and suppress evidence. The Court determined that simply wearing a uniform was not enough to constitute state action, since boy scouts, among others, also wear uniforms and badges. The court, citing Commonwealth v. Mendenhall, reiterated that Fourth Amendment protection occurs only when, considering all of the facts a reasonable person would think he or she is being restrained.

A person acting in a private capacity does not have the authority to perform traffic stops or make arrests for summary offenses. Nevertheless, evidence obtained through such a stop may still be used against you in a Court of law. If you have been arrested and charged with a DUI or similar offense, there are many defenses which may be available to you. Pennsylvania DUI and drug possession penalties are severe, so do not hesitate to contact the Law Offices of Marc Neff immediately if you have been charged with such a crime.