Criminal Defense Attorney in Erie PA

The right experience matters. Finding the right criminal defense attorney isn’t an easy task or a decision to be taken lightly. You need to find an attorney who has the experience to get you the best possible results. My experience is unique and significant. In addition to considerable trial experience, I have also developed invaluable insight and professional relationships. Insight and professional relationships used, in many instances, to get results no other defense attorney can achieve. Remember, exceptional results require exceptional experience. Reach out for a FREE consultation to discuss why my unique experience makes Panighetti Law firm in Erie, PA the right choice for you.

Driving Under the Influence

It should come as a little surprise the charge of DUI in Erie PA is impacting especially given that Driving Under the Influence represents the misdemeanor offense individuals are most likely to face at some point in their lifetime. Even the most law abiding and upstanding members of this community can, depending in some instances on circumstances beyond their control, be put in a position where they will be charged with DUI. The reason that is the case is very simple. Nearly everyone drinks alcohol, and at some point nearly everyone who drinks is going to drive at a time and location where a police officer is going to believe they’re impaired.

Notice: I highlighted the word believe. The reason I did that is because not all Driving Under the Influence charges are created equal. Some are the byproduct of over aggressive police officers.

When that is the case you need an attorney who understands all the nuances of:

• Whether you were properly stopped by the police.

• Whether they had enough to arrest you based on what happened and what they observed after the stop.

• Whether they properly read you Miranda Warnings once you were in custody but before asking you questions that could put you in a position to unconstitutionally incriminate yourself.

• Whether they followed all the proscribed protocols when acquiring your blood or breath for chemical testing.

All of these possible issues and more can be the difference between a conviction and long license suspension and the case being thrown out altogether.

DUI Lawyer in Erie, PA

You need an experienced DUI Lawyer in Erie PA who understands the nuance of all those issues. A DIU attorney that spent nearly six years on the other side as a prosecutor is the ideal individual to hold law enforcement to task.

I was fortunate to serve as an Assistant District Attorney in Erie County from August 2009 until January 2015. In that position, among numerous other duties and experiences, I prosecuted approximately sixty jury trials to verdict, securing conviction in a high percentage of cases. These jury trials consisted of defendants charged with, among other more minor offenses, Driving Under the Influence, Homicide, Robbery, Firearm Possession, Felony Drug Possession and Delivery, Burglary, Aggravated Assault, Simple Assault, and Theft. While serving as a prosecutor I interacted on a daily basis with all members of law enforcement and the judiciary at both the Magisterial District Judge and Common Pleas Court level.

This significant and detailed experience as a prosecutor has allowed me to get tremendous results for my clients because, quite frankly, I’ve been in the shoes of the representative from the Commonwealth. This gives me tremendous insight into the appropriate approach regardless of the unique circumstances of your case. This extensive experience as a prosecutor has put a unique skill set and combination of experiences at my fingertips when representing future clients. As a result, I look forward to having the opportunity to sit down with you, talk about your case, and show you how I can put my skills and experience to work for you.

Erie’s Trusted Criminal Lawyers

I was fortunate to serve as an Assistant District Attorney in Erie County from August 2009 until January 2015. In that position, among numerous other duties and experiences, I prosecuted approximately sixty jury trials to verdict, securing conviction in a high percentage of cases. These jury trials consisted of defendants charged with, among other more minor offenses, Homicide, Robbery, Firearm Possession, Felony Drug Possession and Delivery, Burglary, Aggravated Assault, Simple Assault, Theft and Driving Under the Influence.

While serving as a prosecutor I held a primary role in the Erie County Gun Task Force, I handled a high percentage of the felony drug cases, and I interacted on a daily basis with all members of law enforcement and the judiciary at both the Magisterial District Judge and Common Pleas Court level. This significant and detailed experience as a prosecutor has allowed me to get tremendous results for my clients because, quite frankly, I’ve been in the shoes of the representative from the Commonwealth. This gives me tremendous insight into the appropriate approach regardless of the unique circumstances of your case.

When Experience and Insight Matters

This experience also allowed me the opportunity to join Gene Placidi and Jeff Veitch as a criminal defense attorney at Melaragno, Placidi, Parini & Veitch in January 2015. I have since moved on and created my own criminal practice, Panighetti’s Law. Since leaving the District Attorney’s Office, I have served as a criminal defense attorney in Erie, Crawford, Warren and Mercer counties. In that capacity I have defended numerous clients facing felonies relating to a variety of charges including but not limited to gun and drug possession, aggravated assault, and theft.

I have also successfully defended clients facing misdemeanors such as simple assault, terroristic threats and driving under the influence. In many circumstances I have also represented clients charged in the summary cases of underage drinking, harassment, public intoxication, disorderly conduct and driving while suspended.

This wide array of cases coupled with my extensive experience as a prosecutor put a unique skill set and combination of experience at my fingertips when representing future clients. I hope one of those future clients is you.

Be sure to take a moment to review the page relating to the specific offense you are charged with as well as the Criminal Law Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s).

If you need a criminal defense attorney in Erie, PA, contact me on 814-806-6385 or send an email on justin@panighettilaw.com.

Drug Crime Lawyer Erie PA

These four offenses are the most common types a person is likely to be charged with in relation to the unlawful possession of a controlled substance:

• Possession of a Controlled Substance

• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

• Possession with Intent to Deliver

• Delivery of a Controlled Substance

In most instances, drug charges come about in one of two ways:

• Through a search of an individual or their vehicle after a police interaction or traffic stop.

• Through an investigation conducted by law enforcement where controlled substances are seized via buys or search warrants.

The first situation generally results in a person getting charged with misdemeanors. The second, not surprisingly, normally leads to felony charges. There is a tremendous amount of nuance to defending a drug case, especially a felony drug case. As a result, they can be very complicated and often involve preliminary hearings, suppression hearings, and trials.

What should you expect when facing a charge relating to the possession of a controlled substance?

The County in which you were charged will make a difference. Why?

Your prior record is the other big factor when making an initial determination of the likely outcome in your case. Why?

The Preliminary Hearing places an extremely low burden on the Commonwealth. Why?

Your Constitutional protections matter. A lot. Why?

When talking Possession with Intent to Deliver, the devil is always in the details. Why?

As one might expect, this is not an exhaustive list of the things you should be aware of as you navigate through the judicial system with a charge relating to the possession of a controlled substance. However, it’s a good start.

Let's Talk

I hope we have the opportunity to sit down and talk about how I can put my skill and experience to work for you.

Assault Lawyer Erie PA

Being charged with a crime based on an allegation of assaultive behavior can come in many shapes and sizes. The most common people often think about, because it’s so often played out on television shows and in movies, is when a stranger assaults another stranger. However, the reality is that most assaults are between people who know each other – often between siblings, spouses, friends, or even co-workers.

It should come as little surprise that these situations often occur when alcohol is involved. As a result, there can often be a tremendous amount of factual nuance to each case, even those cases which don’t involve alcohol. By factual nuance, I’m referring to the often differing witness accounts which will frequently make up the crux of both the defense and prosecution case.

There are four potential assault charges and each is different.

Aggravated Assault (Felony of the 1st or 2nd Degree)

What is an Aggravated Assault?

In most instances, a person is charged with aggravated assault when he or she:

• Attempts to cause serious bodily injury to another, or causes such injury intentionally, knowingly or recklessly under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life.

• Attempts to cause or intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causes bodily injury to any member of a protected class (police officer, firefighter, etc), while they are in the performance of their duty.

• Attempts to cause or intentionally or knowingly causes bodily injury to another with a deadly weapon.

Simple Assault (Misdemeanor of the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd Degree)

What is Simple Assault?

In most instances, a person is charged with simple assault when he or she:

• Attempts to cause or intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causes bodily injury to another.

• Negligently causes bodily injury to another with a deadly weapon.

• Attempts by physical menace to put another in fear of imminent serious bodily injury.

Terroristic Threats (Commonly a Misdemeanor of the 1st Degree)

What are Terroristic Threats?

In most instances, a person is charged with terroristic threats when he or she:

• Communicates, either directly or indirectly, a threat to commit any crime of violence with intent to terrorize another.

Recklessly Endangering Another Person (Misdemeanor of the 2nd Degree)

What is Recklessly Endangering Another Person?

A person is charged with recklessly endangering another person when he or she:

• Recklessly engages in conduct which places or may place another person in danger of death or serious bodily injury.

Obviously, these broad descriptions of each crime contain words in italics which often have legal definitions which, in addition to the credibility of the witnesses involved, can make or break the case.

What can you expect when facing an assault charge?

The County in which you were charged will make a difference. Why?

Your prior record is the other big factor when making an initial determination of the likely outcome in your case. Why?

The Preliminary Hearing places an extremely low burden on the Commonwealth. Why?

Credibility is everything. Why?

As one might expect, this is not an exhaustive list of the things you should be aware of as you navigate through the judicial system with an assault charge. However, it’s a good start.

Let's Talk

I hope we have the opportunity to sit down and talk about how I can put my skill and experience to work for you.

Juvenile Defense Attorney Erie PA

Getting an experienced and knowledgeable juvenile defense attorney to represent your child’s interests when charged with a juvenile offense in Erie County is extremely important in light of their short and long term outlook. That means you need an attorney with both significant and recent experience within the Juvenile Justice System.

Many juvenile crimes attorneys will not tell you this, but the Juvenile Justice System is very different in comparison to the Adult System. In many ways, it can be more “punitive” and missteps abound if the attorney representing your child only dabbles in that arena. As you have likely seen from my “About” page, I was a prosecutor first. Since then, I’ve spent even more time as a private defense attorney. But what is somewhat less known is that I have spent two mornings a week over the last several years representing juvenile cases in Erie County. That has provided me with experience, knowledge, and relationships few other criminal defense attorneys can boast to have at their disposal.

That dynamic places me in a position to begin representing your child immediately. I know who will be making the initial key decisions. I also have an intimate understanding of the process. That includes how to handle a detention hearing, what to expect in an intake interview, what is expected at status conferences, and what crimes and circumstances create the risk of placement. Navigating all of those circumstances is extremely difficult if you simply dabble in juvenile defense in Erie PA.

Erie Juvenile Lawyer

If you are reading this you are likely panicking. As a father myself, I understand why this situation ranks very high on the worst-case scenario list for a parent. But, take a deep breath and give me a call. It is very likely I can put your mind at ease if only by helping you better understand the road ahead. In many instances, a good outcome is readily achievable. In some cases however, missteps at any stage in the process, including within the first twenty-four hours, can be the difference between a positive outcome and your child being placed outside your home.

I can be reached at 814-806-6385. Someone will be available to answer your call twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

Let's Talk

I hope we have the opportunity to sit down and talk about how I can put my skill and experience to work for you.

Contact Details:

Erie Law Firm

1001 State St Suite 1412 Erie, PA 16501

Phone: 814-806-6385

Email: justin@panighettilaw.com

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