Com v. DM (Preliminary Hearing) Drug Charges

Commonwealth v. D.M. (Preliminary Hearing)

Charge/Violation:      35 §780-113 §§A16- Prohibited Acts - Possession ofControlled                                                                                          Substance(Heroin) - (Misdemeanor)

                                    35 §780-113 §§A32- Prohibited Acts - (Misdemeanor)

                                                75 §1332 §§B3 - Display Registration Plate - Obscuring Plate -                                                                                                 (Summary)

                                    75 §4107 §§A1 - Unlawful Activities - Violation of Vehicle Equipment                                                                                  Standard - (Summary)

 

Case Summary:  Defendant, a student at WVU, was charged with numerous crimes including Possession of Heroin - a Misdemeanor offense. 

Disposition:  At the Preliminary Hearing in Pittsburgh Municipal Court, Attorney Paletta worked out an agreement with the District Attorney and the Officer.  Defendant was given the option to take the -  Early Disposition Plea (EDP) program to receive six months Probation Without Verdict (PWV) for the Possession charge.  All other charges, were Withdrawn.

After the completion of this program, Defendant's record will be automatically Expunged.

Com. v. B.N. (Summary Trial) - Public Drunkenness

Commonwealth v. B.N. (Summary Trial)

Charge/Violation:  18 §5505 Public DrunkennessAnd Similar Misconduct

Case Summary:  Defendant was charged with Public Drunkenness and Similar Misconduct - Summary Offense.  Defendant feared this would jeopardize his career.

Disposition:  Defendant found Not Guilty.  

D.U.I. Charges - A.R.D. Program

10/5/12

Commonwealth v. B.H. (ARD Hearing - DUI)

Case Summary:  Defendant  was charged with Driving Under theInfluence of Alcohol and numerous other offenses.  

Disposition:  Defendant was admitted into the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (A.R.D.) Program.  After completing all necessary requirements and conditions of the Program, Defendant's case will be Expunged.  No Conviction.



Com. v. P.F. (Preliminary Hearing)

10/3/12

Commonwealth v. P.F. (Preliminary Hearing)

Case Summary:  Defendant (a business professional)  was charged with a Misdemeanor 3 - Disorderly Conduct and a Summary - Harassment.  If convicted, Defendant's career could be jeopardized.

Disposition:  At the Preliminary Hearing before District Judge William K. Wagner, Attorney Paletta worked out an agreement with the District Attorney, and the Officer.  Defendant agreed to attend one Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting per week for a 90 day period and to provide proof of this to the District Judge.  If Defendant complies, all charges will be Withdrawn after the 90 day probationary period.

Commonwealth v. A.N. (Drug Charges)

9/18/2012

Commonwealth v. A.N.

(Trial/Motion to Suppress)

Charge/Violation:   

 

                        1 count - Criminal Use of Communication Facility - Felony 3

                        2 counts –Possession with Intent to Deliver Controlled Substance–                                                2 Felony charges

                                    1 count – Possession of a Controlled Substance - Misdemeanor

                                    1 count - Criminal Conspiracy - Felony

Case Facts:  With the use of a Confidential Informant, Police allege that Defendant possessed with the intent to deliver, and in fact delivered, controlled substances (approximately 90 "OXYCODONE" pills)  to a Police Officer.  If convicted, Defendant would face a mandatory "jail-time" sentence.   

Verdict:  Attorney Paletta filed numerous Omnibus Pretrial Motions including a Motion to Suppress, alleging that the arrest of Defendant was unlawful and any evidence seized (controlled substances) or statements made by Defendant as a result, be suppressed.  Attorney Paletta also filed a Motion to Disclose Identity of Confidential Informant and Compel Appearance, requesting that the Commonwealth disclose the identity of the Confidential Informant and failure to do so would violate Defendant's constitutional right to confront witnesses against him.

The Commonwealth agreed to work out a plea bargain with Attorney Paletta for Defendant to plead guilty to certain charges that would only carry a sentence of 5 years probation and NO JAIL TIME .  In exchange for the guilty plea, ALL OTHER CHARGES AGAINST DEFENDANT WERE WITHDRAWN.

Commonwealth v. M.S. (Driving without License)

9/19/12

Commonwealth v. M.S. (Summary Conviction Appeal)

Charge/Violation:

                        75 §1501 §§A – Driving w/o License  - Summary

Disposition:

Attorney Paletta filed a Conviction Appeal for the above charge.  If found guilty, Defendant could face the possibility of incurring a 6 month suspension of their drivers license.  In order to avoid a license suspension, a plea bargain was made in exchange for pleading to 75§1511, the original charge would be Withdrawn.

Com v. M.P. (Petition for Return of Property)

9/19/12

Commonwealth v. M.P. (Petition for Return of Property)

Case Summary:

After having his weapons seized due to a Criminal Case which was eventually Withdrawn, this Client contacted Attorney Paletta for assistance with obtaining his property back.  Attorney Paletta filed a Petition for Return of Property.  A Hearing was held and an Order for the Property to be returned was signed.  Client was able to successfully retrieve his property.