Commonwealth v. A.L. (Drug Charges)

Case Information:

Client came to Attorney Paletta upon receiving the following charges:

Misdemeanor - Possession of Controlled Substance By Person Not Reg.
Misdemeanor - Possession of Marijuana
Misdemeanor - Use/Poss. Drug Paraph.
Summary - Duties at Stop Sign
Summary - Disorderly Conduct

Disposition:

At the Preliminary Hearing of this case, the District Attorney offered Client The Expedited Disposition Plea (EDP) program.  Because Client would face problems with his employment if the case was not disposed of properly, Attorney Paletta attempted to negotiate a plea bargain to a Summary Disorderly Conduct instead of accepting the EDP offer.

The District Attorney agreed to a plea bargain of a Summary - Disorderly Conduct and all other charges were Withdrawn.

Client is working with Attorney Paletta to have this case Expunged from his record.

Commonwealth v. J.S. (Drug Charges)

Case Facts:

Client, a college student, was charged in Butler County with the following:
Misdemeanor - Marijuana-Small Amount-Personal Use
Misdemeanor - Use/Possession of Drug Paraph.
Summary - Disorderly Conduct.

If convicted of the above charges, client risked losing grants and scholarships awarded for education.

Disposition:

At the Preliminary Hearing, Attorney Paletta worked with the Assistant District Attorney and Police Officer to arrange the following plea bargain:

If Client agreed to undergo a Drug and Alcohol Evaluation and also agreed to follow through with any recommended treatment, the Misdemeanor Dug Charges would be Withdrawn and the Summary Offense would be moved to Non-traffic Court (a lower court).   After hearing the plea bargain, the District Judge agreed to postpone the case for a Status Conference in 60 days if Client provided proof of an evaluation and  any treatment that was completed as a result.  Client agreed and underwent an evaluation.

At the scheduled Status Conference, Attorney Paletta and Client provided the necessary proof to the District Judge, Assistant District Attorney and Officer.  The Misdemeanor charges were Withdrawn and the Summary offense was moved to Non-Traffic Court.

Client is now working with Attorney Paletta to have this case Expunged.

Commonwealth v. A.D. (Fair Evasion & Fraudulent Use or Removal of Registration Plate)

Commonwealth v. A.D.

(Fair Evasion & Fraudulent Use of Removal of Registration Plate)

Client, an out of state resident & commercial vehicle operator, retained Attorney Paletta after being charged with the following in Westmoreland County:

• 75§ 6110.1 §§ B - Fare Evasion - Affirmative Action - MISDEMEANOR 3
• 75§ 7124 - Fraudulent Use/Removal of Registration Plate - SUMMARY

 According to the Affidavit of Probable Cause, the State Trooper witnessed Client drive through an EZ - Pass lane on the Pennsylvania Turnpike without paying the fare or having an EZ Pass. Upon stopping the vehicle the State Trooper noticed that no licensed plate was affixed as require by law.

 Attorney Paletta & Client developed a case strategy that was successfully worked through. After discussion with the Trooper and the District Attorney assigned to the case, a Plea Bargain was made to a Summary Offense and all other charges were  DISMISSED.



Blog created by Aimee Peel, Paralegal to Attorney Paletta

Commonwealth v. C.P. (Assault, Resisting Arrest, Criminal Mischief)

Commonwealth v. C.P. (Assault, Resisting Arrest, Criminal Mischief)

Client in this case was a younger hard-working individual supporting a family, who had a clean record.  Client was allegedly involved in certain incidents which led him to be charged with the following:

Criminal Mischief - M3

Resisting Arrest - M2

Recklessly Endangering Another Person - M2

Aggravated Assault - F2

Simple Assault - M2

CASE DISPOSITION :  

Attorney Paletta & Client worked together to develop a strategy for this case which was followed very closely by Client.  After many discussions with the Assistant District Attorney assigned to this case, Attorney Paletta was able to  have certain charges (those  charges restricting Client from entering into the A.R.D. Program) Withdrawn.  Client was accepted into  the A.R.D. Program.  After all terms and conditions of the program are successfully completed, this case will automatically be Expunged by the Court. and client’s record will remain clean.

Com. v. M.J., R.N.

Com v. M.J., R.N.

Attorney Paletta represented Client, a Nurse employed at Uniontown Hospital, relating to an Investigation of suspected drug diversion.   Client was charged with numerous Felonies for accusations of diverting liquid Hydromorphine (Dilaudid), liquid Morphine, amd Lorazepam (Ativan) from the hospital where she was employed.  

 

The Investigation began when Uniontown Hospital Police recieved information from the Director of Pharmacy of the Uniontown Hospital, that Client was suspected of diverting narcotics from the hospital after noticing discrepencies with the inventory of the narcotics dispensing machine “Rxstation” between Client’s shifts. These discrepencies were under Client’s usuage account.

 

Charges as listed in Criminal Complaint include:
 

1. 35 780-113(A)(12) -- Prohibited Acts - Felony (8 counts)
2. 35 780-113(A)(12) -- Prohibited Acts - Felony (7 counts)
3. 35 780-113(A)(12) -- Prohibited Acts - Felony (1 count)

CASE DISPOSITION :  

Charges at 35 780-113(A)(12) were Amended to Simple Possession of a Controlled Substance and the original charges under Subsection 12 were Dismissed.

Commonwealth v. L.V. (Summary Trial)

Commonwealth v. L.V.

Charges:      1 Count – 18§5503§§A4 - Disorderly Conduct Hazardous/Physi Off – Summary

                          

Facts:         Client, a College Student residing on campus at the University of Pittsburgh,who is a Senior in the Pitt Engineering program was charged by Officers of the Hanover Township Police Department with a Summary Disorderly Conduct while attending a concert at the First Niagara Pavillion (formerly Star Lake).  

The following business day Client contacted our office to inquire about what can be done.  Upon calling, Client spoke with Attorney Paletta’s Paralegal Aimee.  Client expressed his concern about this situation causing problems with his education and future. Aimee scheduled an immediate, same day consultation.  Client’s next steps were to plead Not Guilty to the citation and request a Summary Trial date, which he did do.  Client retained Attorney Paletta for this matter.         

                        Attorney Paletta and Defendant worked together to compose a defense strategy that would work towards achieving an outcome acceptable to Defendant and one that would not cause problems for his education and future if followed through properly successful.         

Disposition          Client worked closely with our office to follow the drawn out defense strategy.  At the Summary Trial, Attorney Paletta was able to gain a full Withdraw of the case and the Summary Disorderly Conduct Client was charged with was Withdrawn. Having this type of disposition allows for Client’s record is to be completely expunged if a Petition for Expungement is filed with the County Clerk of Court’s Office and Granted by a Common Pleas Judge. Client was extremely happy with end result.

Com. v. K.H.

Com v..K.H.

Attorney Paletta represented Client, who was in the process of completing his Medical Residency.  Client was charged with Tampering Physical Evidence - a Misdemeanor 2, Prohibited Acts (Possession of Marijuana) - a Misdemeanor, Disord. Conduct - a Summary, and Public Drunkeness - a Summary offense.

Attorney Paletta and Client worked together to compose a strategy that if properly followed, would assist in achieving an outcome that would not have a negative impact on Client’s career/education.

CASE DISPOSITION :  

Client followed the strategy/gameplan and provided proof toAttorney Paletta .  Attorney Paletta used that proof to negotiate a deal with the District Attorney. and managed to get the entire case (ALL CHARGES)  Dismissed...this makes the case eligible for an Expungement, which is very important for Client’s future.