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610-436-1410
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610-436-1410When prosecutors accuse you of using a firearm or other weapon during a violent crime, years of your freedom could be at stake. Prosecutors can pursue felony charges carrying years in prison. A conviction could also affect your firearm rights for years after your criminal case ends.
Our Pennsylvania violent crime defense lawyers can examine the allegations and evidence to determine where the prosecution’s case is most vulnerable. Contact Skinner Law Firm to discuss how an armed violent crime defense lawyer in PA can help you respond to the charges.
The presence of a firearm or other alleged weapon can significantly affect how prosecutors approach your violent crime case. The specific offense depends on what prosecutors allege you possessed or did with the weapon and whether the evidence satisfies the required elements under Pennsylvania law.
Our Pennsylvania violent crime defense lawyers can examine the underlying offense rather than assume that the police accurately characterized what happened. Our attorneys could also scrutinize evidence concerning possession or use of the alleged weapon. Depending on the allegations, the prosecution could pursue weapons charges in Pennsylvania in addition to the violent crime charge.
Pennsylvania robbery law covers what allegedly occurs during the commission of a theft. Under 18 Pa.C.S. § 3701, inflicting serious bodily injury or intentionally putting another person in fear of immediate serious bodily injury during a theft constitutes first-degree felony robbery. Other forms of carry different grades depending on the alleged conduct.
A firearm allegation can play an important role in the prosecution’s attempt to prove that force or a qualifying threat occurred. Your armed robbery defense lawyer in Pennsylvania can examine witness accounts and surveillance footage to determine whether the evidence supports the prosecution’s version of the incident.
The circumstances surrounding the alleged theft also need close attention. Your defense does not have to accept an eyewitness’s description of an object as a weapon or the prosecution’s characterization of a statement as a threat. Skinner Law Firm can challenge whether those allegations satisfy the elements of robbery under the subsection charged.
Pennsylvania’s aggravated assault law includes several forms of prohibited conduct. 18 Pa.C.S. § 2702 includes attempting to cause or intentionally or knowingly causing bodily injury to another person with a deadly weapon. The statute grades that form of aggravated assault as a second-degree felony.
Your firearm charges lawyer in Pennsylvania can examine whether the evidence establishes the conduct and mental state required by the charges against you. The presence of an object that prosecutors call a weapon does not, by itself, establish aggravated assault.
The offense and its grading determine the penalties for violent crimes in Pennsylvania. Felony convictions can expose you to substantial prison sentences and fines, which is why it is so important to understand the particular charge rather than relying on a general description of a “violent crime.”
A conviction also results in a criminal record that could interfere with your employment or professional opportunities. Certain convictions prohibit firearm possession under Pennsylvania or federal law, which means a criminal case with a weapon allegation could affect your ability to lawfully possess firearms in the future.
Other consequences depend on your circumstances and the ultimate disposition of the case. Your violent crime attorney in PA could evaluate your actual risk based on the offenses prosecutors filed and your prior record. Our individualized analysis can provide useful information as you decide whether to challenge the charges or pursue a negotiated resolution.
Prosecutors often use witness testimony and physical or digital evidence to establish what allegedly occurred. The evidence they rely on depends on the conduct and weapon allegations they need to prove.
The existence of evidence does not establish that prosecutors have interpreted it correctly. Witness accounts can conflict, and video or physical evidence must still support the elements of the charged offense. Our attorneys can examine each piece of evidence in the context of what prosecutors are trying to prove.
Our Pennsylvania firearm crime defense lawyers can also consider how police obtained physical evidence and statements. We can identify problems with identification procedures or evidence collection that affect the prosecution’s case. Those issues could also provide grounds to challenge particular evidence.
After an arrest for an alleged armed violent crime, the criminal process can move quickly. You could face a preliminary arraignment where a judge addresses bail and other conditions of release. Those conditions could restrict your travel or contact with certain people while the case is pending.
Felony cases generally proceed to a preliminary hearing, where prosecutors must establish a prima facie case before the charges move forward to the Court of Common Pleas. This hearing does not determine guilt. It gives us an opportunity to hear testimony and examine the Commonwealth’s evidence for charges that lack sufficient support.
What happens before trial can also affect the evidence prosecutors ultimately use against you. Your weapons crime lawyer in Pennsylvania could file motions challenging evidence or statements when the circumstances provide a legal basis. We can also address bail issues and determine whether negotiations with prosecutors serve your interests.
You should avoid discussing the allegations with the police or other people while the case is pending without first speaking to us. Statements about what happened could later become evidence in the prosecution’s case. We can advise you on the criminal process and address legal issues as they arise while preparing your case for the next steps.
The allegations and admissible evidence determine which defenses fit the case. Your weapons charges defense attorney could identify factual or constitutional challenges by testing the prosecution’s theory against the elements of the charged offense.
Identification can be a major issue when the alleged victim or another witness did not know the accused person beforehand. Poor viewing conditions or problems with an identification procedure could undermine the reliability of the testimony.
Differences between earlier witness statements and later testimony can provide another basis for questioning the reliability of the testimony. Those challenges are particularly important when prosecutors have little physical evidence linking the defendant to the alleged crime.
The Commonwealth carries the burden of proving every required element beyond a reasonable doubt. Depending on the charge, that burden could include proving a particular mental state or specific conduct with the alleged weapon.
Your defense for armed robbery charges in Pennsylvania could challenge the prosecution’s ability to establish a required element. Evidence that does not support the required intent or show that the alleged conduct occurred during a theft could undermine the charged robbery offense.
Can you defend yourself against armed robbery charges in PA by arguing self-defense? Self-defense can apply when the evidence supports legally justified use of force, but the availability of that defense depends on what occurred during the encounter.
Who initiated the confrontation and whether the circumstances justified the level of force used are central questions in a self-defense claim. The sequence of events also requires careful attention because prosecutors could dispute either the need for force or your account of the encounter.
Police must comply with constitutional restrictions when searching a person or property for a weapon. When officers conduct an unlawful search, we can file a motion to suppress any evidence obtained in violation of your rights.
Without a recovered firearm or other physical evidence, prosecutors could have greater difficulty proving the charge. Your weapons charges defense attorney could challenge how officers obtained the evidence when a warrant or recognized exception did not legally support the search.
Attorney Michael J. Skinner previously served as a prosecutor with the Chester County District Attorney’s Office. His prosecution experience gives him firsthand knowledge of how the Commonwealth develops criminal cases and evaluates evidence.
His background gives him insight into prosecution strategies that he can use when developing your defense. As a Pennsylvania criminal defense attorney, Michael Skinner can use his experience on both sides of criminal cases to identify weaknesses in the government’s theory and determine which challenges fit the allegations.
An accusation alone does not establish guilt. Skinner Law Firm can investigate the circumstances and challenge unreliable evidence while developing a strategy directed at the specific charges you face.
Yes. Police can file a charge without recovering the alleged weapon if other evidence supports the accusation, but the prosecution still carries the burden of proving every required element. The absence of a recovered weapon could give us grounds to challenge what the object was or whether a weapon was present.
Yes. A single incident can support multiple criminal charges when prosecutors believe the facts satisfy different offenses. We can examine each count individually and determine whether the evidence supports every charge prosecutors filed.
You are not necessarily responsible for a weapon simply because someone else had it during the incident. Prosecutors must establish the facts necessary to hold you criminally responsible rather than relying solely on your presence at the scene. Our team can challenge evidence that fails to establish your possession or legal responsibility.
No. Once police and prosecutors pursue a criminal case, the alleged victim does not control whether the Commonwealth dismisses the charges. A change in the person’s account or willingness to participate could affect the evidence, but prosecutors decide whether to continue the case.
Yes. An unloaded firearm can still support an armed-crime allegation when the applicable offense does not require the weapon to be loaded, particularly when prosecutors allege that it was used to threaten another person. The specific charge determines what prosecutors must prove.
You have the right to remain silent and request an attorney rather than answer investigative questions on your own. Your Pennsylvania criminal defense attorney can communicate with law enforcement and advise you about how to protect your rights while the investigation proceeds.
No. Pennsylvania’s robbery statute does not establish a separate offense called “armed robbery.” Prosecutors instead charge robbery under the applicable subsection based on the conduct they allege occurred, and a firearm or other weapon can affect the facts they rely on to establish the offense.
An armed violent crime accusation puts too much at stake to make decisions without understanding the evidence against you. Our attorneys can review the allegations and identify weaknesses that could affect how we defend your case.
If you need an armed violent crime defense lawyer in PA, Skinner Law Firm can evaluate your charges and help you develop a strategy based on the evidence. Speak with our team about your potential defense options when you contact us to discuss your case.
The presence of a firearm or other alleged weapon can significantly affect how prosecutors approach your violent crime case. The specific offense depends on what prosecutors allege you possessed or did with the weapon and whether the evidence satisfies the required elements under Pennsylvania law.
Our Pennsylvania violent crime defense lawyers can examine the underlying offense rather than assume that the police accurately characterized what happened. Our attorneys could also scrutinize evidence concerning possession or use of the alleged weapon. Depending on the allegations, the prosecution could pursue weapons charges in Pennsylvania in addition to the violent crime charge.
Pennsylvania robbery law covers what allegedly occurs during the commission of a theft. Under 18 Pa.C.S. § 3701, inflicting serious bodily injury or intentionally putting another person in fear of immediate serious bodily injury during a theft constitutes first-degree felony robbery. Other forms of carry different grades depending on the alleged conduct.
A firearm allegation can play an important role in the prosecution’s attempt to prove that force or a qualifying threat occurred. Your armed robbery defense lawyer in Pennsylvania can examine witness accounts and surveillance footage to determine whether the evidence supports the prosecution’s version of the incident.
The circumstances surrounding the alleged theft also need close attention. Your defense does not have to accept an eyewitness’s description of an object as a weapon or the prosecution’s characterization of a statement as a threat. Skinner Law Firm can challenge whether those allegations satisfy the elements of robbery under the subsection charged.
Pennsylvania’s aggravated assault law includes several forms of prohibited conduct. 18 Pa.C.S. § 2702 includes attempting to cause or intentionally or knowingly causing bodily injury to another person with a deadly weapon. The statute grades that form of aggravated assault as a second-degree felony.
Your firearm charges lawyer in Pennsylvania can examine whether the evidence establishes the conduct and mental state required by the charges against you. The presence of an object that prosecutors call a weapon does not, by itself, establish aggravated assault.
The offense and its grading determine the penalties for violent crimes in Pennsylvania. Felony convictions can expose you to substantial prison sentences and fines, which is why it is so important to understand the particular charge rather than relying on a general description of a “violent crime.”
A conviction also results in a criminal record that could interfere with your employment or professional opportunities. Certain convictions prohibit firearm possession under Pennsylvania or federal law, which means a criminal case with a weapon allegation could affect your ability to lawfully possess firearms in the future.
Other consequences depend on your circumstances and the ultimate disposition of the case. Your violent crime attorney in PA could evaluate your actual risk based on the offenses prosecutors filed and your prior record. Our individualized analysis can provide useful information as you decide whether to challenge the charges or pursue a negotiated resolution.
Prosecutors often use witness testimony and physical or digital evidence to establish what allegedly occurred. The evidence they rely on depends on the conduct and weapon allegations they need to prove.
The existence of evidence does not establish that prosecutors have interpreted it correctly. Witness accounts can conflict, and video or physical evidence must still support the elements of the charged offense. Our attorneys can examine each piece of evidence in the context of what prosecutors are trying to prove.
Our Pennsylvania firearm crime defense lawyers can also consider how police obtained physical evidence and statements. We can identify problems with identification procedures or evidence collection that affect the prosecution’s case. Those issues could also provide grounds to challenge particular evidence.
After an arrest for an alleged armed violent crime, the criminal process can move quickly. You could face a preliminary arraignment where a judge addresses bail and other conditions of release. Those conditions could restrict your travel or contact with certain people while the case is pending.
Felony cases generally proceed to a preliminary hearing, where prosecutors must establish a prima facie case before the charges move forward to the Court of Common Pleas. This hearing does not determine guilt. It gives us an opportunity to hear testimony and examine the Commonwealth’s evidence for charges that lack sufficient support.
What happens before trial can also affect the evidence prosecutors ultimately use against you. Your weapons crime lawyer in Pennsylvania could file motions challenging evidence or statements when the circumstances provide a legal basis. We can also address bail issues and determine whether negotiations with prosecutors serve your interests.
You should avoid discussing the allegations with the police or other people while the case is pending without first speaking to us. Statements about what happened could later become evidence in the prosecution’s case. We can advise you on the criminal process and address legal issues as they arise while preparing your case for the next steps.
The allegations and admissible evidence determine which defenses fit the case. Your weapons charges defense attorney could identify factual or constitutional challenges by testing the prosecution’s theory against the elements of the charged offense.
Identification can be a major issue when the alleged victim or another witness did not know the accused person beforehand. Poor viewing conditions or problems with an identification procedure could undermine the reliability of the testimony.
Differences between earlier witness statements and later testimony can provide another basis for questioning the reliability of the testimony. Those challenges are particularly important when prosecutors have little physical evidence linking the defendant to the alleged crime.
The Commonwealth carries the burden of proving every required element beyond a reasonable doubt. Depending on the charge, that burden could include proving a particular mental state or specific conduct with the alleged weapon.
Your defense for armed robbery charges in Pennsylvania could challenge the prosecution’s ability to establish a required element. Evidence that does not support the required intent or show that the alleged conduct occurred during a theft could undermine the charged robbery offense.
Can you defend yourself against armed robbery charges in PA by arguing self-defense? Self-defense can apply when the evidence supports legally justified use of force, but the availability of that defense depends on what occurred during the encounter.
Who initiated the confrontation and whether the circumstances justified the level of force used are central questions in a self-defense claim. The sequence of events also requires careful attention because prosecutors could dispute either the need for force or your account of the encounter.
Police must comply with constitutional restrictions when searching a person or property for a weapon. When officers conduct an unlawful search, we can file a motion to suppress any evidence obtained in violation of your rights.
Without a recovered firearm or other physical evidence, prosecutors could have greater difficulty proving the charge. Your weapons charges defense attorney could challenge how officers obtained the evidence when a warrant or recognized exception did not legally support the search.
Attorney Michael J. Skinner previously served as a prosecutor with the Chester County District Attorney’s Office. His prosecution experience gives him firsthand knowledge of how the Commonwealth develops criminal cases and evaluates evidence.
His background gives him insight into prosecution strategies that he can use when developing your defense. As a Pennsylvania criminal defense attorney, Michael Skinner can use his experience on both sides of criminal cases to identify weaknesses in the government’s theory and determine which challenges fit the allegations.
An accusation alone does not establish guilt. Skinner Law Firm can investigate the circumstances and challenge unreliable evidence while developing a strategy directed at the specific charges you face.
Yes. Police can file a charge without recovering the alleged weapon if other evidence supports the accusation, but the prosecution still carries the burden of proving every required element. The absence of a recovered weapon could give us grounds to challenge what the object was or whether a weapon was present.
Yes. A single incident can support multiple criminal charges when prosecutors believe the facts satisfy different offenses. We can examine each count individually and determine whether the evidence supports every charge prosecutors filed.
You are not necessarily responsible for a weapon simply because someone else had it during the incident. Prosecutors must establish the facts necessary to hold you criminally responsible rather than relying solely on your presence at the scene. Our team can challenge evidence that fails to establish your possession or legal responsibility.
No. Once police and prosecutors pursue a criminal case, the alleged victim does not control whether the Commonwealth dismisses the charges. A change in the person’s account or willingness to participate could affect the evidence, but prosecutors decide whether to continue the case.
Yes. An unloaded firearm can still support an armed-crime allegation when the applicable offense does not require the weapon to be loaded, particularly when prosecutors allege that it was used to threaten another person. The specific charge determines what prosecutors must prove.
You have the right to remain silent and request an attorney rather than answer investigative questions on your own. Your Pennsylvania criminal defense attorney can communicate with law enforcement and advise you about how to protect your rights while the investigation proceeds.
No. Pennsylvania’s robbery statute does not establish a separate offense called “armed robbery.” Prosecutors instead charge robbery under the applicable subsection based on the conduct they allege occurred, and a firearm or other weapon can affect the facts they rely on to establish the offense.
An armed violent crime accusation puts too much at stake to make decisions without understanding the evidence against you. Our attorneys can review the allegations and identify weaknesses that could affect how we defend your case.
If you need an armed violent crime defense lawyer in PA, Skinner Law Firm can evaluate your charges and help you develop a strategy based on the evidence. Speak with our team about your potential defense options when you contact us to discuss your case.