Quakertown, PA Criminal Defense Lawyers

Being charged with committing a crime is a serious matter.  Whether the allegations against you are of a misdemeanor or felony grade, a conviction in any case can lead to months or years of incarceration, and thousands of dollars in restitution fines.  In addition to these “generic” penalties, many crimes come with additional penalties which are offense-specific. For example, an individual convicted of sexual assault may be forced onto a sex offender registry, while an individual convicted of drug possession may be forced to attend substance counseling.

To complicate matters further, individuals who are convicted of crimes often find that they continue to be penalized long after their fines have been paid and their sentences have been fulfilled.  People who have criminal records may be passed over for certain forms of employment or housing, and depending upon the offense, a person who is currently employed may even lose their job.  If you have been charged with a crime in Quakertown, the course of your future hangs in the balance.

Types of Crimes Our Quakertown Criminal Defense Attorneys Handle

While criminal allegations can be frightening and disorienting, a skilled attorney can walk you through the legal process and maximize your chances of obtaining a favorable outcome in court.  At the law offices of Young, Marr, Mallis & Associates, we are seasoned criminal defense lawyers with over 30 years of experience providing aggressive legal representation to Pennsylvanians charged with a wide variety of offenses.  During our many decades practicing criminal defense litigation, we have handled criminal cases involving charges including but not limited to:

• Simple and Aggravated Assault
• Sexual Assault and Rape
• Robbery, Burglary, and Theft
• Homicide
• White Collar Crimes
• Drug Charges
• Domestic Violence
• Probation Violation
• Juvenile Offenses

If you are facing any of these allegations, everything you value could be compromised.  A Quakertown, Pennsylvania criminal defense lawyer from Young, Marr, Mallis & Associates can help protect your legal rights, and will advocate aggressively on your behalf in court.

Assault Defense in Pennsylvania

Assault is one of the most widespread criminal charges throughout both Pennsylvania and the United States.  The Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Reporting System recorded 1,428 assaults in Bucks County in 2013 alone.

Two of the most common assault charges are:

1. Simple Assault
2. Aggravated Assault

Essentially, aggravated assault is the more serious version of simple (non-aggravated) assault.  Under 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2701, simple assault involves:

• Intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causing physical injury.
• Attempting or threatening to cause physical injury.
• Negligently causing injury with a deadly weapon.

By comparison, aggravated assault involves a more serious degree of injury, or the deliberate (as opposed to negligent) causation of injury with a deadly weapon. Furthermore, simple assault committed against any of the following may be considered aggravated assault:

• Police Officers
• Attorneys and Public Defenders
• Firefighters
• Probation and Parole Officers
• Judges

Simple assault is usually a 2nd Degree Misdemeanor.  Penalties include:

• Imprisonment: 2 years
• Fines: $5,000

Aggravated assault is typically a 2nd or 1st Degree Felony.  Penalties include:

• Imprisonment: 20 years
• Fines: $25,000

Drug Crimes Defense in Pennsylvania

Drug charges are also common in Quakertown and Bucks County, with 1,833 violations reported.  The penalties for drug charges in Pennsylvania range in severity from misdemeanor to felony depending upon the details involved in a given case.  In general, two of the most common charges related to drugs involve:

• Simple Possession
• Possession with the Intent to Distribute

“Simple possession” refers to possession for personal use only, while “intent to distribute” is precisely what it sounds like (i.e. distribution of narcotics).  Intent to distribute is categorized as a more serious offense.

In addition to simple possession and possession with the intent to distribute, our drug attorneys also provide defense litigation for narcotics charges involving:

• Cultivation
• Importation/Exportation
• Manufacture
• Trafficking
• Prescription Fraud

In addition to charge type, other factors which influence drug offense penalties in the event of a conviction include:

• Drug Scheduling.  A Schedule I drug will generally incur harsher penalties than a Schedule III drug, for example.  You can view DEA drug scheduling here.
• Aggravating factors.  These include having a previous record, proximity to a school zone, child endangerment, and other factors.
• Amount of drug.  Needless to say, possessing an ounce of a given drug is a more serious offense than possession a gram.

Our attorneys have handled cases involving numerous types of narcotics, including but not limited to:

• Marijuana
• Prescription Drugs
• Ecstasy
• LSD (Acid)
• Cocaine
• Heroin
• Methamphetamine

Our Quakertown, PA Criminal Defense Lawyers Offer Free Consultations

If you are facing assault charges, drug charges, or other criminal charges in Quakertown or Bucks County, it is critical to the outcome of your case that you speak with a qualified attorney as soon as you possibly can.  To arrange for a free and confidential case evaluation with a Quakertown, Pennsylvania criminal defense attorney, call the Pennsylvania law offices of Young, Marr, Mallis & Associates at (609) 755-3115 in New Jersey or (215) 701-6519 in Pennsylvania, or contact us online today.