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Pittsburgh Criminal Lawyer – Pennsylvania Violent Crime Carries Lengthy Jail Time

It does not matter if you have never been in trouble before, if you are charged with a 1st degree Assault in Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, or Allegheny County, you are facing a felony conviction and potential jail time.  The matter is even more complicated if you have previous convictions for a “crime of violence.”  Depending on your background, you could be facing life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

What is considered a Violent Crime in Pennsylvania?

In order to achieve the best criminal defense in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, or anywhere else in Pennsylvania, you must first understand what is considered a “crime of violence.”  A trained Pennsylvania Criminal Lawyer will tell you that the following are all considered violent crimes in the Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, and Allegheny County Courts:

  • Murder of the Third Degree,
  • Voluntary Manslaughter,
  • Aggravated Assault as defined in 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2702(a)(1) or (2),
  • Rape,
  • Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse,
  • Aggravated Indecent Assault,
  • Incest,
  • Sexual Assault,
  • Arson as defined in 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3301(a),
  • Kidnapping,
  • Burglary of a structure adapted for overnight accommodation in which at the time of the offense any person is present,
  • Robbery as defined in 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3701(a)(1)(i), (ii) or (iii),
  • Robbery of a Motor Vehicle,
  • Criminal Attempt,
  • Criminal Conspiracy or Criminal Solicitation to Commit Murder
  • Any of the offenses listed above, or an equivalent crime under the laws of this Commonwealth in effect at the time of the commission of that offense or an equivalent crime in another jurisdiction.

Contact Pennsylvania Criminal Lawyer Michael V. Worgul, now at (412) 475-9217 or 1-855-DUI-CRIM for a free consultation of your case.

What are the penalties for committing violent crime?

You do not need to be a Pittsburgh Defense Attorney to see that violent crime many different kinds of conduct.  Top Pennsylvania Criminal Lawyers understand the consequences of repeat violent crime.  If you are facing a violent crime charge in Pittsburgh or Pennsylvania for one of the above offenses you should contact an experienced Pittsburgh Criminal Lawyer immediately for the following reasons:

  1. Second Violent Offense – requires the court to impose a mandatory minimum sentence of not less than 10 years and a maximum of not less than double the minimum (at least 20 years if not more).
  2. Third or Subsequent Violent Offense – requires the court to impose a mandatory minimum sentence of not less than 25 years and a maximum of not less than double the minimum (at least 50 years if not more).  If the court determines that 25 years is not sufficient to protect the public safety, the court may sentence the offender to Life Without Parole!

I have a previous conviction for violent crime, what can I do?

The last two paragraphs can be very sobering and they bring into sharp focus the need for an experienced PA Criminal Attorney.  That is because a seasoned Pennsylvania or Pittsburgh Lawyer may find exceptions to the rule and save years of you or a loved one’s life.

  • Notice – quite simply, if the DA does not give adequate notice prior to sentencing that he/she will seek the mandatory sentencing provisions, the court is not obligated to accept the recommendation.
  • Prior Convictions From Other States – when the prior offenses occurred in other states, the court must apply a complicated test to determine whether the other state’s crime is sufficiently similar to Pennsylvania’s crime.  If not, the prior crime will not count for purposes of mandatory sentencing.
  • Prior Convictions in Same Disposition – consider the following scenario:  “A” commits Robbery on Monday and Kidnapping on Tuesday.  On Wednesday, A pleads guilty to Robbery and Kidnapping at the same time and is sentenced.  On Thursday, A commits Arson.  When A is sentenced for Arson, for the purposes of mandatory sentencing, A will only be deemed to have committed one (1) prior crime of violence according to current PA criminal law.

What can you do to help me?

The crimes of violence often take the form of criminal assault in Pennsylvania.  Certainly, domestic crimes can also qualify as crimes of violence.  When you seek criminal attorneys in Pittsburgh, be sure to seek one with experience handling violent crime as well as significant trial experience.  I both and would be happy to discuss how my experience can be put to work for you.

With a focus on thorough preparation, superior client service and dedicated representation, I help families and individuals solve a wide range of DUI and criminal litigation issues.

I will respond to your email submission as promptly as possible. I ask that you consider calling me, Pittsburgh Criminal Lawyer Michael V. Worgul, directly at 412-475-9217 or toll free at 1-855-DUI-CRIM for a free initial consultation to discuss your case.  You will also find out how our practice can be put to work for you.

I look forward to listening to the circumstances of your case and discussing all available options under the law.