Archive for the ‘Internet / Computer Crimes’ Category

Pittsburgh Criminal Lawyer – Search, Seizure, and Suppression

Saturday, February 12th, 2011

If you have been charged with a crime in Pittsburgh or Pennsylvania, it is a very serious matter.  Depending on the grading of the crime charged, you could be facing significant jail time if convicted.  There may be mandatory sentencing provisions related to your case if you are charged with crimes involving DUI, Drugs, and/or Firearms offenses.  An experienced Pittsburgh criminal lawyer will be able to sit down with you, evaluate your case, and recommend a strategy to obtain the best result for you.

Sometimes, achieving the best criminal defense in Pittsburgh or Pennsylvania is to have a qualified Allegheny County criminal lawyer file a Motion to Suppress evidence.  Experienced criminal lawyers in Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania know that if the police committed an illegality in collecting the evidence against you, some or all of that evidence could be excluded by your trial judge.

Contact me, Pittsburgh Criminal Lawyer Michael V. Worgul, now at (412) 475-9217 or 1-855-DUI-CRIM to schedule an initial consultation on your case.

There are several reasons that you might want to consider filing a Suppression Motion.  A top Pennsylvania criminal defense attorney will tell you that both the United States and the Pennsylvania Constitutions prohibit unreasonable searches and seizures.  This includes searches and seizures of your house, person, motor vehicle, mail, and many other areas you may not have known were protected.

The Constitution also provides that no search warrants may be issued without probable cause and that the warrant must particularly describe 1) the place to be searched and 2) the person or things to be seized.  Experienced Allegheny County defense lawyers know what to look for in the police reports to determine if these requirements have been met.  If they have not been met, Pittsburgh trial experience will be a premium in defending your case.

There are several other ways that a Pittsburgh defense lawyer will help you in search and seizure matters.  Sometimes, the police will be permitted to search even where the warrant requirement has not been met.  We call these warrantless searches.  There is a massive collection of case decisions on warrantless searches (it expands quite often).  Finding the right case law for your matter can be like looking for a needle in a haystack if you don’t know what you are doing.  A Pennsylvania criminal attorney with experience researching and writing on the law, including the law of search and seizure, will be invaluable in such matters.  As a Pittsburgh criminal lawyer, I have filed, litigated, and been successful on suppression motions for many of my clients.  I can do the same 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 directly at 1-412-475-9217 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.

Sincerely,

Michael V. Worgul

Michael V. Worgul, Esq., LLC
429 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Toll Free: 1-855-DUI-CRIM
Phone: 412-475-9217
Fax: 412-288-8943

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Pittsburgh Child Pornography and Internet Computer Crimes

Friday, January 21st, 2011

Access to the Internet and World Wide Web are not only changing the way we find information and do business, it is also redefining the way that criminal offenses in Pennsylvania are prosecuted and defended.   Nowhere is this more prevalent than in the area of PA criminal Child Pornography.  Any top Pennsylvania criminal attorneys will quickly confirm this.

Pittsburgh Child Pornography is defined under the more general Pennsylvania statute entitled Sexual Abuse of Children (18 Pa.C.S.A. §6312).  If you are charged under this statute, the police are accusing you of:

  1. Photographing, videotaping, depicting on computer or filming sexual acts of a minor under the age of 18 engaging in a prohibited sexual act; (Felony 2)
  2. Disseminating (or intending to disseminate) materials depicting a child under the age of 18 years engaging in a prohibited sexual act; (First Instance = Felony 3, Subsequent Instance = Felony 2) or
  3. Intentionally viewing or knowingly possessing materials depicting a child under the age of 18 years engaging in a prohibited sexual act. (First Instance = Felony 3, Subsequent Instance = Felony 2)

As you can see, these crimes often arise through the use of the Internet and Computers.  The special police who investigate these crimes are very thorough and clever.  They know exactly how to search for this type of material on your computer’s hard drive.  They also know that multiple people may use one computer.  They will attempt to obtain a confession or admission from you as early as possible, and use it against you in the PA Courts.  Therefore, if you believe that you are or will be the subject of an investigation, REMAIN SILENT, and hire an experienced PA law firm or attorney to represent you at all phases of the prosecution.

Contact Pittsburgh Lawyer Michael V. Worgul now at (412) 475-9217 or 1-855-DUI-CRIM to schedule a consultation at no charge to you.

A conviction of Child Pornography in Pittsburgh will have long lasting devastating affects to your life.  Not only do you face the prospect of a lengthy prison sentence, under Megan’s Law legislation, you will be required to register with the Pennsylvania State Police as a sexual offender for 10 years.  Anyone (neighbors, family, friends, ect.) can learn of your status as a sexual offender.  Every time you move to a new neighborhood, the community will be advised of your presence and status as a sexual offender.

There is also a Federal statute at 18 USC §2252 criminalizing the same conduct.  However, the penalties in Federal court are significantly more severe.  For a first time offense in Pennsylvania State Court, a conviction will usually result in probation and other restrictive measures.  On the other hand, a conviction in Federal Court carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 5+ years for a first offense and jumps to 15+ years for a second offense.  Thus, if you are charged with this Federal Crime, you must contact a Federal criminal law Lawyer in Pennsylvania right away.

I am Michael V. Worgul, Criminal Attorney at Law in Pittsburgh.  As an Attorney in Pennsylvania, I have aggressively fought for the rights of the criminally accused in State and Federal courts.  Given my undergraduate coursework in Computer Programming and Information Technology, I am better equipped to grasp and deal with the complicated issues in your case than the average lawyer.  If you have been charged with a case involving Pittsburgh Child Pornography or the Federal counterpart, contact me at (412) 475-9217 or 1-855-DUI-CRIM for an immediate consultation at no cost to you.

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

Sincerely,

Michael V. Worgul

Michael V. Worgul, Esq., LLC
429 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Toll Free: 1-855-DUI-CRIM
Phone: 412-475-9217
Fax: 412-288-8943

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