West Chester Criminal Defense Blog

Michael DiCindio | December 12, 2014 | Criminal Law

It is winter break. All the kids are home from college and the oldest of the group bought some beer. The party got out of control and the music got a bit loud. Now it’s the middle of the night and you, the parents, are… read more

Michael DiCindio | December 1, 2014 | Criminal Law

Many people believe the following statement: “they didn’t read me my Miranda warnings, so my case should go away”. The short reply to this is; likely not. But depending on the circumstances, the evidence, and whether the officers did actually violate the Miranda principles and… read more

Michael DiCindio | November 17, 2014 | DUI

A “PBT test”, or preliminary breath test, is a device that allows an officer to test a person’s blood alcohol concentration without transporting them for a formal breath or blood test. These PBT’s are typically utilized by officers in DUI, drunk driving and underage drinking… read more

Michael DiCindio | November 7, 2014 | DUI

With the holiday season fast approaching it is important to be aware that police officers in Chester County and elsewhere in the surrounding areas will be conducting DUI checkpoints. Police utilize sobriety checkpoints in their effort to enforce the drunk driving laws in the state,… read more

Michael DiCindio | October 28, 2014 | DUI

Under the current Pennsylvania DUI Laws, the prosecution does not always need to prove that a driver was “impaired” or “intoxicated” while operating a motor vehicle in order to prove they were guilty of DUI. The Pennsylvania DUI statute as it currently stands provides for what… read more

Michael DiCindio | October 14, 2014 | Criminal Defense

Often times in a criminal case in Chester County, or any of the surrounding counties, prosecutors will attempt to introduce evidence of an accused’s prior bad acts, or evidence or other crimes. This can be devastating to a successful defense in a criminal case. This… read more

Michael DiCindio | October 10, 2014 | Drunk Driving

 Under the vehicle code, a police officer in Chester County, or anywhere in Pennsylvania, may conduct an investigatory detention if he has reasonable suspicion to believe that a motorist violated a provision of the motor vehicle code.  (For example, he suspects the driver is committing… read more

Michael DiCindio | October 6, 2014 | Evidence

In many Chester County criminal cases evidence against the accused comes in the form of writings, recordings, or video evidence (surveillance videos). For example, a theft or retail theft case where the evidence of the theft was only observed on video. During a preliminary hearing… read more

Michael DiCindio | October 3, 2014 | Criminal Law

When someone is arrested in Pennsylvania and charged with state misdemeanor or felony crimes, the first court date that they will have to appear at is called the preliminary hearing (excluding the Philadelphia Court system). This will be scheduled in the magisterial district court that… read more

Michael DiCindio | October 1, 2014 | DUI

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as a condition of maintaining a driver’s license, all drivers are subject to the implied consent requirements of the Motor Vehicle Code – thus, a driver must submit to blood and breath tests under appropriate circumstances. Practically speaking, what this… read more