Types of Criminal Charges

It is important that you talk with an attorney as soon as possible after you have been arrested for or charged with a criminal offense. My name is John P. Rutkowski, and I am an experienced criminal defense attorney. My advice to you is that you take the time to contact me as soon as you are aware of any charges against you. It doesn't matter what type of offense you are facing - I know how important your case is and I treat every client with respect. I can help you with a wide range of cases, including but not limited these practice areas:

Domestic Violence
These charges pertain to disputes among a family members or other individuals you may be in a close relationship with. Charges of domestic violence could include sexual assault, spousal rape, emotional abuse, child abuse, and more. This offense is taken so seriously that you could be left with a misdemeanor charge if convicted.

Drug Crimes
If you were accused of drug possession, possession with intent to distribute, drug distribution, or another drug-related crime, your first step should be to contact an attorney. Drug crimes can be charged as misdemeanors or felonies, depending on the severity of the crime. For example, if the crime crossed state or country borders, it becomes a federal crime and leads to more serious charges.

DUI
Driving under the influence of alcohol is a common offense across the country. However, just because it is common does not mean it does not have serious consequences. If you were pulled over and found to have a blood alcohol content of 0.08% or above, you could be placed under arrest. There are two ways that a law enforcement officer may determine this, either through chemical testing or field sobriety tests. The decision is often left up to the judgment of the arresting officer

Expungements/Pardons
What is an expungement? If you were falsely convicted of a crime or made a mistake in your past, there are ways that you could get your criminal record cleared. You may not have to live with a criminal record following you around to job interviews or when applying to college. An expungement is a request to get your record sealed from the public so that when you are asked if you have ever been arrested, you can truthfully answer no.

Federal Crimes
If you were accused of committing a crime that violated federal legislation or were arrested for committing a crime on federal property, you need to get skilled representation as soon as possible. Rather than being prosecuted at the local or state level, you will instead be investigated by government agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Internal Revenue Service.

Immigration Bond Hearings
If you are not a U.S. citizen and were accused of a crime, you have a lot more to lose than others in your same position. Not only could you be facing criminal penalties, but you could be deported back to your home country as well. In order to avoid this happening, you need to ensure that you have a strong and experienced representative on your side. They could attend the immigration bond hearing with you so that you have the best possible chance of a successful resolution to your case.

Immigration Removal Hearings
If you were accused of a crime as a non-citizen, one of the possible penalties you could be facing is criminal deportation. The immigration removal hearing is one of the steps in the process that can either work for you or against you. It is important to be on the defense at all times, demonstrating why you should be granted stay in the country.

Juvenile Crimes
A juvenile can face a number of punishments for a crime that can be damaging to them and may set them on the wrong path. The juvenile justice system is different from the adult, but in some cases, the judge may choose to try the minor as an adult meaning they will deal with even more detrimental penalties than they would if they were tried as a minor.

Probation/Parole Violations
When an individual is convicted of a crime, they may be placed on probation instead of having to spend time in jail. This can be beneficial as probation allows the individual to carry on with life in much the same way as they would have before. Parole occurs when an individual is released from jail or prison early. In both cases, there are conditions that must be adhered to, such as meeting with a probation officer, not associating with known criminals, and attending all required meetings. If they violate any of these conditions, they could be forced to serve the remainder of the time behind bars.

Sex Crimes
Sex crimes are serious because they cannot only result in a lifelong place on the sex offender registry but a damaged reputation as well. You may be restricted in the areas you can live as well as where you can work. Types of sex crimes include date rape, indecent exposure, rape, sexual assault, sexual battery, statutory rape, and more.

Theft Crimes
Theft crimes range from shoplifting to burglary to robbery to carjacking. You could be charged either with a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the amount you were accused of stealing. If there were any aggravating factors involved in your case, such as use of a deadly weapon or serious bodily injury, the penalties will increase.

Traffic Offenses
Driving requires you to adhere to many rules and even if you are driving carefully you still face the chance of being wrongfully accused for a crime or being issued a citation that is more serious than what the crime deserves. Many people do not realize that when they pay a traffic ticket they are pleading guilty to the charge. A citation can include reckless driving, running a red light, speeding, improper passing, or DUI, and some of these charges are so serious that you could be facing misdemeanor or felony charges.

Violent Crimes
Violent crimes include offenses like assault, battery, rape, robbery, manslaughter and murder. If you were accused of any of these crimes, you are in a very serious situation. These crimes can result in time in prison, heavy fines, community service, and more. A conviction of a violent crime can ruin the rest of your life so it is important to retain the strongest legal defense possible.

Warrants
There are various types of warrants that can be issued and there must be reasonable concern that you committed a crime in order for you be taken into custody. If there is a warrant out for your arrest, you could be taken into custody at any time. The first step you should take if you have found yourself in this situation is to contact a lawyer.

Weapon Charges
Weapons charges can refer to any type of weapon: knifes, firearms, brass knuckles, pepper spray; almost anything that can be used to cause physical injury to someone else. These charges can be severe and any time a crime involves the use of a weapon the penalties will be increased. Some can also unknowingly face charges for actions they were unaware were illegal.

White Collar Crimes
White collar crimes were given that name due to the fact that they usually occur in business environments by a person in a position of trust. Accusations can include embezzlement, money laundering, forgery, or fraud and while many may think of these as a separate offense, those found guilty will now face a conviction on their criminal record.

Why hire a lawyer at our firm?

If you've been charged with any misdemeanor or felony offense, a criminal defense lawyer will likely be the only person standing between you and a jail cell. While the police and prosecuting attorney work actively to try to secure a conviction against you or try to get you to accept a plea bargain, your attorney will be protecting your legal rights. This includes countering the investigation against you, challenging evidence and reviewing the potential advantages and disadvantages of a plea agreement. It also includes aggressively defending your interests inside and outside of the criminal courtroom. Even a seemingly small procedural violation or infringement on your constitutional rights has the power to turn an entire criminal case around - in your favor. It is a matter of working with an attorney who is experienced in handling criminal cases in the Philadelphia area, who can recognize opportunity when it comes knocking.

The consequences of a criminal conviction are the most important reason to do whatever you can to avoid a conviction. If you are convicted of a crime, you could face some of the following penalties:

• Jail time
• Prison time
• Steep fines
• Probation
• Community service
• Driver's license suspension/revocation
• Loss of professional licenses
• Loss of the right to own a firearm

The specific penalties enforced will vary depending on the circumstances of your case. You could even be forced to register as a sex offender for the rest of your life. Not only could a criminal conviction ruin your life as you know it, it could continue to have negative repercussions even after you have completed your sentence. I know how to handle criminal cases and could be able to help get your charges reduced or even dismissed altogether, depending upon your case.