Category Archives: Criminal Defense

Everyone knows non-consensual sex is against the law.  If either party indicates they don’t want to have sex, the other party must respect that, or face potential criminal charges.  However, there are times, under Pennsylvania law, where even when someone says “yes” to sexual acts, the law does not recognize subsequent sexual conduct as consensual. […]

Domestic violence is and has always been a significant problem in our society. Only within the last several decades is there any public discussion regarding this issue. Assault upon a loved one is not always what you see on television and the movies. Typically, its portrayed as a drunken husband hulking over his beating his […]

If you have been charged with a crime in Pennsylvania you may have spent some time researching what might happen in court.  Perhaps you came across terms you haven’t previously seen.  Specifically, you may be wondering what the term “Pre-Trial Diversion Program” means. The Law Office of Steven F. O’Meara explores the possibility of a […]

If you have the great misfortune of being arrested for a misdemeanor or felony offense and you do not qualify for any type of pre-trial diversionary program you may have to go to trial before a jury or judge. The law of criminal procedure requires that a judge, or jury of your peers finds you […]

In Pennsylvania, the defense of self-defense is referred to as “use of force in self – protection.”  It is one of the most misunderstood defenses in criminal law.  In this blog post, we take the time to discuss the Pennsylvania statute on the issue.  We also take some time to discuss some examples of what […]

Criminal attorneys are often asked about how cases get dismissed on technicalities. Typically, these “technicalities” are constitutional protections guaranteed to all people in the United States.  When the government fails to comply with the Constitution, and fails to afford people constitutional protections, evidence may be suppressed, and in some situations, cases are dismissed because of […]

The holiday season is supposed to bring peace, joy and goodwill to man and woman, but that’s not always the case, because it also brings an increased number of criminal matters to the courts. Some of these criminal offenses are triggered by what happens during the holidays, namely more people out shopping, and more festivities […]

Criminal Defense Lawyers, when asked, advise their clients to remain silent in almost every circumstance. Here’s why.