Serious Charges Reduced to Summary Offense
7 out of 10 threat cases that we handle at Logue Law Group usually involve the wife as the victim. But in a recent case that we came across a couple of weeks ago, we got a call from a woman asking for help, as she was facing two quite serious charges- simple assault and terroristic threats.
Now, both charges are considered quite serious here in Pennsylvania. The woman was looking at a minimum of 5 years of incarceration, and a permanent criminal record against her name. However, she was wise enough to call our Pittsburgh criminal lawyers at the right time.
So, how did we help our client, and what was the outcome of the case? Stick till the end of this blog to know it all!
A Look into the Charges and Penalties
Our client, Mrs. Harper, had a furious verbal altercation with her husband. Following the event, she took out her gun from the safe and allegedly pointed it at him to back him off.
So, when her husband called up and narrated this to the cops, they came over and charged our client with simple assault and terroristic threats.
At this point, you might be wondering about the reason behind the simple assault charge, when no physical injury was reported, right?
Well, if you attempt to cause bodily injury to a person, it is considered to be a simple assault under Title 18, Section 2701 of the Pa.C.S. It carries a second-degree misdemeanor charge, which might lead to an incarceration of up to 2 years.
Along with this, Mrs. Harper was also facing terroristic threat charges, which are considered to be a first-degree misdemeanor, and carry an imprisonment sentence of up to 5 years.
Apparently, everything in the case looked like Mrs. Harper had lost it. However, the real story unfolded when our Pittsburgh criminal lawyers started to dig into the case.
What Actually Happened?
Plunging further into the case, we found out some really interesting scenarios. Mr. Harper happened to be the prime instance of an irresponsible husband. It was Mrs. Harper who used to work and pay the bills while her husband alienated her quite often, and also kept their home under his control.
This scenario helped our Pittsburgh criminal lawyers to have enough grounds to come up with a solid defense. At the court, we negotiated with the prosecution and highlighted how Mr. Harper had manipulated the justice system to keep things together. And after looking at the evidence and our defense, the prosecution finally agreed to cut some slack for our client.
So, the serious charges against Mrs. Harper were brought down to disorderly conduct. This is a summary offense, which is considered to be the least serious of criminal charges. Not just that, but this reduction in charge also made Mrs. Harper’s case eligible for expungement.
All It Takes is a Good Lawyer
No matter how serious a criminal charge you’re facing, having an experienced Pittsburgh criminal lawyer by your side is always a boon. These professionals are well aware of the intricacies of the law and can certainly chalk out a way to protect your rights and secure your future.
And if you’re wondering how to get in touch with our Pittsburgh criminal lawyers, well, we’re just a call away! Dial 412-387-6901 to book a free consultation with our experts today.