LAW
SZANTO LAW
Drug possession and distribution
If you’ve been arrested for possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance, your first line of defense is a motion to suppress. Depending on the facts and circumstances of the arrest, the police may have violated your constitutional rights under the United States constitution as well as the Pennsylvania state constitution, and only an experienced attorney can protect your constitutional rights by way of a motion to suppress or trial.
Assault
Aggravated Assault

Serious Bodily Injury

Bodily Injury
Impairment of physical condition or substantial pain
For purposes of aggravated assault, a deadly weapon is defined as any firearm, whether loaded or unloaded, or any device designed as a weapon and capable of producing death or serious bodily injury, or any other device or instrumentality which, in the manner in which it is used or intended to be used, is calculated or likely to produce death or serious bodily injury.

What exactly qualifies as a deadly weapon?

Protected Classes

What is a protected class?
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Gun Possession
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Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
Depending on the substance in your blood, whether alcohol or drugs, whether it’s a first, second, third, or subsequent offense, the penalties for a DUI (if convicted) vary greatly. They can range from the first-time offender who had one drink too many at a social event, who may be eligible for diversionary programs as a means of keeping their record clean, to a second or third time offender who may be facing stiff penalties including up to five years incarceration, loss of license, and heavy fines.
A routine traffic stop, such as failure to signal, can turn into a DUI investigation. Even if a person doesn’t believe they’re intoxicated at the time of the investigation, and a police officer asks for a blood sample, that person may still be charged with a DUI if there are any trace amounts of a controlled substance (like marijuana) in their blood. Again, the penalties for this are serious, which is why it’s important to consult with an attorney to stay informed about your rights when charged with a DUI, or when questioned by police regarding suspicion of DUI.
Robbery
Even something as seemingly innocuous as snatching a person’s cell phone out of their hand qualifies as a robbery as a felony of the third degree, and if convicted an individual can face up to seven years in prison.
Robbery is a unique charge in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania because it qualifies as a “strike.” If a person is convicted in Pennsylvania of a crime of violence and had a prior conviction for a crime of violence (such as robbery), the minimum sentence imposed can be ten years. This is one of the reasons that robbery charges are so serious. An individual charged with robbery not only needs to think about the penalty if convicted for that robbery but how their past and prior record may influence or enhance that penalty under Pennsylvania’s “Three Strikes” law. Jules Szanto has successfully tried and defended countless robbery cases and is the experienced attorney you should call if you’re facing these charges.
Burglary
Trespass
In addition to all of the above defined offenses, Jules Szanto is experienced in the following areas:
- Theft of property
- Receiving stolen property
- Family law
- Juvenile criminal defense
- Alternative dispute resolution
- Arbitration and mediation