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Forgery Bucks County 12/2016
WITHDRAWN
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3rd DUI Montgomery 12/2016
5 Days Jail
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Firearm Carried W/O License Montgomery 12/2016
DISMISSED
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Simple Assault Bucks 1/6/17
DISMISSED
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2nd DUI Montgomery 12/2016
NO JAIL
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Indecent Assault Philadelphia 12/2016
NOT GUILTY
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Poss. w/ Intent Philadelphia 1/13/17
CHARGES DISMISSED
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Poss w. Intent Philadelphia 1/13/2017
CHARGES DISMISSED
PHILADELPHIA CRIMINAL LAWYERS.
We Protect Your Freedom and Your Future.
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At SKA Law Group, you will receive the vigorous legal representation you need for your criminal case or personal injury case in Philly and nearby areas. Our Philadelphia criminal lawyers understand that navigating the criminal court system is overwhelming, and when you’re charged with a serious crime, you need Philadelphia criminal attorneys who understand the legal process and who can build an effective defense. Our Philadelphia criminal lawyers have the knowledge to strategically build a solid defense against your charges. We understand that each case is unique and we work hard to help each client achieve the best outcome. If you live in the Philadelphia area and need criminal legal counsel, call us today.
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When you’re charged with a serious crime, most likely your main concern will be the length of a possible sentence. There are many components in a criminal defense case, but our goal is to show the court that you do not deserve the maximum penalty for the crime you are being accused of. Whether it’s a drug offense, assault charges, or theft, we work with you to present your defense and to determine the best course of action. We strive to reduce your sentence, or eliminate it completely, by requesting an alternate ruling. Whether you need a probation violation lawyer or someone to represent you for a serious crime, we can help.
Why SKA Law Group
Award Winning
Our attorneys have been recognized for their excellence by numerous lawyer ranking services and awards, like SUPER LAWYERS, and Avvo.
Concierge Service
We take on fewer clients than other firms. Each client works 1:1 on with one of our senior attorneys.
Legal Practice
Our firm has over 25 years of combined legal practice. Our attorneys have been recognized by the top lawyer ranking services.
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WE PROTECT YOUR FUTURE
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AGGRESSIVE CRIMINAL ATTORNEYS
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FLEXIBLE PAYMENT OPTIONS
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24/7 CUSTOMER SERVICE
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25 YEARS OF LEGAL PRACTICE
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5 STAR GOOGLE/YELP RATINGS
PHILADELPHIA CRIMINAL LAWYERS
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FEWER CLIENTS. BETTER SERVICE AND RESULTS.
SKA Law takes on fewer clients than other firms – it’s because we believe that taking on fewer clients means we can provide more service, and better results. All of our clients work with an attorney directly. That means you get great results every single time.
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Flexible Payment Plans
SKA Law is one of the few Philadelphia criminal defense law firms that offers flexible payment programs. We feel that money should never get in the way of you working with the criminal attorney you want. Our flexible payment option makes it possible for you to hire us, without having to worry about money.
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5 Star Yelp Reviews
SKA Law is one of the few law firms with a perfect 5 star rating with Yelp. In addition, our attorneys are highly rated and recognized by leading lawyer ranking platforms, like Avvo, and many others. Our clients love us, and that’s why we have the reviews we do.
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Available 24/7
Our Philadelphia criminal attorneys are available 24/7- regardless of the holiday, or time of week. We are always available to help you. In order to get started, we encourage you to call us immediately.
Aggressive and Unyielding. We Protect Your Future.
Philadelphia Criminal Attorneys.
The SKA Law Group, LLC has earned a reputation for being one of the strongest law firms in Pennsylvania. Our Philadelphia criminal attorneys focus on providing clients the best possible outcome. Our attorneys are constantly attending seminars, and finding new ways to improve our ability to deliver great case results for our clients. Unlike other law firms, we take on fewer clients – and provide better results. Every single client works with one of our founding partners, which ensures you’ll get the success and results you’re looking for.
We offer a risk free consultation, and offer flexible in order to make it possible for you to get legal help – without having to worry about money.
The SKA Law Group, LLC is one of Philadelphia’s most aggressive law firms. We firmly believe each and every client deserves high quality legal representation. If you speak to our clients, they’ll tell you that we always put them first. We provide 25 clients the legal help they need. We listen to them, and their family members – in order to help you understand the effect of the case on you and your family.
With over 25 years of combined legal practice, we understand how the District Attorney will build a case against you. It also means, when you’re accused of a crime – we’re your best bet to winning it. By working with SKA Law Group, LLC , you have attorneys dedicated to you on your team – who can help you fight the charges – and take control of your future. Our Philadelphia criminal attorneys are available 24/7, in order to help you and your family members. We can even come to the jail you are at, in order to help you and bail you out.
We Handle Most Major Crimes
Philadelphia Criminal Lawyers / Philadelphia Criminal Attorneys
Our main goal is to help get all charges against you dismissed. That means looking at the strength of the prosecutors case, and trying to weaken it. That means moving to suppress evidence, where possible – and using court procedures to improve your chances of winning the case. In the event we don’t think it’s possible, we look into plea bargains where possible. If there are weaknesses in the prosecutors case, we can help create a very fair plea bargain – that gives you what you need – without compromising your future.
The first step in winning your case is working with our Philadelphia criminal defense law firm. Our attorneys have an understanding of how prosecutors and judges will act and how to present a defense that will win. When you hire a Philadelphia private attorney like ourselves, it’s much harder for a prosecutor to go to trial. If you don’t have an attorney, or if you have a public defender, it’s more likely a prosecutor will go to trial since he/she will assume your not going to win/have the resources to win.
Do I need a Philadelphia criminal defense lawyer if I have been falsely accused?
The short answer to this question absolutely, and there are several reasons why an individual who is falsely accused should defend the charge strongly. Prosecuting attorneys often rely directly on testimony from an arresting officer when deciding whether or not to pursue charges against a suspect, and in many cases they can both be quick to jump to a conclusion even when the case facts are not totally qualified as material evidence. Cases are often brought before the court on borderline or inadmissible evidence. It is common for a prosecutor to think a defendant will just depend on mercy from the court by stating that they are innocent and requesting an attorney be assigned. Prosecutors love to see this happen because they know they will have their way completely in the adjudication process. Anyone who is charged with crime that carries potential jail time is required by law to have legal counsel, but the question of how adequate the attorney actually is rests completely with the judge.
Inverted Criminal Court Policy
In many ways the court system is inverted with respect to proof that a crime was committed, even when the case goes to a full jury trial. Even when the defendant can prove beyond a reasonable doubt with their own provided evidence that they are innocent, the judge still has the power to suppress an entire case after a request from the prosecutor. This is highly illegal in an appeal, but you can forget about an appointed attorney appealing any claim even if you are innocent. If you need funding for your case, consider speaking to a company like Delancey Street capital who can help you. Those attorneys commonly work for the same state that is prosecuting the case. The system is clearly tilted in favor of the government unless the defendant has a dedicated criminal defense attorney fighting their case. Prosecutors and cops are often focused on the conviction numbers and care not about the legal rights of the accused beyond appointing them an attorney, which means they will assuredly win the conviction. It is not unusual to see an innocent defendant get convicted, which can lead to an assortment of problems later in life.
What Your Attorney Can Do
The first step your attorney can take is inspect all evidence and conduct an investigation into the case in building a counter argument to the state charges. Your attorney can question the officers on the stand, along with any other witnesses the state may attempt to compel to court for testimony. All evidence can be evaluated as well in respect to proper search and seizure and inaccurate determination to its consist, which is common in drug cases. Police regularly are non-compliant to proper and legal Constitution requirements of protocol because they think they are not liable for untrue statements in court. When there are enough factors to instigate a consideration of reasonable doubt, your attorney can move immediately to take a case directly to trial, which no prosecutor ever wants. All prosecutors want is a conviction or state evidence testimony, which can put an innocent defendant in a precarious situation when the true criminal has friends on the street who know the innocent suspect. Your attorney can ensure that all of you legal rights are observed, including the right to being protected when threatened concerning an ongoing criminal prosecution.
Always remember that the government is not entitled to a conviction on any criminal charge. The burden of proof is on the accuser and it must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt in court, and preferably in a full trial. Never plead guilty to any criminal charge without putting up a serious defense, and especially when you have not committed the crime in any measure. Always get an effective and aggressive criminal defense attorney who will represent your case completely and thoroughly using all legal options available.
If you’re charged with driving under the influence of drugs, or alcohol, then you need to speak to our Philadelphia criminal attorneys. Our attorneys can help protect your rights, and ensure that you’re not unfairly prosecuted, or over-penalized for something you didn’t do. In Pennsylvania, the legal limit is .08, which means if you are driving with a BAC over that amount, then you could be charged with DUI. Law enforcement officers could administer field sobriety tests, and conduct blood/breath tests in order to determine whether you were driving impaired.
DUI cases can have immense consequences if you’re convicted. DUI convictions go on your permanent record. Depending on the circumstances, you could also face fines, jail time, and have your license suspended. You could also have issues maintaining employment – since it can impact your professional license. Being charged with a DUI shouldn’t impact your future. If you hire our law firm, we can help mitigate the penalties, and if possible – get the case dismissed.
What Is A Misdemeanor?
Legally speaking, a misdemeanor is an offense that is considered less severe than a felony and therefore carries lighter penalties. It is however, more serious that an infraction (offenses which are punishable only by fines), so even misdemeanor can have some severe consequences.
What Constitutes A Misdemeanor?
A misdemeanor can be identified by how severe the crime is. The less severe, the better. For instance, petty theft such as shoplifting is typically considered to be a misdemeanor. However, if someone is to shoplift a high dollar amount of merchandise, such as in the thousands, that is a surefire felony charge. Likewise, drug possession is typically a misdemeanor, but if the quantity is large enough that the person most likely had an intention to sell, the charge will most likely be a felony.
Are There Different Types of Misdemeanors?
Yes, in the United States, misdemeanors tend to be classified in three groups: petty misdemeanors, ordinary misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors. Petty misdemeanors are given the lightest punishments, usually less that six months of jail time and a fine of $500 or under; gross misdemeanors receive the harshest punishment.
How Are Misdemeanors Punished?
Those convicted of misdemeanors typically receive a maximum jail sentence of one year; this depends on the state in which the offense is committed. Additionally, they are only sentenced to jail, not state or federal prison. Fines vary based on the level of the offense as well.
How Does a Misdemeanor Affect You?
Besides the fines and/or jail time, having a misdemeanor on one’s record can have consequences just as much as having a felony. Those with misdemeanors on their records risk being denied applications for apartments or refused admission into colleges. It might also affect their job standing and prevent them from receiving employment at companies which have a stringent policy of not hiring anyone with a criminal record. Deportation is only possible for those convicted of a misdemeanor who don’t have fully legal immigration standing yet.
Can I Get a Misdemeanor Removed From My Record?
A criminal charge such as a misdemeanor tends to stay on one’s record for life but can be expunged if one is diligent and makes an effort. We cannot guarantee that any misdemeanor will be expunged, but you won’t get anywhere if you don’t try.
You are more likely to have a misdemeanor expunged if it’s a sole offense. If someone has repeated offense, it will be much more difficult for any of them to removed.
Who Should I Talk To About Getting A Misdemeanor Removed?
Find a Philadelphia criminal lawyer who you trust to help plead your case to have your misdemeanor expunged. This too is dependent on the state in which you live. The process of having your misdemeanor expunged typically several months to half a year. Once this has been approved, you would be able to answer “no” to questions about criminal convictions on job or housing applications and not be in violation of the law.
I found Michael Kotik via the internet with the hope by someone to help my son in what we thought was something routine. Long story short after being mislead by the prior firm and received no results and my son sat for 18 months in prison because "no one knew what was going on" Michael was able to not only able to get all time served against his sentencing, he was able to move things along quickly in New Jersey. I highly recommend Michael. He is always there always answers your calls/texts even late on Sunday evenings. When he tells…
Michelle Doria
I had a pleasure of dealing with Mike on couple of occasions. He is an amazing attorney. He always came through and did what was promissed. Also he went above and beyond to assist with any request. He is definitely a fighter and will do what is needed to come out with the best outcome
Ella Shapiro
Frequently Asked Questions
Having a warrant out for your arrest can be an incredibly stressful event. However, it can be resolved without you getting arrested. First, there are two things that you must NOT do: 1) Don’t panic, panicking will only lead you to do things that will make your situation worse, and 2) Don’t ignore the warrant, ignoring it will definitely lead to your situation getting worse and eventually getting arrested. You should know that once there is an arrest warrant issued for you, there is no Statute of Limitations on this warrant. The reason for this is because the court has determined there is enough evidence to show that you are guilty of this crime. So it is imperative that you do not ignore this warrant. Do not worry though, there is a simple process to get this warrant taken care of without you getting arrested.
First find out the details of your warrant. You can do this by searching online databases (some may charge a fee), contact either a law enforcement officer (though this may lead to you getting arrested), a bail bondsman, or the courthouse (but they may be unable to give you all of the required information over the phone).
Some of these details include:
- the type of warrant issued
- when it was issued
- the name of the accused
- the date of the crime
- the nature of the crime
- case type
- date of conviction, sentencing, probation (if applicable)
- any fines
Once you have obtained this information, then you should contact a Philadelphia criminal lawyer to help you with the final steps to resolve this. You can also contact a Philadelphia criminal lawyer to help you research the warrant. Your lawyer will help you find out the specific details of your warrant. They can then determine the best course of action for you to get this situation resolved. They may also be able to get the warrant recalled, but that all depends on the nature of the crime and warrant. To resolve the warrant in your favor, may require just a fine or it may be a hearing, the point is that your lawyer has found the best solution for you. Just remember that you have the greatest chance of success if you contact the lawyer before you get arrested. Once arrested, your options become severely limited.
Now remember, there may be some unforeseen events that may happen in the course of you trying to resolve this warrant. So if you have to go to a hearing, your Philadelphia criminal lawyer may recommend that you make some arrangements with a bail bondsman to ensure that a bond is settled, and also bring someone that you trust to help tie up any loose ends. These loose ends may be things such as taking care of your vehicle and ensuring that your job and family know what happened.
Just make sure that you follow your lawyer’s advice, because they are there to look after your best interests. If you don’t then, you could be found in contempt of court or even a flight risk, which means that your circumstances have become worse, this could lead to jail time depending on the offense.
As you can see, resolving an arrest warrant, without getting arrested, can be done rather simply. All you have to do is remain calm, acknowledge your warrant, and follow these simple steps.
An arrest usually happens before a person is charged. After someone is arrested, he will accompany the officers to the police station where documentation of the events following the arrest and questioning take place. In normal circumstances, the police will set the ground rules that govern how the post-arrest proceedings will take place.
What Are Your Rights When Arrested?
According to the federal laws, a person who has been arrested has the right to free legal representation. However, other countries do not have a provision for this kind of right. Therefore, you need to consult with a legal profession if you are arrested in a foreign country. A person who is arrested should be allowed to contact his family or anybody he is close to via a phone call or a text message. One is also entitled to a medical attention. The police should ensure that the individual knows his or her rights first before anything else.
Questioning
The 5th Amendment of the Constitution gives an individual the right to remain silent. This means there will be no any repercussion when he fails to answer a police officer or any other interrogator. In case one decides to talk, he should be careful because any word he says can be used against him in court. The police and the prosecutors are cunning. They have the skills to turn someone’s words against him and make it look like he is on the wrong. A person should protect himself by asking for a lawyer or bailing out immediately.
How to Bail Out
One can get out of jail after an arrest via a bail. A bail consists of cash or any other property that has value. A bail shows that the individual arrested has promised to return to court in exchange for money or a property that has a cash value. A person must ask the police on duty about his bail amount. One must sign a document that shows that he has promised to appear in court at the indicated time.
Apart from a bail, one can be released based on his Own Recognizance. A person can request one at his first court appearance. The judge may give an O.R if the person has close family members or a job in the community. A person can also qualify if he does not have any criminal history and have a good track record of appearing in court.
Contacting a Lawyer
One can contact a lawyer after or before bailing out. A lawyer is critical when a person is convicted of serious crimes such as murder, DUI after buying alcohol from a liquor store, theft of gemstones, rape or robbery with violence. The lawyer has a strong understanding of the legal provisions required to protect the person against harassment by the law enforcement officials. However, one must determine whether he can afford a lawyer or not. He can ask friends and family members to recommend one. The US government guarantees everyone who cannot afford a lawyer free legal representation. The court will appoint a lawyer to help. One can also contact a public defender to help with the case. A public defender is a trained lawyer who has the interest of the people convicted of a crime at heart. They do not work for the court like some people think.
Arraignment in Court
The US Constitution requires law enforcement agencies to take someone to court between four and eight hours after he has been arrested. However, the law allows the authorities to keep someone in custody over the weekend until Monday. During an arraignment, someone can plead guilty or not. The outcome of the proceedings will depend on how the lawyer presents his case. It also depends on whether the person convicted of the crime pleads guilty or not.
If you have ever followed a court case from start to finish, you may have noticed that a case begins in front of a grand jury. Witnesses are called to give testimony or to provide other evidence that may help to prove that a crime was committed or there is reason to believe a crime was committed. After hearing testimony, grand jurors will deliberate and determine if a case should move forward.
There Is No Determination of Guilt or Innocence
A grand jury is not tasked with determining if a defendant is guilty or innocent. Instead, it is tasked with figuring out whether or not there is enough evidence to take the case to trial. If there is not sufficient evidence, it is likely that a case will be dropped. It is also possible that a prosecutor will try again to indict a defendant on different charges.
Indictments are Much Easier Than Convictions
Sol Wachtler once said that you could “indict a ham sandwich if you wanted to.” What he meant was that it is relatively easy to get an indictment even if there is little to no chance of getting a conviction at trial. Basically, the grand jury is only looking to see if there is any evidence to believe that a crime may have been committed. In some cases, prosecutors don’t divulge all of their evidence at the grand jury level.
Grand Juries are Run By the Prosecution
As there is no determination of guilt or innocence by a grand jury, the normal rules of presenting evidence don’t apply. At a grand jury hearing, there is no judge present, and the session is run under a cloak of secrecy. Furthermore, the jury selection process is much different than the one that occurs before a formal trial. Instead of having 12 members, a grand jury may consist of up to 23 people. They are also not screened for any real or perceived biases, which may also aid the prosecution in getting the indictment that they seek.
The Defense Is Not Allowed To Be Present
Legal counsel for a defendant or potential witness in a case cannot be present in a grand jury room. At best, they are allowed to remain just outside of the room to provide counsel before a witness testifies. Furthermore, lawyers for the defendant or other witnesses cannot offer evidence of their own during the grand jury process. This has led some people to believe that the grand jury process may be outdated or may be a tool to suppress political or other freedoms granted to all under the law.
If an individual has been indicted by a grand jury, it doesn’t mean that his or her case is over. Instead, it means that he or she will need to prepare to settle the case before trial or try to win an acquittal at trial. Those who have been charged with a crime or may be charged in the future may wish to seek out legal counsel as soon as possible to protect their rights under the law.
The court system can be difficult to understand. One example of this is what makes a certain crime a misdemeanor while another is a felony charge? Here, we will look at what a felony is and the difference between the two.
Differences between misdemeanors and felonies
A misdemeanor is a crime that is committed of a less serious nature. For example, theft is considered a misdemeanor. These are of the non-violent nature but are still against the law. More common misdemeanors are trespassing, vandalism and public drunkenness. If you’re charged with a misdemeanor, you’ll receive a fine and may be sentenced to jail for less than a year.
Felony crimes are of a more serious nature and can either be violent or non-violent. The difference between a non-violent crime being a misdemeanor or a felony is someone usually ends up hurt, but the hurt doesn’t have to be physical. It could affect their life in a drastic way. One example of this is driving under the influence. You may not have an accident, but you have put people in danger. Another would be selling alcohol to minors. You haven’t physically inflicted pain but have put the minor and others in danger.
Some forms of felony can be thought of as intent to hurt someone. A good example of this is you know you are HIV positive and don’t let your sex partner know. You have just possibly given them a fatal disease. You could have prevented this by telling them and letting them make the choice, but because you didn’t, you have caused them a horrible fate.
A person given a felony conviction may have fines and will serve at least a year in a prison facility. They won’t spend that time in a local jail. Fines and punishment are much stiffer for felony convictions than for misdemeanors.
Felony charges vs. felony arrests
Just because you are charged with a felony doesn’t necessarily mean you will be convicted of that felony. An arrest is brought when an officer feels there is good reason. If there is a reasonable doubt, the arrest will never turn into a charge and won’t go on your public record. This will be decided in a formal court hearing. If the charge is brought and the individual is found guilty, the felony charge then becomes a felony conviction.
A person’s life after a felony conviction
When given a felony conviction, a person is basically given a life sentence meaning that conviction will follow and affect them for the rest of their lives. They can’t vote or own a weapon. They are usually required to report to a probation officer or parole officer. They can have trouble finding decent housing or decent employment.
A good criminal attorney knows how to handle felony charges. He can possibly work your case for a lesser sentence or get your felony expunged. Expunged means the felony will be removed from your criminal record. This varies from state to state and depends on your age. They can also help you appeal your case to a higher court which is a difficult process that you shouldn’t encounter alone.
Overall
If you find yourself in a situation where you may be facing felony charges, you need an experienced criminal attorney on your side. A felony conviction will haunt you for the rest of your life, and you don’t want that. Give us a call today so we can immediately begin working on your case and get your life back in order.
SKA Law Group handles all types of cases, ranging from simple misdemeanors to complex felonies and white collar crimes. Regardless of whether it’s a DUI/DWI, or a complex homicide case – we can help. In the event of a DUI/DWI, we can help you get your car back, or you can get a new car from car lease companies like Zooomr. Take a risk free consultation today in order to learn more about what your options are, and what we can do for you.