Legal Updates

LW was charged with burglary, criminal trespass, simple assault, terroristic threats, contempt and various related charges for breaking into his step-mother's house and allegedly assaulting his estranged wife, a Philadelphia police officer. Mr. Montoya represented LW at the preliminary hearing and was able to get all felony charges dismissed for lack of evidence by soliciting that the door had been...

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MC was charged with various felonies including forgery as a felony of the second degree. He was on video with several co-defendants who were purchasing items with the stolen card at Target. At the trial the complaining witness who had her credit cards stolen testified and gave testimony that was markedly different from the preliminary hearing, which was held several months ago. Mr. Shaffer attacked...

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The Commonwealth had charged D.J. with two-counts of Aggravated Assault, one a Felony of the First degree and the second a felony of the second degree, and possessing a firearm. According to witness statements D.J. possessed the gun and inflicted injuries to both complainants with the firearm. Despite testimony from a complainant that D.J. had pointed a gun and hit both complainants with the gun the Court...

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Facing a mandatory jail sentence MC was charged with possessing with intent to deliver over 100 pills. After reviewing the police reports, specifically the affidavit of probable cause to search his car and house, Mr. Montoya noticed that the information relied by the police officer was lacking probable cause. Prior to trial Mr. Montoya successfully argued a Motion to Suppress that was granted. Using...

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Mr. Shaffer represented C.Y. in a jury trial for a gun charge stemming from a neighborhood shoot out. After picking the jury, Mr. Shaffer spoke to the Commonwealth's attorney about some of the weaknesses in the case. The DA did further investigation that evening and after hearing Mr. Shaffer's strong points decided to nolle prosse the case the next day before opening statements.

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