Philadelphia Criminal Lawyers

Non-Violent Crimes

If you are facing any type of criminal charge in Philadelphia, your future hangs in the balance. If you are convicted, it will likely end up on your criminal record, making it extremely difficult to find gainful employment, qualify for student loans, earn a professional certificate or license, or even rent an apartment. This is even true for non-violent crimes, some of which are considered felonies. A conviction could even result in you losing your right to vote. You deserve the finest representation and a winning defense strategy from an experienced lawyer who knows how to protect your rights.

If you have been charged with the following non-violent crimes, the qualified Philadelphia non-violent crimes lawyers at the Law Offices of Patrick G. Geckle are prepared to fight for you.

Arson

Arson is when an individual deliberately sets a building, vehicle, or area of land on fire. The penalty can vary greatly depending on whether anyone was injured, or what was the intent in committing the crime. Insurance fraud may also play a role in many arson cases.

Burglary

Burglary is when a person enters some structure, usually another person’s home, business, or car, with the intent to commit a crime. The penalty will depend on the facts particular to your case. For example, entering a vacant warehouse to sell drugs will likely carry a lesser penalty than breaking into someone’s house to steal. Yet both crimes could potentially be charged as a burglary. Burglary can carry a penalty of up to 10 years in state prison.

Child Pornography

Possession of pornographic images of children, distribution of such images via email or over the Internet, or production of such images, can all result in a charge of child pornography. Occasionally, individuals charged with this crime may have inadvertently visited a website being tracked by law enforcement. If you are convicted of this non-violent crime, you could end up being permanently placed on the sex offender registry—even if you only accidentally visited a targeted website.

Embezzlement

Embezzlement is loosely defined as theft or misappropriation of funds placed in one’s trust or belonging to the charged individual’s employer. For example, if someone suspects you of taking money from a cash register, you could be charged with embezzlement. Embezzlement can also occur among family members or other relationships where there is some fiduciary duty. The key is that the individual charged had access to another person’s money or property, but not legal ownership of it.

Endangerment of a Child

“Endangering the welfare of a child” is a broad term that encompasses many crimes, including child neglect, domestic violence, exposing children to drugs, distributing drugs in the presence of a child, or drunk driving with a child in the car. Child endangerment is a felony in New Jersey.

Lewdness

Lewdness is when a person exposes their private parts for their own arousal or gratification. The penalty depends on whether the actor exposed themselves in the presence of children, or in a place where children could have been expected to be present. If an individual charged with lewdness suffers from a mental illness, such that they are unable to understand the effect of their exposure, the penalty may be less severe.

Money Laundering

Money laundering occurs when money made from an illegal activity (for example drug dealing) is passed through a legitimate business or other bank accounts to “clean” the money so it appears as if it were legitimately earned. Casinos and shell corporations are commonly used to launder money. Penalties for money laundering tend to be severe.

White Collar Crime

“White collar crime” is a broad term that encompasses many different types of conduct. The term “white collar” refers to the white collar of an executive’s shirt, as opposed to the “blue collar” shirts worn by manual laborers. Common white-collar crimes typically deal with fraud, including computer fraud, securities fraud, and investment schemes, like the well-known Ponzi scheme. To succeed in defending against white collar crime charges, you need an experienced lawyer who is well versed in defending against allegations of fraud. The Philadelphia non-violent crimes lawyers at the Law Offices of Patrick G. Geckle have experience making sense of complex financial statements and bank records. We also routinely work with forensic experts.

Philadelphia Criminal Lawyers at the Law Offices of Patrick G. Geckle LLC Defend People Accused of Non-Violent Crimes

If you have been charged with any of the non-violent crimes discussed above, or any other non-violent crime, the experienced Philadelphia criminal lawyers at the Law Offices of Patrick G. Geckle will aim to have your charges dismissed entirely. We have a successful track record of defending clients accused of crimes in Philadelphia and surrounding areas. To schedule a consultation, call us at 800-555-7780, or 215-735-3326, or contact us online today. With offices conveniently located in Philadelphia, we serve clients throughout the Greater Philadelphia region, including Philadelphia County, Delaware County, Montgomery County, Bucks County, and Chester County.