News

Criminal Defense

• Vienna Bank Robbed - Is it the Serial Bank Robber?
  Mar 14, 2010

  
  A local Vienna bank was robbed Saturday by a female suspect. Police believe it's the same woman tied to a string of Fairfax County bank robberies. - 61 - 70

• Georgia College Student Claims Roethlisberger Sexually Assaulted Her
  Mar 08, 2010

  
  A 20 year-old Georgia college student claimed over the weekend that Pittsburgh Steelers Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger sexually assaulted her in a night club restroom.  Roethlisberger has not been charged, and has hired a high-profile attorney as police investigate the woman's claims.
  
  Please click here for a video on this story.  - 62 - 70

• Lil Wayne Finally Starts Serving Jail Time
  Mar 08, 2010

  
  Lil Wayne has finally started serving his sentence of a year of jail.  Last October he pled guilty to attempted criminal possession of a weapon after a loaded gun was found on his tour bus in 2007. - 63 - 70

• 3rd Degree Assault Charge for Woman Who Squirted Breast Milk at Deputy
  Mar 08, 2010

  
  A 31 year-old Kentucky woman was arrested Thursday for Public Intoxication.  As she changed into an inmate uniform, she allegedly squirted breast milk at a deputy, resulting in another charge:  Third Degree Assault, Fox News reports. - 64 - 70

• US Supreme Court requires government to offer live proof of lab tests.
  Jul 08, 2009

  In a case that will likely have a great impact on all drug cases and DWI cases in Viginia, the Supreme Court of the United States has recently rejected the use of signed affidavits in lieu of live testimony to prove the results of lab test for drugs.   According to Fairfax Virginia DUI and Marijuana/Drug Defense Attorney Paul McGlone, this is one of the biggest decisions in protection of Citizen's rights since Miranda v. Arizona. 
  
  The new case, Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts, dealt with a situation where the state offered a lab sheet signed by the technician who tested the cocaine, but the technician was no available for cross-examination by the defense.   Courts have traditionally allowed such evidence, over the objection of the defense.   In a detailed opinion, Justice Antonin Scalia has explained to the trial judges that the Confrontation Clause of the 6th Amendment really does apply to the government's evidence in these cases.  
  
  Now, trial courts will have to decide, on a case-by-case basis, whether this new case will govern certain types of evidence in criminal cases.   Defense attorneys, such as Fairfax Virginia attorney Paul McGlone, predict that there will be a split amongst trial judges on whether the new caselaw applies to such items as breath and blood tests, radar or laser speed tests and various other types of evidence that have, up to now, been established without live testimony.
  
  Follow this link to the full text of Justice Scalia's opinion in Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts. - 65 - 70

Marijuana Defense

• Medical Marijuana May be Traveling Through an Airport Near You!
  Aug 14, 2010

  
  Medical marijuana users are finding it easier to travel with their cannabis.  As long as passengers are leaving from and ending in a state that allows it, they have been allowed to carry it onto the plane, even in plant form.  If they change planes in a state that hasn't legalized medical marijuana, they may not leave the airport terminal.
    - 66 - 70

• Huge Marijuana Bust on Virginia's Beltway
  Jul 27, 2010

  
  Last Wednesday police stopped an 18-wheeler for an equipment violation and discovered 115 pounds of marijuana in the trailer.  Two Florida men were arrested and charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and transporting a controlled substance into Virginia.
  
    - 67 - 70

• CA NAACP Supports Legalizing Marijuana - Calls it Civil Right Issue
  Jul 08, 2010

  
  The California NAACP supports Proposition 19, which will be on the ballot in November.  If it passes, recreational use of marijuana will be legal in California.  This CNN article reports that Alice Huffman, President of the organization, claims that this is a civil rights issue, disproportionately affecting African Americans.  Others are strongly opposed to this initiative, saying that legalizing marijuana would only open the door to more problems.
  
    - 68 - 70

• Man Hides Marijuana in Chinese Food, Tries to Smuggle it into AL Jail
  Jul 08, 2010

  
  A 41 year-old Georgia man was arrested and charged with felony promoting prison contraband last weekend after he tried smuggling marijuana, hidden in Chinese food, into the jail.  A jailer searched the food container with a fork and discovered the marijuana.  The suspect could face one to ten years in prison if convicted.
  
    - 69 - 70

• Marijuana's Effect on Driving Skills
  Jun 10, 2010

  
  A Hartford Hospital study found that although drivers were more easily distracted while under the influence of marijuana, overall the drug had little effect on driving skills.
  
  Sex Differences in the Effects of Marijuana on Simulated Driving Performance is the name of the study (clicking on the title takes you to the abstract).  
  
    - 70 - 70


Since graduating from George Mason University School of Law in 1988, I have had over 20 years of trial experience, defending citizens accused of a wide variety of misdemeanor and felony offenses in Northern Virginia.   Since 1999, my practice has been almost exclusively focused on the Fairfax County Courts, allowing me to gain an increasing familiarity with the Courts, Prosecutors and Judges here in Fairfax County, Virginia.  


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