ARD For 19-Year-Old Charged with Aggravated Assault of A Police Officer

Occasionally, when police officers are called to a scene, emotions can escalate, especially when alcohol is involved. This can lead to a very chaotic atmosphere where poor decisions are made and typically law abiding citizens become charged with life-altering crimes. If you are ever caught up in such a lamentable situation in the Pittsburgh area, it is essential that you reach out to a veteran criminal defense attorney, like those with Worgul, Sarna & Ness, Criminal Defense Attorneys, who have excellent relationships with the various police departments and can use their wide-ranging experience to help you achieve the best possible resolution.

For example, a 19-year-old man from the Springdale area was approached by officers after having too much to drink. Allegedly, the young man failed to comply with an officer’s requests and belligerently shoved the officer. This resulted in the inebriated man being charged with aggravated assault of a police officer. When he sobered up, he quickly realized that he’d need very serious legal representation since this charge would significantly affect his permanent criminal record as well as keep him from achieving his life’s ambition of enlisting in the U.S. Navy. Therefore, in an effort to properly handle this situation, the young man decided to hire Pittsburgh criminal defense attorney Matthew Ness.

Attorney Ness consulted with his client to go over the circumstances, and once retained, he began crafting the strongest possible defense. Ultimately, attorney Ness entered into negotiations with the district attorney and the officers involved. During these discussions, he emphasized his client’s sincere regret, and his lack of any prior criminal history. This proved effective and all the parties involved agreed the client could participate in the Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition (ARD) program, including a 9-moth probation period, 75 hours of community service, and the completion of a drug and alcohol evaluation. As an added benefit of completing all of the ARD requirements, the aggravated assault charge would be automatically expunged and removed from his record. By making the wise decision to consult with a highly skilled criminal defense lawyer, this matter was adeptly and promptly handled before it spiraled into a mistake that prevented him from pursuing a career in the Navy.

The outcome of an individual case depends on a variety of factors unique to that case. Case results do not guarantee or predict a similar result in any similar or future case.