If you have been accused of committing a crime in the Denver-Metro area, you need a knowledgeable and reputable attorney on your side.
The Law Offices of Steven J. Pisani is a full-service Denver criminal defense law firm, providing affordable legal representation to clients. We are devoted to building strong defenses and effective strategies to obtain winning results for our clients.
On behalf of The Law Offices of Steven J. Pisani, LLC posted in Expungements/Sealing of Records on Tuesday, May 21, 2013
A new study conducted by the Colorado School of Public Health found that criminal background checks and questionaires are not capable of figuring out who will commit crimes on college campuses. This study comes after colleges have increased their scrutiny of college applicants with criminal backgrounds following the Virginia Tech shootings in 2007.
The hope of colleges has probably been to identify students that might commit crimes on campuses, but the study found that this is hard to prove, and the number of students with criminal records that are convicted of another crime on campus is fairly low. Expungements or sealing of records might be able to help some people avoid the need to disclose a criminal conviction on a college application.
On behalf of The Law Offices of Steven J. Pisani, LLC posted in Drug Crimes on Friday, May 17, 2013
Late last month, 36 people were indicted for drug related crimes in Colorado. The Mesa County authorities say that this was the most sophisticated drug ring the area has ever seen. These accusations are especially serious. Of the 36 people indicted, 25 had been arrested. The group is accused of drug crimes including money laundering, racketeering and distributing.
As authorities have called this the most sophisticated drug ring, it is likely that the investigation had many variables involving many different law enforcement agencies. This complex of a criminal case can sometimes lead to improper handling of evidence and confusion among those who are accused and authorities.
On behalf of The Law Offices of Steven J. Pisani, LLC posted in Domestic Violence on Monday, May 13, 2013
A bill that is being debated and discussed in the Colorado legislature may have effects on the ability for some people to own or carry firearms. The bill would prohibit people who have been convicted of a domestic violence offense from owning or carrying a gun or firearm.
While this bill continues the ongoing debate about rights pertaining to gun ownership around the country, it is important to highlight how some bills can affect people who are convicted of certain crimes. Domestic violence accusations are very serious. When people are convicted of a domestic violence offense in Colorado, they might face a stigma, and some legal restrictions that can harm their future.
On behalf of The Law Offices of Steven J. Pisani, LLC posted in Expungements/Sealing of Records on Friday, May 10, 2013
People who are convicted of a crime, can sometimes spend long periods of time in jail or prison, and might be forced to pay fines as part of their sentence. In addition to their sentence, they will have a criminal record. These records are sometimes difficult to be expunged. An expungement or sealing of records in Colorado is only available to people based on certain circumstances.
Because criminal records can stay with a person for a long period of time, they might be unable to find employment. This can lead to financial problems, which can then cause personal problems for someone. One state is working to make it easier for people who were convicted of non-violent crimes to expunge their criminal records.
On behalf of The Law Offices of Steven J. Pisani, LLC posted in Traffic Violations on Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Imagine being cut off in traffic by a police officer that wasn't paying attention. Then, imagine that same police officer pulling you over and trying to ticket you for driving erratically after you swerve out of the way from the cop car to avoid being hit. That's exactly what one woman says started her legal ordeal that has found its way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The woman says a Denver police officer pulled her over for an alleged traffic violation. She asked why she was being stopped and he told her for "driving erratic." She contested it with the officer, and he let her go without a ticket. According to reports on the woman's account, the officer said the woman ran over his foot as she drove away and ten days after the incident the officer showed up at her employer to issue her a ticket for improper lane change. At trial the officer recanted his statement about his foot being run over.
On behalf of The Law Offices of Steven J. Pisani, LLC posted in Drug Crimes on Friday, May 3, 2013
The United States Supreme Court heard a case last week involving a Jamaican citizen, who was arrested for possession of marijuana. The man was threatened with deportation, as the federal government has the right to deport individuals for various reasons. However, in this case the Justices of the Court ruled that since marijuana possession was not a felony under federal law, the man did not commit a deportable offense.
Although this doesn't mean the man will not be deported, it means he will be able to further contest a decision to deport him. While people who are convicted or accused of a drug crime might not always face deportation, they can face similarly life-altering consequences.
On behalf of The Law Offices of Steven J. Pisani, LLC posted in Domestic Violence on Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Earlier this month, a person who arrived on a Southwest Airlines flight in Denver was arrested. The passenger, who wasn't identified in reports, was arrested after being accused of a domestic violence incident while on the plane. Multiple law enforcement agencies met the plane at a gate at the airport, where they reportedly arrested the man on an outstanding warrant.
It isn't clear what happened on the plane that prompted authorities to be called to the plane. These types of situations often have a lot of unknown facts. People might be arrested and accused of multiple crimes. Authorities might question the individual, who might not even understand why they have been arrested.
On behalf of The Law Offices of Steven J. Pisani, LLC posted in Criminal Defense on Friday, April 26, 2013
Houses that are being built are often left unsecure. Many people would assume that there is nothing valuable in the homes because they aren't even finished and no one lives in them. Because of increases in the price of metals in recent years, copper pipes and wiring inside of homes can be of significant value on their own.
Police in Colorado have now arrested a man that they say is linked to the theft of copper pipe and other metals from homes that were being rebuilt following a wildfire. The man is accused of stealing approximately $200,000 worth of metal, although the report on the man's arrest didn't say how many homes he is accused of stealing from. Cases like this seem highly unusual, which might result in significant media attention.
On behalf of The Law Offices of Steven J. Pisani, LLC posted in Criminal Defense on Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Last weekend, actress Reese Witherspoon was arrested on disorderly conduct charges. According to reports, her husband was pulled over by a state trooper in another state when she was a passenger in the car. Her husband, Jim Toth, was arrested and accused of drunk driving.
Police say that the actress interfered with their communications with her husband, and later arrested both of them. Many times people don't understand their rights when they are speaking with or being questioned by police. Sometimes people are arrested, and they say things to police that could later be used against them in court.
On behalf of The Law Offices of Steven J. Pisani, LLC posted in Criminal Defense on Friday, April 19, 2013
When a police officer asks you questions, do you have to answer them? Is not answering questions from authorities when they are investigating a crime an admission of guilt? These are questions that might be answered when the Supreme Court decides a case that they heard this month.
While the Fifth Amendment protects a person from being forced as a witness against oneself, there are questions as to how far that protection goes. After a person is arrested and read their Miranda rights, anything that they say to police could be used against them in court. That is why people have the right to remain silent, and they might be wise to consult with an attorney. However, what if police ask a person questions before an arrest or charges are filed? A recent case ended with a conviction of a person possibly based on the fact that the man didn't answer a question from police that could have linked him to a crime, despite him not having been charged or arrested at the time of questioning.
