The client represented by Ketchel Law was a man charged with Felony Burglary and Misdemeanor Theft. The client had a minimal prior criminal record and admitted to entering the victim’s home and taking items belonging to the victim at that time.
Prior to the start of the trial, Ketchel Law negotiated the charges to be withdrawn and a plea to a summary citation.
The Client represented by Ketchel Law was a woman charged with Felony Criminal Conspiracy, Felony Possession with Intent to Deliver Narcotics, and Possession of Narcotics. She had no prior criminal record. The Client maintained her innocence and stated the narcotics found in her residence belonged to another that resided in her home at the time.
At the Preliminary Hearing, Ketchel Law was able to negotiate with both the Officer and the District Attorney to have all of the Client’s charges dropped based on lack of evidence.
The Client represented by Ketchel Law was a man charged with Felony Possession of a Firearm after he brought his firearm to the airport and it was discovered while he was going through the security check.
While preparing for trial on the matter, Ketchel Law was able to negotiate with the District Attorney to have all criminal charges withdrawn and for the client to plead to a summary citation for a minimal fine.
The client represented by Ketchel Law was a man charged with Rape, Sexual Assault, and Unlawful Restraint. He had no prior sex-related offenses of any kind. From the outset, our client wanted a trial and maintained his complete innocence.
Ketchel Law argued to the jury that a sexual encounter did occur; however, that the same was consented to by the victim.
An Allegheny County Jury acquitted the client of the charges of Rape and Sexual Assault. A charge of Unlawful Restraint/Serious Bodily Injury never reached the jury, as a Judgment of Acquittal was granted by the Judge after Ketchel Law argued that the Commonwealth failed to present sufficient evidence for the charge to go to the jury.
Ketchel Law represented a client in a non-jury trial before an Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas Judge that resulted in a full acquittal of Indecent Assault, Indecent Exposure, and Simple Assault.
After the close of the Commonwealth’s case, Ketchel Law called the client to the stand to tell his side of the story. At the conclusion of the testimony, Ketchel Law argued to the Judge that the Commonwealth’s evidence was insufficient and that our client was more credible than the Commonwealth’s alleged victim.
After some deliberation, the Judge found the man not guilty of all four of the following charges: Indecent Assault Forcible Compulsion, Indecent Assault Without Consent of Other, Indecent Exposure, and Simple Assault.
Attorney Michael Waltman represented a commercial truck driver involved in a fatal accident and charged with Homicide by Vehicle. The District Attorney’s Office alleged that the driver acted in a gross disregard for the value of human life in the operation of his tractor-trailer. Attorney Waltman successfully argued to a Common Pleas Court Judge that the Government failed to produce any evidence to support its allegation. After listening to the evidence and arguments of counsel, the presiding judge agreed with Attorney Waltman and dismissed the case.
Attorney Michael Waltman represented a local man in Federal Court charged with possessing a semi-automatic assault-style rifle while not lawfully permitted to do so. Attorney Waltman successfully argued to a Judge in the Western District of Pennsylvania that the man should receive probation instead of the significant period of incarceration called for by the applicable guidelines.
Attorney Michael Waltman represented a client accused of killing the client’s own child. The evidence of the client’s responsibility was clear and unequivocal. Attorney Waltman along with his co-counsel and team of experts successfully argued to the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office to remove the death penalty from the table.
Ketchel Law represented a man accused of theft of cash from the residence of his acquaintance.
Following a preliminary hearing, the magistrate dismissed the felony charge after defense counsel argued that the victim’s speculation about who may have taken the money was not evidence and that such testimony could not be used to sustain a conviction of the charge.
Following two and a half days of deliberation, an Allegheny County jury acquitted our client of serious charges alleged against him including: robbery, kidnapping, criminal conspiracy to commit homicide, and criminal solicitation of homicide.
The defense argued to the jury that the victim’s story didn’t add up. The video surveillance did not show physical force or aggressive behavior and further, shows that one of the accused robbers handed the victim back his ATM card and a receipt for the transaction. “Is that a robbery?” defense counsel asked the jury in closing arguments. “Does a robber hand you back what is supposed to be stolen from you along with a receipt that documents the transaction? I submit to you, ladies and gentlemen, that doesn’t make sense. And when something doesn’t make sense, it’s usually because it’s not true.”
