Case Results

Undoubtedly, a tumultuous national climate has come to prevalence between police officers and the African-American community. This friction recently contributed to a dangerous situation and criminal charges for a Philadelphia man, when he reacted hastily during an encounter with police. On a very hot day, the man’s work vehicle became disabled on Columbus Boulevard and while he was working on the truck he was approached by police, who were inquiring about the issue with his vehicle. Allegedly, when the man attempted to retrieve his identification and registration from the passenger compartment, the officer perceived that he was reaching for a weapon. The nervous cop attempted to subdue the man and place him under arrest. The man panicked, thinking his life was in danger, and a scuffle followed.

During the tussle, the officer’s weapon was knocked out of his hand before the man fled with a handcuff attached to one of his wrists. The man did not get far, was quickly apprehended and charged with several felonies including escape, resisting arrest, giving false identification to a law enforcement officer, disorderly conduct, and disarming an officer. With the serious charges made against him and the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence, he contacted Philadelphia criminal defense attorney Michael Fienman.

Knowing the man was facing several years in prison for this incident, Attorney Fienman immediately began working for his client, and during the preliminary hearing effectively had the disarming an officer charge withdrawn. Fienman then negotiated with the assistant district attorney assigned to the case and was able to avoid a risky trial for his client by orchestrating a plea to only a single charge of escape that would penalize his client with five years of probation, but no time in jail. Our client was relieved to stay out of jail, which was a triumph considering the litany of charges against him.

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.