Case Results

Not long ago, on a rainy night in rural Chester County, a young man was in the parking lot of a movie theater when police approached his vehicle. Apparently, the officers discovered that the driver was “hot-boxing” his car, which involves smoking marijuana with all the windows rolled up to keep the exhaled smoke from escaping. While the officer could have treated the man harshly by charging him with marijuana possession, possession of paraphernalia, and operating a vehicle under the influence (DUI), he instead issued the man a citation for disorderly conduct and confiscated the marijuana and paraphernalia. The man certainly avoided a terrible set of charges, but the disorderly conduct offense itself was also a significant concern due to the man’s position as a school teacher. Obviously worried about the impact to his professional and personal reputation, he decided to consult with a capable criminal defense attorney.

Attorney Michael Fienman took the man’s case and began working to alleviate his concerns. This led attorney Fienman to discuss the case with the officer involved, who eventually agreed to withdraw the disorderly conduct citation. This withdrawal removed his client’s anxiety because attorney Fienman’s effective legal representation prevented an embarrassing and possibly career ending situation. The matter is now eligible for expungement and can be permanently removed from the man’s criminal record.

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.