Is Your Child Charged With A Gang-Related Crime?

Not Just A Big-City Issue

Street gangs are often thought to be a problem of large cities. But more often, gangs are gaining a foothold in smaller towns, where untapped drug markets and a lower police presence make it easier for gang members to establish themselves. The proximity of well-organized gangs in New York City makes Pennsylvania particularly vulnerable to gang influence.

While drug crimes provide a reliable economic engine for organized gangs, gang-related crime can encompass many other types of crime, including:

• Robbery
• Assault
• Home invasion
• Weapons trafficking
• Vandalism

This doesn’t mean, however, that anyone charged with one of these crimes in Pennsylvania is guilty or is involved with a gang. If you’ve been charged with a gang-related crime, you need the protection of an experienced gang crimes attorney who will consider the details of your charge to come up with the best possible defense strategy. In the West Chester, Pennsylvania, area, contact Bellwoar Kelly, LLP at 610-314-7066 or send us an email to find out how we can protect your future.

Sentence Enhancements For Conviction

Gang-related crimes are treated more harshly in the legal system than crimes committed by a “lone wolf” perpetrator. This means that if you are convicted of a crime that the court determines you had committed for the benefit of a gang, you will receive an “enhanced sentence.” This is a nice way of saying you’ll be spending more time in jail or paying a larger fine than a person who had committed a solo crime.

For the state to prove that you committed a gang-related crime, however, it has to prove that you were in fact a member a gang and that you had committed the crime to benefit that gang. An experienced gang-related crimes attorney knows how best to fight these kinds of charges and protect you from the harsh consequences of a gang-related conviction.

Access The Protection You Need Today

Everyone deserves a strong defender. Just because you were charged with a crime doesn’t mean you are guilty or deserve the harshest sentence the state has to hand out. Contact an experienced criminal defense lawyer at Bellwoar Kelly, LLP today and find out how we can build a strong case to defend you against the charges you face. Call 610-314-7066 or use our online form to get in touch.