Pittsburgh Criminal & DUI Defense Lawyer

I am a lifelong resident of the City of Pittsburgh and have been involved with the criminal justice system in Pennsylvania for the majority of my adult life.  Following in the footsteps of my Dad, I became a Pittsburgh Police Officer in 1989 at the age of 20.  I served as a Pittsburgh Police Officer for nearly 15 years, retiring in late 2003 with the rank of Lieutenant. 

During the early part of my police career, I worked as a patrol officer in the Hill District neighborhood of Pittsburgh.  This was long before the recent revitalization of the Hill District, when the area above the Civic Arena looked more like a war zone than a neighborhood and when open air drug sales happened on many street corners.  As a patrol officer on the Hill, I gained valuable experience in all areas of criminal law, from drug crimes to DUI to violent crimes. 

I was transferred to the Pittsburgh Police Homicide Squad in 1994 where I spent the next two years working as a Homicide Detective.  I investigated and testified in many high profile homicide cases, including cases involving the death penalty.  I have experienced first-hand the pressure that the police are placed under to solve serious, high-profile crimes.  One thing that I quickly learned as a homicide detective was to follow the evidence and not try to fit the evidence into someone’s theory of the case.  When I take your case, regardless of the charges, I conduct my own investigation, with the assistance of experienced investigators who are retired police officers. 

I was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 1996 at the age of 27.  I remain one of the youngest officers in Pittsburgh's history to achieve the rank of Lieutenant.  As a Lieutenant, I supervised the Pittsburgh Police DUI Task Force from 2001-2003.  I received extensive training in the DUI and traffic laws of Pennsylvania, in the planning and operation of sobriety checkpoints and in the operation of breath testing devices.  I also became a certified chemical breath test operator during this time.  Chances are that if you were arrested for DUI and agreed to take a breath test, I am very familiar with the breath testing device that was used.  More importantly, as a trained operator, I understand the need for these devices to be periodically calibrated and realize their limitations in measuring a person's true blood alcohol concentration.

I represent clients in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County as well as in all surrounding counties in all state criminal matters.  If you've been arrested in the Pittsburgh or surrounding area, please call my office at 412-429-4360, email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or contact me through this website for a free consultation and let me put my experience to work for you.

Professional License

• I am licensed to practice in all Pennsylvania courts.

Education

• Juris Doctorate, Duquesne University School of Law
• Bachelor of Arts, University of Pittsburgh, Criminal Justice, magna cum laude

Professional Organizations

• Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys
• Pennsylvania Bar Association
• Allegheny County Bar Association