Law Office of Dirk Berry, Esq. - The Fighter Lawyer for Criminal Law

Criminal Law.

If you are in trouble with the law, or think you may be soon, or law enforcement authorities think you are a suspect, we can help.

Maybe you made a mistake. Maybe you didn't do anything wrong – bad things happen to good people. Regardless, we provide Legal Defense services for every type of Felony charge, Misdemeanor charge, and Summary charge and most Murder charges.

We will fight for you and your rights. That is what we do. We will strive to ensure that the system treats you justly and work to obtain for you every legal benefit that the law allows. We will be with you throughout the process. You will not have to face this alone.

We give every case our utmost effort. Our approach to Criminal Defense was forged from my days flying in a fighter plane. With me at your side, you will have an attorney with a fighter pilot mentality.

Understanding the Grading of charges:

SUMMARY charges are the least serious and are often initiated by citation, similar to a traffic ticket. The maximum prison tern someone can receive in Pennsylvania is 90 days.
MISDEMEANOR charges are the next most serious and are graded as an M1, M2, or M3. The maximum prison term someone can receive in Pennsylvania is 1 year for an M3, 2 years for an M2 and 5 years for an M1. However, there are collateral effects that can occur with misdemeanor convictions that can include the loss of civil rights and constitutional rights (incl. gun rights) and that may impact several domestic type cases as well.
FELONY charges are the most serious, except for murder, and they are graded as an F1, F2, or F3. The maximum prison term someone can receive in Pennsylvania is 7 years for an F3, 10 years for an F2, and 20 years for an F1. Felony convictions will result in the loss of civil and constitutional rights, which will include loss of gun rights, and may impact domestic cases as well.
MURDER charges are graded as Murder -1, Murder -2, or Murder -3. The maximum prison term someone can receive in Pennsylvania is 40 years for Murder -3, Life for Murder -2, and Life or Execution for Murder -1.
DRUG charges are unique. They are graded as Summaries, Misdemeanors or Felonies but do not have the 1-2-3 number system. The penalties vary considerably and are based on the particular activity and the particular illegal substance.