Protect Your Future with Experienced Criminal Defense

The Dorward Law Firm

5.0

Over 90 5-Star Reviews

Recognized Leaders in the Legal Field
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    Serving Dauphin County, Harrisburg and beyond Drug Trafficking Lawyer Harrisburg

    Navigating the legal landscape following allegations of drug trafficking can be complex and daunting. Faced with such charges, individuals require a drug trafficking attorney who can challenge the evidence presented and explore all available defense strategies. At The Dorward Law Firm, we understand the severity of your situation. We can provide the legal guidance and strong representation needed to get through this challenging time.

    Our team is committed to tailoring a robust defense for every client, meticulously examining the circumstances surrounding the case and fighting for the most favorable outcome possible. Rest assured that when you team up with our firm, we will work tirelessly to protect your rights and achieve a resolution that minimizes the impact on your future.

    Act fast to protect your future. Call (717) 429-0411 to schedule a consultation with a drug trafficking lawyer.

    Harrisburg Drug Trafficking
    Call for More Information Today!
    717-429-0411
    Real Feedback from Real Clients
    • D
      "Very Grateful for the Help and Professionalism"
      They explained everything clearly, kept me informed, and made a difficult situation much less overwhelming.
      David Kemmerer
    • Jo
      "Worth Every Penny"
      Shawn did a wonderful job helping my son and his friend navigating DUI charges gotten while riding on electric scooters.
      Jo Ann Davey
    • S
      "Shawn Helped Me Through My Case Smoothly"
      Shawn is a killer and helped get me through my case very smoothly.
      Scott Nye
    • a
      "Quick Responses and Very Professional"
      Quick responses and very professional, even after my case was settled.
      andrew cover
    • M
      "Very Much Satisfied"
      Very much satisfied! Lawyer knows exactly what he’s doing.
      Marissa Deyo
    • g
      "Definitely Worth the Money"
      He made sure to get me the best possible outcome.
      greg
    • C
      "We Received the Best Case Scenario"
      Shawn was quick to respond, with great communication.
      Cara Torok
    • B
      "An absolute top tier law firm"
      He did an absolute superb job and I couldn't be happier with the results.
      Barney Lampman
    • S
      "Happy with the prompt response"
      I am happy with the prompt response to my voicemail.
      Sandra Kohr
    • D
      "Mr. Shawn Dorward went up and beyond"
      Mr. Shawn Dorward went up and beyond to get the result I wanted.
      Daquan Jones
    • D
      "We were EXTREMELY happy with his handling of the case."
      He knew how to work well with the prosecutors who eventually acquiesced to almost all his requests to lessen the punishment substantially.
      David Pond
    • J
      "Choosing Shawn has always been the best option for me."
      Fully resolved my case faster than expected!
      Justina Delgado
    • d
      "Dorward Law Firm Is the Best in Harrisburg"
      My daughter's case went from 3 felony charges to disorderly conduct—Shaun is the best, I give him a million stars.
      dainty Chambers
    • A
      "I got better results than I was expecting."
      I got better results than I was expecting. Shawn is very reliable and always responded back in a timely manner.
      Abraham Martin
    • Z
      "This man was exceptional and did everything he could"
      I’m thankful for Shawn Dorward and his expertise; he really did everything he could to help me.
      Zrix
    • A
      "Shawn and team are amazing"
      Shawn and team will take that stress off of you and will stand in the courtroom and go to bat for their clients.
      Antońi Belcher
    • S
      "Exceptional Law Firm I Highly Recommend"
      They are truly what a law firm should stand for. The Dorward Law Firm is nothing short of amazing.
      Sean Belcher
    • S
      "Unbelievably Superb Attorney"
      Shawn Dorward is an unbelievably superb attorney. His courtroom presence and legal skill during a trial were more than impressive.
      Sarah Grillo
    • S
      "The Perfect Dream Team"
      He went above and beyond in my case to ensure the best outcome.
      Sherry Sorichetti
    • K
      "They Were Very Friendly and Helpful"
      They were very friendly, very helpful, always willing to help me with everything every time I called.
      Kushtrim Paqarada
    • I
      "Working with Shawn was a pleasure"
      I would recommend him to anyone that needs representation!
      Ivette Rosario
    • S
      "Exceptional Legal Representation"
      Dorward Law Firm is nothing short of outstanding.
      Sheldon Cross
    • J
      "Shawn is a personal lawyer"
      Shawn wants to know you personally and is very family attentive!
      John Lauver (Ain't the Guy)
    • A
      "Attorney Dorward is the best"
      He cares about the well-being of his clients.
      Amber Minton
    • A
      "Very pleased with the outcome"
      The Dorward Law Firm was great to work with. Shawn was on point with everything throughout the process.
      Abe Marin
    • A
      "We won and that's what's important"
      Shawn was nothing more than amazing in every aspect.
      Autum Hadley
    • K
      "Highly Recommend Shaun Dorwood"
      Shaun Dorwood worked very hard to resolve this problem.
      Kathryn Soehl
    • J
      "Grateful for My Outcome"
      Extremely helpful with my case. Knew just what to do.
      Jay Harris
    • V
      "Went Beyond My Expectations"
      Shawn was very responsive and dedicated to excellent service.
      Veronica Schaffner
    • N
      "Got all charges dismissed"
      Shawn got all the charges dismissed for me. He is extremely genuine and knows his job very well.
      Nina massicci
    Very Grateful for the Help and Professionalism
    I’m very grateful for the help and professionalism my attorney showed throughout my case. They explained everything clearly, kept me informed, and made a difficult situation much less overwhelming. I felt supported and well represented the entire time. I highly recommend their services.
    David Kemmerer
    Worth Every Penny
    Shawn did a wonderful job helping my son and his friend navigating DUI charges gotten while riding on electric scooters. I would highly recommend him for any legal matters. Always prompt to answer questions and was worth every penny!
    Jo Ann Davey
    Shawn Helped Me Through My Case Smoothly
    Shawn is a killer and helped get me through my case very smoothly. So a great big thanks and much appreciation to him and his team xoxo!!❤️
    Scott Nye
    Quick Responses and Very Professional
    Quick responses and very professional. Even after my case was settled, they still helped me with other problems. Definitely would recommend.
    andrew cover
    Very Much Satisfied
    Very much satisfied! Lawyer knows exactly what he’s doing and does his job very well. Highly recommended!
    Marissa Deyo
    Definitely Worth the Money
    Needed Shawn’s services for a court hearing. He made sure to get me the best possible outcome. Definitely worth the money.
    greg
    We Received the Best Case Scenario
    Shawn was quick to respond, great communication, and we received the best case scenario with him and his team’s assistance. Highly recommend!
    Cara Torok
    An absolute top tier law firm
    I hired Shawn to represent me in a legal problem that I wasn't sure how to even go about proceeding with this problem, not to mention the fear and stress. He did an absolute superb job and I couldn't be happier with the results. An absolute top tier law firm. Thank you very much, Shawn. Stacey Lampman.
    Barney Lampman
    Happy with the prompt response
    I am happy with the prompt response to my voicemail. Also, how he started to gather information immediately.
    Sandra Kohr
    Mr. Shawn Dorward went up and beyond
    Definitely was a challenge to get my charges dropped, but Mr. Shawn Dorward went up and beyond to get the result I wanted, so thank you to the Dorward firm. Much love!
    Daquan Jones
    We were EXTREMELY happy with his handling of the case.
    My family hired Shawn to represent our daughter who was a student at Gettysburg College when she was facing several serious charges. We were EXTREMELY happy with his handling of the case. He was on top of the recent DUI laws, as they just changed with a PA Supreme Court ruling. Shawn made himself available to speak with us, often late at night and on weekends, if the matter was urgent. He knew how to work well with the prosecutors who eventually acquiesced to almost all his requests to lessen the punishment substantially. Knowledgeable, caring, confident, tough—a real advocate for his client!
    David Pond
    Choosing Shawn has always been the best option for me.
    Choosing Shawn has always been the best option for me. Fully resolved my case faster than expected! The Dorward Law Firm has always been great, thank you, Shawn!
    Justina Delgado
    Dorward Law Firm Is the Best in Harrisburg
    I want to say this firm deserves more than five stars, but Google won't allow it. It's the BEST criminal law firm in Harrisburg and its environs. I've been searching for a good criminal lawyer for some time, was introduced to one in Camp Hill by a friend. Honestly, I threw away my money; he was no good, he was unprofessional, he didn't answer phone calls or return messages, always late for court. I had given up and lost hope with my case, then a voice in my head said search Google for best law firm in Harrisburg. Dorward was the third one to pop up, but it ultimately became the first because all the others were very unprofessional and I didn't want to fall in the same spot. I decided to call Dorward, there I met Shawn; he was very professional and upfront. He took the time to listen; from right there I knew we were in the right hands. He worked with us every step of the way, communicated with us from start to finish, he's always responding to our calls and texts, addressing our concerns. My daughter's case went from 3 felony charges to disorderly conduct. If you're looking for a good criminal defense lawyer, Dorward Law Firm is the one—you'll have no regrets, and there's also payment plans available. Shawn is the best, I give him a million 🌟 stars.
    dainty Chambers
    I got better results than I was expecting.
    Shawn represented me on 2 different cases and I highly recommend him. He's very reliable and had all the answers to my questions. Very upfront, to the point. Always on time and responds back in a timely manner. Would definitely use him again if needed to. I got better results than I was expecting.
    Abraham Martin
    This man was exceptional and did everything he could
    This man was exceptional and did everything he could to make sure my sentence was the best it could possibly be in my situation. I’m thankful for Shawn Dorward and his expertise. He really did everything he could to help me and get me a good position back on my feet.
    Zrix
    Shawn and team are amazing
    I highly recommend anyone in the Pennsylvania to NY area, east coast, if you are ever in need of criminal help or support, please choose the Dorward Law Firm. Shawn and team are amazing. I cannot thank them enough for handling my case for me as I reside in NY. Shawn and team will take that stress off of you and will stand in the courtroom and go to bat for their clients. I appreciate the Dorward Law Firm, and so should you! Thank you, Shawn and team! 5 stars
    Antońi Belcher
    Exceptional Law Firm I Highly Recommend
    Exceptional Law Firm. I highly recommend Shawn and team. They are truly what a law firm should stand for. Please, if you are not sure, I hope you find my post assuring. The Dorward Law Firm is nothing short of amazing.
    Sean Belcher
    Unbelievably Superb Attorney
    Shawn Dorward is an unbelievably superb attorney. He came into my life when I needed strong legal guidance, advice, and support through a traumatic experience where I felt abandoned by the justice system. He treated me with the utmost respect and professionalism as well as empathy and fully prepped me for the hardest battle I have ever endured in my personal life. Shawn allowed me to ask any questions, and was extremely attentive to me as a client while navigating the maze of the court system and many of his other clients as well. His courtroom presence, ability to connect with all courtroom parties and staff, and overall eloquent legal skill set during a trial was more than impressive and impactful on so many levels. I couldn’t recommend a better attorney or human being to help you navigate and fight for what you believe in.
    Sarah Grillo
    The Perfect Dream Team
    I had the best experience with Attorney Shawn Dorward representing me. He always got back to me quickly and was always so reassuring and caring for even the smallest questions I had. He made sure he put my mind at ease when I was stressed and explained every detail in a way I could totally understand. He went above and beyond in my case to ensure the best outcome, and time was no issue to make sure I got everything done needed before my hearing. He was not just out for a quick buck like some other attorneys I’ve had in the past. He genuinely cared and went way out of his way to fight for my rights and the absolute best outcome possible. I cannot end my review without mentioning his wife, Heidi, who takes care of all the office responsibilities and paperwork, was also so caring and gave me pep talks and reminded me that I have rights too, anytime I was feeling down and having a bad day. They are the perfect dream team to get the job done! You cannot go wrong when you make the call to this law firm! There’s no better!
    Sherry Sorichetti
    They Were Very Friendly and Helpful
    They were very friendly, very helpful, always willing to help me with everything. Every time I called, they answered my phone call. They texted me back for any question that I had. They are not like the others ❤️
    Kushtrim Paqarada
    Working with Shawn was a pleasure
    I would like to say that working with Shawn was a pleasure! I would recommend him to anyone that needs representation! He is not only great at what he does, but is also very kind. I want to say, I'm so glad I went with Shawn.
    Ivette Rosario
    Exceptional Legal Representation
    Exceptional Legal Representation Dorward Law Firm is nothing short of outstanding. They are incredibly professional, always available, and remarkably detail-oriented. Throughout every stage of the legal process, they remained thorough and clear, ensuring that I fully understood each step along the way. Their communication is excellent, and I always felt informed and supported. Most importantly, the team is truly trustworthy—a quality that’s hard to overstate when dealing with legal matters. I always felt confident that my case was in capable hands. I highly recommend Dorward Law Firm to anyone in need of skilled, dedicated, and reliable legal representation. They set the standard for how legal services should be delivered.💪🏾
    Sheldon Cross
    Shawn is a personal lawyer
    Shawn is a person-to-person lawyer. He wants to know you personally and is very family attentive! He will work for you, they will work for you! I realize that we pay for the service, but after everything, I call him a friend.
    John Lauver (Ain't the Guy)
    Attorney Dorward is the best
    Attorney Dorward is the best of the best. He has such a genuine personality and treats and speaks to you like a friend, which provides so much comfort throughout the case. You can tell he cares about the well-being of his clients. I can wholeheartedly say that whether it is a minor legal issue or something more complex and serious, this is the attorney you want by your side.
    Amber Minton
    Very pleased with the outcome
    The Dorward Law Firm was great to work with. Shawn was on point with everything throughout the process. We had questions throughout the process, he responded quickly with answers. He was always on time or early for court. Great guy, awesome personality, gets right down to it. Straightforward about the situation. We are very pleased with the outcome and would highly recommend to anyone.
    Abe Marin
    We won and that's what's important
    Shawn was nothing more than amazing in every aspect and area, and I really appreciate him and all his hard work and dedication he put into his work. I appreciate everything all the time—all the work and effort and doing an amazing job. We won and that’s what’s important.
    Autum Hadley
    Highly Recommend Shaun Dorwood
    Took longer than I thought, but Shaun Dorward worked very hard to resolve this problem. I would recommend him to everyone.
    Kathryn Soehl
    Grateful for My Outcome
    Extremely helpful with my case. Knew just what to do and wasn't afraid to get things done. I'm very grateful for my outcome thanks to Mr. Dorward!
    Jay Harris
    Went Beyond My Expectations
    On behalf of my son Alex, I would like to thank the Dorward Law Firm for their service. Excellent in both professionalism and experience. Shawn was very responsive when I had questions and was able to answer them in a timely manner. He also was dedicated to providing excellent service, making me feel confident our case was in good hands. Went beyond my expectations. Highly recommend without any reservations!
    Veronica Schaffner
    Got all charges dismissed
    I had assault charges and some others, and due to me being in the field I’m in, I can’t have any of those under my belt at all. Shawn, the first time we actually went to court, got all the charges dismissed for me. He is extremely genuine and knows his job very well. I absolutely highly recommend him. I would definitely call him again if I had to… let’s hope I don’t have to, though.
    Nina massicci
    Our Results
    • Charges Dismissed 2 separate DUI’s
      Client was charged with two separate DUI’s. For the first case, our client was pulled over for what the state trooper ...
    • Charges Dismissed 2nd Offense Aggravated Assault by Vehicle While DUI.

      Client was charged with a felony Aggravated Assault by Vehicle While DUI, three other DUI related offenses, possession of drug paraphernalia and three summary violations for an accident that he was involved in with another motorist. All DUI offenses were based on our client having alcohol in his system at the time of the accident. Members of the state police were dispatched to the accident and upon arrival observed heavy front end damage to both vehicles. Our client was still trapped in his car.

    • Charges Dismissed 2nd Offense DUI
      Client faced a 2nd offense DUI. When having difficulty sleeping, client went out spotlighting for deer when he was ...
    • Charges Dismissed Driving Under Suspension DUI Related
      Client was charged with Driving Under Suspension – DUI related for what the officer claimed was his third violation ...
    • Charges Dismissed DUI Charges for CDL driver
      For truck drivers, the most important thing they maintain is their ability to drive a commercial vehicle. This is how ...
    • Charges Dismissed DUI Marijuana Charges

      Client had a medical marijuana license for several years and was previously charged with two DUI's for having marijuana in his blood. The previous cases were resolved with pleas to the DUI offenses, making this a third offense. As a third offense our client faced a felony conviction and a mandatory minimum of one year in state prison. For our case, the traffic stop was made as the state police ran his registration and saw that it was suspended.

    Charges Dismissed 2 separate DUI’s

    Client was charged with two separate DUI’s. For the first case, our client was pulled over for what the state trooper observed to be erratic driving. My client admitted to consuming alcohol and was subsequently asked out of his vehicle to submit to field sobriety tests, which he complied with. Following the tests, the trooper believed he had enough to arrest my client for DUI so he placed him in handcuffs and took him to the booking center for a blood draw. At booking my client agreed to submit to a blood draw; however, after the phlebotomist stuck our client three times in the arm with a needle without hitting a vein, the trooper directed her to stop attempting to draw blood. Although the police were not able to obtain blood from our client, they still filed DUI charges. Yes, you can face a DUI in Pennsylvania without a blood result. Of further significance for this case was that my client had his two children in the vehicle. This enhanced our client's DUI charges from an ungraded misdemeanor to a misdemeanor of the first degree.

    Shortly after receiving the charges for his first offense, our client was stopped again for the same circumstances and his wife and children were in the car with him. On this occasion he admitted to the police that he had consumed alcohol and was coming from a family member's home. As with the previous offense, he was asked out of the vehicle to perform field sobriety tests, but before being placed under arrest for DUI, the trooper who had him perform the field sobriety tests stated on the dash camera video that he did not believe he was impaired. Our client was still arrested for DUI and taken in for a blood draw. As in the prior case, he willingly submitted to a blood draw, but the phlebotomist could not obtain any blood from him.

    Throughout this client's cases we attempted to reach a resolution, but all conversations lead us to trial on the first case. Due to the enhancements with the children in the car, this proceeded to a jury trial. Typically for a first offense DUI, you would not be eligible for a jury trial and the case would be decided by a judge. After the jury heard all of the testimony and watched the dash camera footage for the first case, they returned a verdict of not guilty on the DUI. The second case was scheduled for the very next trial term, but at jury selection the District Attorney’s Office agreed to dismiss the DUI charge and offered a plea to the summary traffic citations. This was in large part due to my client’s willingness to submit to a blood draw as well as the trooper in the dash camera video explaining that he felt he did not have enough.

    Charges Dismissed 2nd Offense Aggravated Assault by Vehicle While DUI.

    Client was charged with a felony Aggravated Assault by Vehicle While DUI, three other DUI related offenses, possession of drug paraphernalia and three summary violations for an accident that he was involved in with another motorist. All DUI offenses were based on our client having alcohol in his system at the time of the accident. Members of the state police were dispatched to the accident and upon arrival observed heavy front end damage to both vehicles. Our client was still trapped in his car. The state trooper’s provided aid to our client and eventually he was transported to the hospital for life saving treatment. The other motorist was also transported to a local hospital as she sustained significant injuries. One of the troopers testified at a hearing that this was the worst accident he ever witnessed where someone did not die.

    This investigation was flawed from the start when a member of the state police attempted to do an accident reconstruction. Typically in an accident of this nature, the state police would send an expert to the scene to do a complete accident reconstruction; however, that was not done in this case. The trooper who filed the charges said that it was not done, because there was not a death. The trooper who filed the charges was not an expert in accident reconstruction. At the conclusion of the trooper’s investigation he determined that our client was driving at an excessive speed, that the other motorist was traveling the speed limit, and our client crossed the lane lines into the oncoming lane of travel striking the other motorist.

    When my client’s father arrived at the scene and heard that his son was the cause of the accident he could not accept it as true based on what he saw. Shortly after the accident it was determined that the state police never requested the airbag control module (ACM) from the other motorists vehicle. The ACM of a vehicle can record data in the event of a collision, similar to a “black box” in an aircraft. This information can provide insight into the crash dynamics and can be used in investigations such as this one. Without the ACM for the other motorist we would have nothing to rebut the trooper's findings. Eventually my client's father was able to track down where the other person’s car was taken to. It went from Central Pennsylvania to a junk yard in New Jersey. He was able to get confirmation that this was the same vehicle involved in the crash. With the ACM for this car we were able to hire our own expert to rebut what the Commonwealth was alleging. Our expert was able to confirm that the other motorist was the vehicle traveling in excess of the speed limit, that she crossed the lane line and she was the cause of the accident. After we submitted our report to the District Attorney's Office they had someone else from the State Police review it and they ultimately conceded that our client was not at fault for the accident.

    This still left the DUI charges and paraphernalia charge. When we dug further into the blood results we were able to determine that the hospital where our client received medical treatment sent the wrong person’s blood to the laboratory for testing. The alcohol they claimed was in his system was not his blood so the DUI charges were withdrawn as well. The Commonwealth was still not willing to withdraw the paraphernalia charge so we filed a motion to suppress, arguing that the state police illegally searched our client's vehicle after he was extricated and taken to the hospital. Following a hearing, the court agreed and his paraphernalia charge was dismissed as well.

    But for my client’s father obtaining the ACM from the other vehicle, subpoenaing detailed information concerning our client’s medical records and requesting documentation from the laboratory that did the blood analysis, it is inconceivable to think of what may have happened in this case. Our client went from facing felony charges, jail time, loss of license and having a civil lawsuit filed against him by the other motoristotorist to being completely exonerated. We are grateful to have been a part of this success.

    Charges Dismissed 2nd Offense DUI

    Client faced a 2nd offense DUI. When having difficulty sleeping, client went out spotlighting for deer when he was stopped by the police. He was stopped for crossing lane lines. Thankfully, we were able to get involved with the case and obtained a copy of the police officer’s dash camera video. The video did not show that our client’s driving was anything more than minimal deviations from his lane of travel. We filed a motion to suppress evidence arguing that the officer did not have either reasonable suspicion or probable cause to stop our clients truck and the trial court granted it. Without any evidence concerning our client’s performance on field sobriety tests or a blood alcohol content the Commonwealth agreed to dismiss the charges.

    Charges Dismissed Driving Under Suspension DUI Related
    Client was charged with Driving Under Suspension – DUI related for what the officer claimed was his third violation pursuant to Section 1543(b)(1)(iii). This section of the motor vehicle code concerns an individual who has had two prior violations under the same subsection. At the preliminary hearing we were able to argue that our client’s prior driving under suspension offenses were under a separate subsection of the motor vehicle code and his charges were dismissed. He was facing a sentence of up to a $2,500 fine and imprisonment for not less than six months.
    Charges Dismissed DUI Charges for CDL driver
    For truck drivers, the most important thing they maintain is their ability to drive a commercial vehicle. This is how they earn a living and provide for their families. One of the most devastating charges a truck driver can face is a DUI. A typical plea offer for a first offense DUI will include acceptance into the ARD program. This program, in most counties, provides an individual with an opportunity to have their charges expunged, and significantly reduces their loss of license. If you have a CDL, not only will you face a license suspension of your regular driver’s license, but depending on the offense number you will face an additional year or even a lifetime disqualification. This client came to us with a first offense DUI. As most individuals charged with a DUI, he faced two separate counts for the same incident. The first was in regards to his blood alcohol content and the second charge was concerning the officer’s opinion as to his inability to safely drive his vehicle. We knew from the beginning he could not do ARD as he would have lost his CDL for a year and everything else he worked so hard for. At the time of this offense our client had his CDL for over 10 years. It was our initial hope that the District Attorney’s Office was going to work with us, but when we were not able to reach an agreement that would have saved our clients CDL, we proceeded to trial. At trial, the Commonwealth called a forensic toxicologist to testify to our clients blood alcohol content. This toxicologist was not involved in the testing of our client’s blood and did not sign off on the final report. Based on this, we objected to their testimony and argued that this was a violation of the Confrontation Clause of the United States and Pennsylvania Constitution. The trial judge agreed and the charge concerning our clients blood alcohol content was dismissed. The arresting officer was still permitted to testify to his opinion of impairment, but after he testified we were able to successfully argue that the Commonwealth could not prove that he was impaired and the impairment based DUI charged was also dismissed.
    Charges Dismissed DUI Marijuana Charges

    Client had a medical marijuana license for several years and was previously charged with two DUI's for having marijuana in his blood. The previous cases were resolved with pleas to the DUI offenses, making this a third offense. As a third offense our client faced a felony conviction and a mandatory minimum of one year in state prison. For our case, the traffic stop was made as the state police ran his registration and saw that it was suspended. There was no bad driving. After the Trooper initiated his patrol lights our client immediately turned on his turn signal and pulled off an exit ramp onto the side of the road. The trooper asked our client for his vehicle information and he was able to provide all of his documents without issue. The trooper claimed to smell an order of marijuana and asked our client out of his vehicle to perform field sobriety tests. He completed the three standardized field sobriety tests, including the horizontal gaze nystagmus, the walk and turn, and one leg stand. The Trooper observed six clues on HGN; however, marijuana does not cause nystagmus. At trial we were able to get this test excluded from evidence. The Trooper also testified that he saw body and eyelid tremors and we were able to have that evidence excluded from trial as well as the trooper did not have the necessary training to equate that observation to marijuana use. Our client did ok on the walk and turn and one leg stand. There were also non-standardized tests that were conducted, including the Romberg balance and lack of convergence tests. The Romberg balance is a test where the individual is to estimate the passage of 30 seconds. Our client estimated 31 seconds and the Trooper noted this as a clue of impairment. Our client submitted to a blood draw, and marijuana was found in his system.

    The Commonwealth initially charged three separate DUI offenses. One charge was for having marijuana in his system. A second DUI charge was filed for having the metabolite of marijuana in his system, and the third DUI charge was for the trooper’s belief that our client was incapable of safely operating his vehicle due to the ingestion of marijuana. After we cross-examined the trooper on his observations of our client, the Commonwealth withdrew the impairment based DUI. The only DUI charges that went to the jury were for our client having marijuana in his system. Unfortunately, the Medical Marijuana Act did not provide us with a legal defense to these charges so all the Commonwealth had to prove was that marijuana was in our client’s blood. Thankfully, the jury followed our arguments concerning the validity of the blood testing that was done and our client was found not guilty of all remaining DUI charges.

    Why Choose The Dorward Law Firm

    At The Dorward Law Firm, we are dedicated to defending your rights and guiding you through challenging times. With extensive experience and a focus on personalized strategies, we’re committed to securing the best possible outcomes for our clients throughout Central Pennsylvania.

    Why Choose Us:

    • Over a decade of criminal defense experience
    • Certified expertise in DUI and complex cases
    • Led by award-winning attorney Shawn Dorward
    • Personalized legal strategies for each client
    • Strong relationships within the legal community
    • Free, no-obligation consultations
    • Experienced Criminal Defense In Central PA

      Over a decade of proven results defending your rights and future.

    • Personalized Strategies For Every Case

      We tailor our defense to your unique situation for the best results.

    • Expert DUI & Complex Case Knowledge

      Specialized certifications and awards give you a powerful advantage.

    • Free Consultation—Start With Confidence

      Call now for a free case review and honest legal guidance.

    Meet Our Dedicated Team at The Dorward Law Firm

    At The Dorward Law Firm, we’re devoted to safeguarding the rights and futures of individuals facing criminal charges throughout Harrisburg and Central Pennsylvania. Led by Shawn Dorward—an award-winning attorney with over a decade of experience and specialized DUI certifications—our team provides strategic, compassionate defense tailored to your unique situation. We focus exclusively on criminal defense, offering personalized guidance and clear communication every step of the way. With strong local relationships and a commitment to ongoing legal education, we aim to achieve the best possible results for our clients. From DUI to complex criminal cases, we’re here to help you understand your options and build a path forward with confidence. Free consultations are always available.

    Criminal Defense Answers
    • What should I do if accused of drug trafficking?
      If accused of drug trafficking, it is crucial to seek legal counsel immediately. Avoid making statements to law enforcement without your attorney present. Gather any relevant evidence and information, and comply with legal proceedings while maintaining communication with your lawyer.
    • How can a lawyer help with drug trafficking charges?
      A lawyer can provide vital assistance by analyzing the evidence, crafting a strong defense strategy, negotiating plea deals, and ensuring your rights are protected throughout the legal process. An experienced attorney can help reduce charges or seek alternative sentencing options.
    • Can previous offenses impact my case?
      Yes, previous offenses can significantly impact a drug trafficking case. They may lead to harsher penalties due to a perceived pattern of criminal behavior. Prior convictions can influence both charging decisions and sentencing outcomes, highlighting the need for robust legal defense.
    • What are common drug trafficking charges?
      Common drug trafficking charges include distribution or sale of illegal drugs, possession with intent to distribute, manufacturing controlled substances, and conspiracy to traffic drugs. The specific charge can depend on various factors like the type and amount of substance.
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