Robert Howard Hartley Jr.

I had received representation from Hartley in 2017/2018 for Endangering the Welfare of a Child- M1. Everyone except the ADA of Venango Co. Brenda Servidio, knew I was innocent and wrongfully charged and imprisoned. Hartley was appointed to me through the Venango Co. Public Defenders Office. He was ha...nds down the absolute best attorney I ever had to represent me! He was very detail oriented, professional, very knowledgeable about criminal law, and he held several consultations with me about my case. He tried pleading down the charge with the ADA to avoid trial and she of course refused all plea negotiations. Claimed she was “going to make an example out of me”. So he took my case clear to a jury trial. Hartley had just become a Public Defender for Venango Co. & I was Hartley’s very first case in venango co. I also was his first case in venango that went clear to trial. He was confident we had a good chance at winning my case at trial. Before trial began, as we sat in the courtroom waiting for the jury to be brought it, the ADA tried offering a plea. We did not accept any plea from her and proceeded with trial. Hartley made the ADA look very unprofessional and really got her flustered during the course of my trial. His cross examinations were flawless and his opening & closing arguments were nothing but extraordinary! After trial was over and the jury was sent out for deliberation, Hartley spoke with me & my family about everything. The jury took roughly 30-45 minutes to deliberate and was back with a final decision. As we all gathered in the courtroom to hear the final verdict, Hartley was confident the jury was going to make the right verdict and serve justice! And the jury did just that with a final verdict of “NOT GUILTY” to 1 count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child- M1. Everyone in the courtroom cheered as justice had been finally served on my behalf! I honestly do not think I would have even went to trial if Hartley was not representing me. His hard work, determination, professionalism, knowledge of the criminal justice system, and his dedication to me as his client (and to prove my innocence) showed the courts, the PD office, the ADA/DA, and everyone else he was the BEST attorney! And I can’t thank Hartley enough for everything he did for me & for not giving up on me even when things got rough!