Attorney Matthew Jared Rapa's Legal Cases

Criminal defense

Commonwealth v. W.L.

Jan 10, 2020

OUTCOME: Motion to Suppress 50 lbs of Marijuana granted. Commonwealth dismissed all charges.

Client, a Chinese citizen, was stopped on I-80 as a result of alleged traffic violations and found in possession of over 50 pounds of marijuana. Client faced a substantial term of imprisonment and de ... portation back to China. After closely scrutinizing the stop of the Client's vehicle, a motion to suppress evidence was filed on his behalf and litigated before the trial court. Following the submission of legal briefs, which outlined the various illegal tactics used by the police to conduct a stop of the Client's vehicle, the trial court agreed the stop of the Client's vehicle was illegal and suppressed all evidence related to the discovery of over 50 pounds of marijuana. All charges were subsequently dismissed.

DUI and DWI

Commonwealth v. E.M.

Feb 08, 2019

OUTCOME: Not Guilty verdict

Client charged with DUI following traffic stop for inoperable license plate light. Case proceeded to trial. Client found not guilty of DUI charges.

DUI and DWI

Commonwealth v. J.H.

Feb 04, 2019

OUTCOME: Motion to Suppress granted. Commonwealth dismissed all charges.

A CDL holder client was stopped in a non-commercial vehicle due to an inoperable third brake light. Following stop, officers suspected client was driving under the influence and conducted field sobri ... ety testing which them deemed client failed. A blood draw was requested, but ultimately refused by client. Client had a previous conviction for DUI. A second DUI conviction would have resulted in a lifetime CDL disqualification. Pre-trial motions were filed on behalf of client alleging that officers lacked reasonable suspicion to suspect client of driving under the influence to justify removing client from vehicle having him perform field sobriety testing. Following a hearing and after submitting a legal brief on the issue, trial judge granted client's motion and suppressed all evidence pertaining to client's field sobriety testing. Commonwealth dismissed case.

DUI and DWI

Commonwealth v. M.T.

Mar 09, 2018

OUTCOME: All charges dismissed

Client charged with DUI following traffic stop for inoperable license plate light. Client faced mandatory minimum jail time of 90 days, 5 years of supervision and an 18 month loss of license because ... she had a prior DUI conviction within the last ten years. With the use of the police officer's testimony from client's preliminary hearing that was elicited through cross-examination, we were able to file pre-trial motions asking that all evidence be suppressed due violations of my client's 4th amendment rights. Following a hearing on client's motion to suppress, a legal memorandum was drafted and submitted on behalf of client's arguments. The presiding judge issued an order finding that the police violated my client's 4th amendment rights and ordered that all evidence obtained must be suppressed. The court also dismissed the charges of DUI and possession of a controlled substance.

DUI and DWI

Commonwealth v. M.M.

Mar 09, 2018

OUTCOME: Not Guilty

Client charged with DUI following interaction with Pennsylvania State Trooper at a DUI checkpoint. Trooper alleged that client failed numerous field sobriety tests as a result of being under the infl ... uence of prescription pain medication. Although the Commonwealth offered client the chance to participate in the county ARD program in order to avoid mandatory jail time and license suspension, Client elected to proceed to a bench trial.

DUI and DWI

Commonwealth v. N.I.

Dec 18, 2017

OUTCOME: Charges of Involuntary Manslaughter and DUI dismissed following the filing and litigation of pre-trial motions.

Client charged with Involuntary Manslaughter and DUI following a fatal accident involving a pedestrian. Tragically, client struck and killed an elderly pedestrian attempting to cross a four lane sta ... te highway at night. Client was arrested and charged following the discovery of marijuana and drug paraphernalia in her vehicle. Blood tests revealed the presence of marijuana within client's blood. Commonwealth's accident reconstruction expert conclude that marijuana in client's system at the time may have caused impairment, which caused the fatal accident.

DUI and DWI

Commonwealth v. C.B.

Oct 02, 2017

OUTCOME: DUI charges dismissed. Client entered guilty plea to traffic offenses.

Client charged with third offense DUI for driving while under the influence of controlled substances. Client faced a mandatory minimum sentence of one (1) year incarceration if convicted. Through t ... he filing of pre-trial motions I was able to have the court throw out my client's blood results. On the eve of trial the Commonwealth agreed to dismiss the DUI charges and client pled guilty to traffic offenses involving driving an unregistered vehicle.

DUI and DWI

Commonwealth v. S.R.

Sep 22, 2017

OUTCOME: All charges dismissed.

After arriving at a DUI checkpoint, client was removed from his vehicle, made to complete field sobriety testing and then arrested for DUI. Through the use of an expert we were able to establish that ... the prescription medications discovered in the client's blood would not result in any impairment while driving a vehicle. On the day prior to trial, the Commonwealth agreed to dismiss all charges.

DUI and DWI

Commonwealth v. J.R.

Aug 11, 2017

OUTCOME: Jury found client not guilty of DUI

Client charged with a second offense DUI based upon state trooper's belief that client was driving his vehicle while under the influence of marijuana.

DUI and DWI

Commonwealth v. J.M.

Aug 04, 2017

OUTCOME: Not Guilty

Client charged with DUI after being pulled for erratic driving and failing field sobriety testing. A blood test revealed the presence of a central nervous system depressant in Defendant's blood. ... After successfully arguing for Defendant's blood results to be suppressed, Defendant's case proceeded to a trial before a judge.

Matthew Jared Rapa's Legal Cases (30)

Commonwealth v. W.L.

Commonwealth v. E.M.

Commonwealth v. J.H.

Commonwealth v. M.T.

Commonwealth v. M.M.

Commonwealth v. N.I.

Commonwealth v. C.B.

Commonwealth v. S.R.

Commonwealth v. J.R.

Commonwealth v. J.M.