Richard A. Wilson's
Call Us: (570) 746-3480 · New Location: 202 State Street (Route 6) · PO Box 769 · Wyalusing, PA 18853 · Fax Us: (570) 746-3862
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Richard A. Wilson's
Call Us: (570) 746-3480 · New Location: 202 State Street (Route 6) · PO Box 769 · Wyalusing, PA 18853 · Fax Us: (570) 746-3862
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Firm News
Letter to the Editor re: Clean & Green and Oil & Gas(Wyalusing, PA--November 2008) Richard A. Wilson, Esq., founder of and senior attorney at the Keystone Law Firm, P.C., penned the following letter to local newspapers amidst an ongoing debate in Bradford County about whether those with oil and gas wells on their properties should suffer a penalty for preferential tax treatment received.
The attorneys at the Keystone Law Firm are willing to meet with people seeking advice on oil and gas issues for a low consultation fee. Attorney Beirne Attends Oil & Gas Seminar(August, 2008) Patrick L. Beirne, Esq., an associate attorney at the Keystone Law Firm, recently attended a seminar on Oil & Gas. The seminar, entitled, "Gas Leasing: The Marcellus Shale Gold Rush and Its Impact on Pennsylvania," was held in Wilkes-Barre, PA on August 25, 2008. Speakers included an attorney from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, discussing permit issues. Experts in the drilling industry discussed clauses they needed in their leases to do their jobs. Oil and gas attorneys discussed what to look out for as well as problems that can occur after a lease is signed, from estate planning to divorce. "I am glad that Attorney Beirne could attend this seminar," remarked Attorney Richard Wilson, the founder of the Keystone Law Firm. "Rarely does a day go by when we are not asked about oil and gas leasing and this adds to the research we've already done to better serve our clients." Anyone with questions about oil and gas leasing is urged to contact the law firm to meet with Mr. Beirne for a low-cost consultation. Charges Dismissed in Assault & Stalking Cases(Towanda, PA--April 2007) Two cases were dismissed against Ronald H. Cole of Sayre, Pennsylvania, on the eve of trial in Bradford County. Cole was represented by Wyalusing attorney Richard A. Wilson, Esq. In the first case, Cole was facing one count of Aggravated Indecent Assault and two counts of Indecent Assault Without Consent for incidents that allegedly took place between September 1, 2003 and November 30, 2003. All three counts were felonies of the second degree. Cole appeared in court for a pre-trial conference with his attorney, Richard A. Wilson, Esq., on April 3, 2007 and the District Attorney announced that there was insufficient evidence to take the case to trial. The Court then dismissed the charges. A jury trial would have been scheduled for the following week. In the second case, Cole was facing one count of Stalking, graded as a misdemeanor of the first degree, and two counts of Harassment graded as misdemeanors of the second degree and summary offenses. The charges stemmed from events that allegedly took place between November 1, 2004 and April 20, 2005. A separate trial would have taken place the following week with regard to that case, but the District Attorney's office moved to dismiss those charges, too, on or about April 6, 2003. "Obviously, we are happy about this," remarked Cole's attorney, Richard A. Wilson, Esq. "Mr. Cole had never been in trouble in his life. He was innocent of these charges and we're happy that the District Attorney made the right decision to end this prosecution." Back to TopAttorney Wilson Attends Trial Lawyers' Conference
(Cooperstown, NY--August 2006) Wyalusing attorney, Richard A. Wilson, recently attended a
four-day
conference on civil trial litigation in
Cooperstown, NY.
The conference, which was the Summer Meeting and 50th Anniversary of the New York State Bar Association's Trial Lawyers Section, was held at the Otesaga Hotel and Resort in Cooperstown, NY, on August 21 through 24, 2006. The conference included lectures on recent changes in NY practice and procedural law, a presentation on jury selection from the plaintiff's perspective, trial psychology from the defense standpoint, and the art of advocacy. "This was a valuable experience for me and for my clients," said Attorney Wilson. "Since I became licensed in New York a little over two years ago, I've handled more New York cases than I expected." Wilson indicates that he is currently handling a murder trial in Binghamton, NY, and is scheduled to pick a jury for that trial in November of this year. "I've also had the opportunity to represent a client who lives in Bradford County and was involved in a car accident in Steuben County, NY, and I was successful in getting a pretty big settlement for him earlier this summer." Wilson notes that these important cases were a big reason he chose to attend this conference, and a big reason he joined the Trial Lawyers Section. "The law is always changing and in this day and age you have to work hard to stay on top of these things," he said. Attorney Wilson is the founder of the Keystone Law Firm, based in Wyalusing. He handles jury and non-jury trials, in addition to other matters. Wilson is licensed to practice law before all Pennsylvania and New York State courts, and the Middle District of Pennsylvania Federal Court. Attorneys licensed in NY are required to undergo minimum amounts of continuing legal education each year. Attorney Wilson earned 6 credits by attending this conference. Back to TopTowanda "Streaker" Appeal Successful
(Harrisburg, PA--November 2005)
Russell Chmieleski is
the 18-year-old man who was arrested following a streaking incident at the
Towanda, Pennsylvania, High School Graduation Ceremony. He entered a plea of
guilty in the Bradford County Court of Common Pleas before Common Pleas
Judge Jeffrey A. Smith, to one count of Indecent Exposure, a misdemeanor, on
August 30, 2004. The case received national attention when he was sentenced
on October 4, 2004 to a minimum of six months to a maximum of nearly two
years in prison. He was represented at that time by the Bradford County
Office of the Public Defender, which filed a motion with the Court asking
the Judge to reconsider the sentence on October 13, 2004. He was released on
his own recognizance pending the determination of that motion and any
appeal.
The Court denied the motion to reconsider Russell’s sentence on October 15, 2004. Russell sought new legal representation and became represented by Wyalusing attorney Richard A. Wilson, Esq., of Wilson & Associates, P.C. Attorney Richard Wilson filed an appeal to the Superior Court of Pennsylvania on November 12, 2004, on behalf of Russell Chmieleski. The Superior Court decision was issued on November 2, 2005. The Superior Court vacated the judgment of sentence and remanded the case back to Judge Jeffrey A. Smith of the Bradford County Court of Common Pleas for resentencing. “Obviously, we are delighted with the Superior Court’s decision to overturn the decision of the local court. With all the overcrowding problems at the Bradford County Jail, we hope that this can be used as an opportunity to contribute to the solution by keeping Russell out of there,” said Attorney Wilson. Back to TopAttorney Wilson Attends Death Penalty Conference
(Valley Forge, PA--February 2006)
Wyalusing attorney, Richard A. Wilson, recently attended a two-day
conference on criminal law in Valley Forge, PA.
The conference was held at the Radisson Hotel Valley Forge on February 3rd and 4th, 2006. The first day of the conference, called "Search and Seizure," focused on substantive law, including search warrants, interactions with police, motions to suppress evidence and the effect of new technology on the development of 4th Amendment Law. Day two of the conference, entitled "Litigating the Tough Capital Case," featured a mock jury trial put on by some of Pennsylvania’s most prominent criminal lawyers. The case was acted out before a "jury" of non-lawyers who, in the end, rendered a verdict. "This was a valuable experience for me and for my clients," said Attorney Wilson. "The law is always changing, so learning about those changes in search and seizure law is always beneficial." The mock trial was especially interesting, continued Wilson. "Each lawyer tends to do things a little differently," Wilson said, "so I was able to see new ideas and insight in each presentation that could be incorporated in my next trial." Attorneys in Pennsylvania are required to undergo at least 12 hours of continuing legal education per year. Attorney Wilson earned 12 credits by attending this conference. "More importantly, under a new Supreme Court rule, attorneys need to maintain a certain level of attendance at these seminars to be qualified to handle death penalty cases and I earned six credits toward that certification," stated Wilson. Back to TopAccused Meth Maker Acquitted in Jury Trial
(Towanda, PA--March, 2005) On March 24, 2005, a Bradford County jury comprised of nine women and
three men found David E. Rumsey, 24, of Canton, not guilty of four
methamphetamine-related counts after about one hour of deliberation.
Rumsey was charged with the felonies of manufacturing methamphetamine and conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, and the misdemeanor charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was found not guilty of all four charges. His attorney, Richard A. Wilson, of Wyalusing, noted that, "We worked hard to prove that David was innocent of these charges, and we are happy that we were successful in showing that to the jury." The case stemmed from a December 16, 2003 auto accident in the Shunk area of Sullivan County. After the wrecked automobile, driven by David Rumsey, was towed from the scene to the Canton Auto Body Shop on Route 14 outside Canton, PA, local law enforcement found methamphetamine-related products in the back of the wrecked vehicle. A search warrant was obtained, and a search of the vehicle confirmed that the items in the back were used to manufacture methamphetamine. "The defense in this case was simply that those items were placed in that vehicle by someone other than David Rumsey," noted Attorney Wilson. "There was about a seven hour period of time where other people were seen going to and from this wrecked vehicle, and they could have done who knows what. David Rumsey, however, did not go to the vehicle during that time," stated Wilson. "We also showed that no one reported seeing those items in the wrecked car before it was towed." The District Attorney's office, through First Assistant District Attorney Albert Ondrey, argued that Rumsey had been involved in a criminal conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine before the accident. He offered testimony of an expert witness who identified the items that were seized as items that are typically used in the manufacturing of methamphetamine and offered the testimony of a co-defendant who testified that he was with David Rumsey during one of the attempts to manufacture the drug, shortly before the accident occurred. That co-defendant was also a passenger in the wrecked vehicle. "We were successful in showing that this co-defendant would say anything if it would benefit him. In fact, I showed the jury that he was originally charged with the same charges my client faced, but the Commonwealth agreed to withdraw the felonies and allow him to plead guilty to just one misdemeanor if he would testify against David Rumsey." Back to Top |
Charges Dismissed in Abuse/Stalking Cases Attorney Wilson Attends Trial Lawyers' Conference in Cooperstown, NY Towanda "Streaker" Wins Appeal Attorney Wilson Attends Valley Forge Death Penalty Conference |
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"The law helps those who help themselves, generally aids the vigilant, but rarely the sleeping, and never the acquiescent." Hannan v. Dusch, 154 Va. 356, 153 S.E. 824, 70 A.L.R. 141 (1930). Copyright © 1998-2003
Richard A. Wilson, Esq. and Copyright © 2003-2007
Law Offices of Wilson & Associates, P.C.
and © 2007-2009 Keystone Law Firm, P.C. All
rights reserved.
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