Criminal Defense · Franklin County, PA
Criminal Defense Lawyer in Franklin County, PA.
Arrested or charged in Franklin County? Attorney Sean P. Quinlan defends misdemeanors and felonies in Franklin County — drug charges, assault, theft, firearms, and probation violations. Free consultation, flat fees, and a lawyer who handles your case personally.
Franklin County · Criminal Defense
Local courts, local prosecutors, local practice.
Franklin County DUI enforcement runs along I-81 from Shippensburg south through Chambersburg, Greencastle, and Waynesboro to the Maryland line, plus US-30 and US-11. Chambersburg Police, Waynesboro Police, Greencastle Police, Antrim and Guilford Township departments, and PA State Police Troop H Chambersburg station handle the bulk of DUI arrests.
Criminal outcomes in Franklin County depend heavily on which magisterial district judge holds the preliminary hearing and how that District Attorney's office screens diversion. Knowing both is worth more than any argument made at the last minute.
Court & jurisdiction
Franklin County DUI cases start at the Magisterial District Judge covering the arrest location, then move to the Franklin County Courthouse at 157 Lincoln Way East, Chambersburg, for ARD, plea, or trial in the Court of Common Pleas.
From Franklin County
Franklin County is a 50-minute drive southwest of our Camp Hill office on I-81. We appear at the Chambersburg courthouse for Franklin County Common Pleas matters whenever a client retains us.
3425 Simpson Ferry Rd, Suite 100, Camp Hill, PA 17011
Charges we defend in Franklin County.
Drug Possession — Franklin County
A conviction means a criminal record, a 6-month PennDOT license suspension for a first drug offense, and professional-license and student-aid consequences.
Simple Assault — Franklin County
A conviction is a violent-offense record that blocks firearms rights, many professional licenses, and most background-checked employment.
Retail Theft — Franklin County
Retail theft is a crime of dishonesty — the conviction that employers screen for hardest, and the grading escalates automatically with each prior.
Firearms Charges — Franklin County
Firearms charges carry felony grading, permanent loss of gun rights, and — for lawful owners with a licensing paperwork problem — a felony arrest over conduct they believed was legal.
Probation Violation — Franklin County
A Gagnon II revocation can reinstate the jail sentence your original plea avoided, with no jury and a lower burden of proof.
Aggravated Assault — Franklin County
An F1 aggravated assault carries up to 20 years, a deadly-weapon sentencing enhancement, a lifetime firearms bar, and a strike-style violent record.
Theft Charges — Franklin County
Theft is a crime of dishonesty — the conviction category employers, licensing boards, and landlords screen for most aggressively.
Receiving Stolen Property — Franklin County
RSP is charged as a crime of dishonesty even when you never took anything — the entire case usually rests on what police claim you knew about where the property came from.
Theft by Deception — Franklin County
These cases are built out of contracts, invoices, and text messages — which means a business dispute, a job that went badly, or a loan that was never repaid can arrive as a felony.
PFA Defense — Franklin County
A final PFA is entered on a preponderance of the evidence, appears on background checks, and triggers a federal firearms prohibition under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(8).
Disorderly Conduct — Franklin County
People assume a summary offense is not a record. It is — it appears on Pennsylvania background checks and stays there for five years unless it is expunged.
DUI — Franklin County
BAC tiers, ARD, refusals, and license suspensions in Franklin County.
What happens after a Franklin County arrest.
1. Preliminary arraignment & bail
Bail conditions are set within hours of arrest. Getting them modified early keeps you working and out of custody while the case is pending.
2. Preliminary hearing (MDJ)
The Commonwealth only has to show a prima facie case — but this is where we lock in testimony, get counts dismissed, and start the diversion conversation.
3. Formal arraignment & discovery
Charges are formally entered in Common Pleas and discovery is produced. ARD and diversion applications are usually due around this stage.
4. Pretrial motions
Suppression of a search, a statement, or an identification is where most criminal cases are actually won.
5. Negotiation or trial
Either a negotiated disposition designed around your record and licensing, or a bench or jury trial in the Court of Common Pleas.
6. Expungement or sealing
Dismissals, withdrawals, and completed diversion are expungeable. We finish the case by clearing the record, not just closing the file.
Related reading for Franklin County
More Franklin County defense.
PA criminal defense overview
Misdemeanor and felony grading, ARD, and expungement.
PA preliminary hearings
What the Commonwealth must show, and where counts get dismissed.
Pennsylvania ARD program
Diversion for first-time, non-violent offenders.
Franklin County DUI lawyer
DUI defense in Franklin County.
Franklin County traffic tickets
Points, suspensions, and summary appeals.
Areas we serve
Every county and city we appear in.
Franklin County · practice areas
Start with the Pennsylvania criminal defense lawyer hub.
Grading, diversion, and record relief — the statewide hub behind this Franklin County page.
drug possession lawyer
§ 780-113 possession and paraphernalia charges.
simple assault lawyer
§ 2701 M2/M3 exposure and self-defense.
aggravated assault lawyer
§ 2702 F1/F2 charges and serious bodily injury.
retail theft lawyer
§ 3929 grading by value and prior offenses.
gun charges lawyer
§ 6106 and § 6105 firearms felonies.
probation violation lawyer
Gagnon hearings and back-time exposure.
ARD lawyer in Franklin County
First-offense diversion in Franklin County.
expungement lawyer in Franklin County
Clearing dismissed charges and completed ARD.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
Common questions from Franklin County drivers facing criminal charges — courts, costs, diversion, and record consequences.
Franklin County DUI cases start at the Magisterial District Judge covering the arrest location, then move to the Franklin County Courthouse at 157 Lincoln Way East, Chambersburg, for ARD, plea, or trial in the Court of Common Pleas.
We quote flat fees based on the grading and complexity of the charge — summary and low-level misdemeanor cases are the most affordable, while felony cases with suppression litigation or trial cost more. Consultations are free and the fee is fixed before you hire us, so there are no hourly surprises.
ARD is generally available to first-time, non-violent offenders, and the District Attorney in Franklin County controls admission. Drug possession, retail theft, and many first-offense misdemeanors are the most commonly approved charges. Completing the program avoids a conviction and allows expungement.
No. You have the right to remain silent and the right to counsel — say both out loud and stop talking. Nearly every statement given at the scene or station ends up as the strongest piece of the Commonwealth's case, and you cannot talk your way out of a charge that has already been decided on.
You must appear for the preliminary hearing, arraignment, and any Common Pleas proceeding unless the court excuses you. We can often waive or continue appearances at the earlier stages and appear on your behalf for scheduling matters.
Franklin County Court of Common Pleas — Franklin County Courthouse, 157 Lincoln Way East, Chambersburg. Your preliminary hearing is held at the MDJ office covering the arrest location (Chambersburg, Waynesboro, Greencastle, Shippensburg-area townships), and the case is then bound over to Chambersburg.
Related pages
Free Consultation
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Every hour matters in a DUI or criminal case. Call directly and speak with Attorney Quinlan — not an intake desk.