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Serving Lehigh and Northampton Counties

As Well As the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (Federal)

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Serving Lehigh and Northampton
Counties

As Well As the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (Federal)

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Experienced DUI Lawyer Allentown

Get the experienced representation you deserve for DUI/DWI cases

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Criminal Defense Attorney in Allentown

For a Visa, Green Card, Deportation, Citizenship?

Expert legal representation for all criminal charges, safeguarding your rights and future.

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26+ Years of Experience

26 years of experience in criminal defense with a strong background in family law issues. Trained and employed by the former President Judge of Lehigh County.

Qualifications

Formerly employed as a caseworker for Lehigh County Children & Youth, 111 jury trials in state and federal courts, a long list of winning trial verdicts, and the list goes on.

Practice Areas

Serving Lehigh, Northampton, (including Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, and all other towns of those counties). Also serving Federal Court for the Eastern District of Pa.

Welcome to The Law Office Of Kathryn Roberts

My main office is located in Allentown (Lehigh County). The focus of my legal practice is almost exclusively on criminal defense, and legal issues related to criminal defense, including Immigration, Children & Youth matters, and Protection from Abuse (PFA). I am a solo practitioner and when you call me, you won’t have to go through multiple people to get to talk to me.

I am very prompt in returning phone calls (unless I am in trial, when my focus is solely on the client whose life is on the line), and you’ll find that I respond back to clients even on evenings, weekends and holidays. That’s a big issue that many people have with the DUI Attorneys they hire—that the lawyer is not accessible and doesn’t keep in regular communication.

Please note that I also keep a paralegal, private investigator, and translators (in Spanish and Arabic) available to me if needed. I speak Spanish and French myself.

My focused Criminal Defense Services

DUI/DWI

Facing a DUI in Pennsylvania? Contact an experienced DUI lawyer immediately. Let experienced DUI attorney Kathryn Roberts explain some options to you.

Homicide and Attempted Homicide

Homicide and Attempted Homicide are arguably the most serious charges in Pennsylvania. Get a general breakdown.

Drug Offenses in PA

From felonies to misdemeanors, skilled legal counsel is crucial to challenging evidence and police procedures in drug cases.

Sex Offenses and Megan’s Law

Sex offenses involve serious legal consequences, including long-term incarceration and Megan’s Law registration. Early attorney intervention and expertise are crucial.

Robbery, Burglary, Forgery and Theft Crimes

Robbery, burglary, forgery, and theft crimes carry severe penalties, requiring experienced legal representation for defense.

Protection from Abuse / PFA

Need a Protection from Abuse (PFA) order or facing PFA violation? Get legal guidance on obtaining or defending against PFA orders in Pennsylvania. Contact me for swift and effective representation.

DUI EXPERT IN ALLENTOWN

DUI cases are resolved very differently in each county. Even though all DUI cases are prosecuted under Pa DUI laws, each county has its own policies. It’s important to have a LOCAL DUI Lawyer Allentown who knows things like how your magistrate will set your bail, what the judge does with particular DUI depending on the blood alcohol level of the DUI, and how the district attorney handles DUI cases that involve street drugs or prescription medications rather than alcohol. These are just a few examples of the numerous ways that counties differ from each other in how DUI cases play out in their own DUI courts.

 

I see many people who are charged with a first DUI or second offense DUI and believe that they don’t need a DUI Lawyer Allentown and end up confused about the entire process and wondering if they could have raised certain defenses or gotten a better deal. DUI laws and procedures have gotten much more complicated through the years and the consequences to your driver license and professional licensing and other issues, along with a criminal record issues means almost everyone nowadays should get a DUI Attorney if they have a DUI case. 

 

So if you get a DUI in Lehigh or Northampton County, then call me and I will try to walk you through it. My office is in downtown Allentown right next to the courthouse.

Latest Blog Posts

Read my latest blog posts on DUI charges in Pennsylvania, criminal defense, and more.

(IN MY LOCAL AREA) One of the first questions people ask themselves when they get a DUI charge is “Should I get …

There are 3 types of chemical tests that police use to determine intoxication level:  blood, breath, and urine.   In Pennsylvania, police …

  It is very rare to be pulled over by police for a DUI.   When someone is pulled over for a suspected DUI, …

  If you are charged with a crime in the Lehigh Valley, then you need to get a criminal defense attorney.  The …

Sofia Segovia
Sofia Segovia
2023-08-12
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Hey my name it’s Fausto and I was just incarcerated and it was the worst my gf didn’t know what to do what lawyer to go that we will know would help and they all said they had to move my court day and I was tryna be out that same Thursday of my hearing my gf called Kathryn Roberts recommended by a family member of my best friend he told me to call her and it was our last time hope we had she said she will be able to help us and do her best thank to her and god I’m out here telling my story I recommend her cuz she will help you and get u out as soon as possible like she did with me she is the best lawyer 🙏🏻❤️
Thomas Kemmerer
Thomas Kemmerer
2023-06-12
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
I was very happy with Kathryn R. She handled my issue quickly and better and easier than expected ( at least easier for me) I am extremely happy. Thank you to her.
Rachelle McCormick
Rachelle McCormick
2023-05-05
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Personable, effective, and thorough. Highly recommend!
Rosemary Figueroa
Rosemary Figueroa
2023-01-09
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
We are very grateful that Attorney Roberts represent us. She knew what she was doing, she is very knowledgeable and also she keep in contact with us at All Time even when she was in vacation… She really loves what she do!!! Thank God and her we were able to get the best out of the case 🙌 and got what we were looking for, even when others said we had very low possibilities… I recommend her 100%
Evelyn Perez
Evelyn Perez
2022-10-14
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Kathryn was a very good attorney during what was a difficult time. She is very compassionate and will dedicate to you the time and attention you deserve. She did a great job. Thank you Kathryn.
Shocker CK
Shocker CK
2022-10-12
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
HIRE HER. She is simply fantastic. Attorney Kathryn Roberts will put you at ease and explain everything to you, and how she can go about helping you. She went above and beyond anything I expected. If you are looking for a lawyer, look no further. This is it.
Dennis Melendez
Dennis Melendez
2022-10-05
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
I had the privilege of working with Attorney Roberts and She help me the most and I do appreciated her help, kindness and professionalism and I Thank you very much for everything she really did on my family!!!!
Pamella
Pamella
2022-09-23
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
I had the privilege of recently working with Attorney Roberts as a paralegal on a case. I was impressed with her knowledge of criminal law but just as importantly, her compassion and attentiveness to her client. She was available to him during and after office hours and weekends, and actively listened to his thoughts and suggestions about his case. Attorney Roberts was responsive to all of the parties on the case in a very timely manner. I observed her diligence and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her to anyone looking for a top notch criminal attorney who truly cares about her client.
TTech TTech
TTech TTech
2022-09-22
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
I recently had the privilege of working with Kathryn Roberts on an extremely involved Federal case. She went above and beyond to not only understand the issues and prepare the best case for the defendant but she also took the time to work with the entire trial team and multiple court offices as well as research options and experts to support our claims. She furthermore coordinated all funding and helped facilitate timely payments to staff and experts at her own expense to make sure everything got done properly. Kate consistently had a keen focus on the facts and legal issues even as the extensive discovery evolved but she was always willing to listen and work on new strategies to make the case stronger. Her professionalism, compassion, and generosity with her time towards the client and the staff helped everyone feel comfortable and do the best job we could. If you or someone important to you is looking for an understanding, honest, and dedicated defense attorney, I highly recommend Kate Roberts.

Avvo Reviews

Simply Amazing. Can I give her 6 stars?

Posted by Chad | October 12, 2022 | Hired Attorney

Kathryn Roberts put me at ease and explained everything to me. She worked hard to help me and went above and beyond anything I expected. If you are looking for an attorney, look...

Not guilty verdict in my son's trial

Posted by John Carlos | September 19, 2022 | Hired Attorney

Mrs. Roberts asked us to write her a review after she just won my son's trial with the jury. It went on for 3 days but she and my son spent 9 months preparing for the trial. I won't state my son's name (just the 1st name Joshua) so...

Very knowledgable and explains things

Posted by Chayanne | May 25, 2021 This review is from a person who hired this attorney.| Hired Attorney

We hired Kate Roberts from a recomendation of my husband's boss. Our son goes to Muhlenberg College and got a DUI last year during Covid. It was based on a very tiny...

Frequently Asked Question

IF I GO ON ARD, WHEN WILL MY RECORD BE EXPUNGED?

Well, first you need to get approved for ARD. You’ll have a preliminary hearing (which I call “Round 1”) and then your case must go to the trial court level (“Round 2”) in order to go onto the ARD program. In some counties, you’ll have no idea until you get to Round 2 with the District Attorney and higher judge whether you’ll get approved for ARD, which means you’re making decisions “blind” in Round 1. Consequently, it’s very important to have a local criminal defense attorney who knows how the particular police, judges and district attorney will view the case at issue. The local defense attorney you hire would know these things based on lots of past experience in other cases with those persons.

 

Since the District Attorney has the sole decision about whether you’ll get ARD, you’ll want to have a long conversation with your attorney very early in your case to know if ARD is likely, so you can decide what to do. This is because in some counties—Northampton County for example—you are required to “waive” your preliminary hearing (the first hearing in the case) in order to even seek ARD at the higher court. If you choose at the first hearing to actually listen to the evidence and have the police or witnesses testify, you can’t then later seek ARD in Northampton County. This is special mostly to Northampton County because in other counties, the District Attorneys don’t operate that way.

 

So going to the question of expungement, the time for getting something expunged varies by county. There are a lot of variables but it mostly comes down to how fast the court system—the Clerk of Courts, the district attorney, the judge–get around to processing the paperwork and making a decision. If you manage to get ARD and then manage to complete it successfully, you should receive a letter from Probation saying that you completed it successfully and the charges are now dismissed. This triggers your right to now seek an expungement. In some counties, the probation departments are actually taking the initiative to start the expungement process for the person, but in other counties, you have to file a formal petition. When a petition has to be filed and served on all the court offices, you are then waiting for a hearing date, or alternatively for the judge to sign the order granting it. Sometimes district attorneys will fight an expungement, even if someone has completed ARD. The norm, however, is that you’ll be entitled to expungement, absent any objection from the district attorney. In Lehigh County, as of the end of 2016, expungements were taking about 6 months from the time that the person completed probation. Keep in mind that once an expungement order is signed by a judge, the order is sent to all the court offices, police department, state police, etc. It is then up to each of those entities to do the expungement. That can sometimes take many additional months.

 

I would also note that when you seek to expunge your criminal record—whether it is from ARD or some other result—you can only ask a Pennsylvania court to expunge your criminal records in Pa. The federal government—including the FBI—is not under the jurisdiction of a Pennsylvania court and will not follow an expungement order coming from Pa. This means that if you are applying to the military, attempting to get federal clearances, or work in certain professions like nursing and teaching, the federal rap sheet will still show your case from Pa. This is another lengthy topic that you need to cover with your attorney while seeking an expungement.

 

One final note is that Pennsylvania law was amended in 2016 to provide for expanded expungement under certain conditions. If you want to discuss any aspect of expungement and possibly seek one, call me to consult.

 

Contact Info

Attorney Kathryn Roberts (Kate Roberts)

527 Hamilton Street Allentown, PA 18101
Phone: 484-695-7023 Fax: 484-551-5988
Email: Ka********************@ya***.com

IS A DUI A FELONY?

In Pennsylvania, most DUI offenses are misdemeanors, but become a felony under certain circumstances, based upon the number of prior DUIs the person had, and the type of DUI offense charged presently.  The most common one is the person has 2 prior convictions for DUI based on alcohol in the highest tier or controlled substance and now has a 3rd offense, in which case it’s a 3rd-degree felony.  A person with a 3rd-degree felony DUI faces up to 7 years in prison.  A new higher felony (2nd degree) was added in 2022 that applies to a person with 3 prior DUI convictions.  A person with a 2nd-degree felony DUI faces up to 10 years in prison.  The facts and details of the current and prior offenses dictate whether it becomes a felony. 

DO I NEED A LAWYER TO GET THE ARD PROGRAM IN PENNSYLVANIA?

No, you are not required to get a lawyer. You can always represent yourself. Whether you are granted ARD depends on what county you are charged in. ARD is offered at the discretion of the District Attorney. No judge can tell the District Attorney to offer it, and the police can not control who gets ARD. However, the District Attorney relies heavily sometimes on the opinion of the police. ARD is usually a huge benefit for most people because it guarantees that the person remains out of prison, is placed on light probation supervision, gets the case ultimately dismissed once ARD is completed, and then the whole matter can be expunged (wiped clean).

 

The district attorneys in different counties treat ARD differently. For example, in some counties, ARD is strictly one-time only. This means that if you got ARD for a DUI, you can’t get it separately for a drug possession charge in a new case. In other counties, you can get ARD for one minor criminal offense, and still get ARD again if you get a DUI case. And in other counties, you can get ARD for a DUI, and get ARD for another DUI if it happens more than 10 years later.

 

There are so many variables that the District Attorney considers when someone is applying for ARD, but they include things like the person’s overall criminal record—as a juvenile and as a adult in every jurisdiction, the nature of the current offense in terms of whether it was violent in nature and felony versus misdemeanor, whether weapons or threats were involved, whether people were actually hurt—physically, emotionally, or financially, whether restitution is owed and can repair the damage to the victim, the personal background of the person (i.e. education level, military service), whether the victim is a family member and the attitude of the victim, as well as many other factors.

 

I have had many cases in the past in which the District Attorney was originally not going to give ARD, but after I became involved, the District Attorney changed his or her mind. Sometimes that is simply a matter of bringing more things to light that were not known to the District Attorney or police in considering ARD. On other occasions, I have had District Attorneys offer ARD to my client as a compromise, because the client had no prior criminal record and really felt that he or she was not responsible for the current charge, but wanted to avoid the cost and risk of a trial.

 

So the answer is–no, you are never required to get a lawyer for any case. You have a constitutional right to represent yourself in any criminal case. Of course, that’s not a good idea, but people do try to do it. My basic advice on that is I ALWAYS recommend to anyone that has a criminal case—including traffic charges and citations for minor offenses—to get a lawyer who specializes in criminal defense. The family attorney who handled your will and a relative’s divorce is not the lawyer that would be handling criminal matters. Conversely, if someone contacts me because they have a complicated business contract, or a dispute with an insurance company, or a tax problem, I send them to colleagues who handle those matters because I wouldn’t be able to advise them properly.

 

If you are charged with an offense and you’d like to explore the possibility of ARD, get a lawyer right away because there are certain things you should be doing at the beginning of the case to put yourself in the best position for achieving ARD later in the case.

 

To discuss the possibility of ARD and other options in your case, call me to consult at 484-695-7023.

CAN YOU GET A DUI ON A BIKE?
People sometimes ask me “can you get a DUI on a bike?” Usually they are asking out of curiosity. The answer in Pa is, surprisingly, yes! A “vehicle” in Pa is defined as a device which can transport a person. This means you can get a DUI on a boat, a bike, or even a skateboard or scooter. Now, does that mean police go around looking to bust people for DUI on a bike? Almost never. The most common place would be near high schools and colleges where younger people might be using these items and be intoxicated. Just remember, police need to observe a violation of the traffic laws to pull you over, even on a bike, unless they have probable cause to know you’ve violated the law.
DO I NEED A LAWYER IF MY CHILD IS CHARGED WITH A CRIME AS A JUVENILE?

Criminal court involving juveniles has become increasingly complex in the past 15 years. In the past, juvenile court was for relatively minor crimes because juveniles were rarely involved in more serious criminal offenses. But in Pennsylvania currently (and in all states), judges and court systems now take juvenile crimes much more seriously. This is both a good and a bad thing. Responsible parents will be happy to know that if your child is skipping school, smoking pot, hanging out with the wrong crowd, and getting in minor trouble with the law, the juvenile court will be working closely with the juvenile probation department (who in turn works with parents), to rehabilitate the juvenile. If your child is charged with a serious offense (particularly a violent offense), the consequences can go up dramatically.

 

Since the District Attorney and police have the same burden of proving guilt in juvenile court against accused, all the rules of evidence apply, just as they would in adult. In addition, there are numerous rules of criminal procedure for juvenile court, and some of those rules are even more complicated than in adult court due to a juvenile’s age, maturity and status, which sometimes dictates parental involvement in decision-making. This means that it’s very important to get a lawyer for your child.

 

Many parents ask me whether they can protect their child’s privacy, but also whether the child will forever have a “criminal record.” This question requires a rather lengthy discussion about what exactly a “criminal record” is for juveniles, who can access it (the media, the public, colleges, employers, law enforcement), and many other issues. It is important to understand that some of the most serious offenses can be directly filed in the adult court system. Juveniles charged with offenses in the adult court system can be held in an adult prison while the case is going on. In those most serious cases, it is often hard to get a court to set a reasonable bail, and consequently the juvenile remains in the adult jail. However, juvenile offenders are supposed to be segregated away from the adults inside of adult jails. If your child is facing charges for a relatively minor offense, or very serious charges, you should consult and hire an attorney immediately. Juveniles are particularly vulnerable to being manipulated by law enforcement to speak and sometimes incriminate themselves—either because the juvenile doesn’t understand that he or she may remain totally silent, or because skilled police officers can persuade an immature juvenile to “clear the air,” by speaking to them. “Clearing the air” is nothing more than police attempting to get incriminating statements from a person and leading the person to believe that he or she will face lesser charges (usually not true) or won’t be charged at all (almost never happens).

 

If your son or daughter is charged with a crime, or is about to be charged, call me right away. Many times police are looking for cooperation with a juvenile and his or her parents, and in exchange, I can occasionally arrange that the juvenile is never charged. This requires a lot of conversation and careful assessment. If you call me, I will need to know all the good and all the bad about your child, in order to give you my honest opinion on how best to proceed.

HOW DO I FIND THE BEST LAWYERS FOR DUI NEAR ME?
You can do internet searches for DUI lawyers and just make sure that the lawyer’s office is actually in your local area. Otherwise, he or she is advertising near you but doesn’t have an office in your area, which means he or she doesn’t know your county’s court system very well. You can search Avvo and google reviews, and keep an eye out for fake reviews—which are obvious by the way they are written. The most important thing is to call around and talk to the attorney—not the paralegal or the secretary, but the actual attorney. If the attorney doesn’t have a few minutes to spare for a consult, what can you expect if you hire the person?
HOW LONG DOES A DUI STAY ON YOUR RECORD?
There are a few answers to this one. A DUI is a criminal case and you are fingerprinted for it so it remains there if you are convicted (found guilty or plead guilty). If it is entirely dismissed, you can seek to get the record of arrest and charges expunged. But you cannot expunge a conviction. If you meet all the qualifications for ARD as a first offender and successfully complete ARD, it can be expunged and in certain counties in Pa, will be automatically expunged. Sometimes law enforcement can still know you had a prior DUI even after an expungement, especially because DUIs usually cause license suspensions, so your driving record might still reflect something that would suggest to police or the district attorney that there was a prior DUI case. This is a complicated topic and best to discuss with your attorney.
HOW MUCH DOES A DUI LAWYER COST?
The cost of a DUI lawyer can vary a lot. A DUI is a criminal charge, which means you should only be hiring a criminal defense lawyer. Lawyers who do other types of law besides criminal (car accident lawsuits, personal injury, family law, etc) will not be specialists in DUI because the best measure of a good lawyer for a DUI case is whether he or she does cases ONLY in criminal court and no other types of law. If your lawyer does other areas of law, then he or she is a general practitioner, not specialized in criminal defense and certainly not specialized in DUI cases. Lawyers will usually charge a flat fee for criminal cases, including DUIs, with the exception that they will usually tell you if you wind up in a trial at the very end of the case, you would owe additional fees. Only a few cases wind up in trial however, so you shouldn’t be paying fees up front for a trial that likely won’t happen.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DWI AND DUI?
There is no real difference. Some states use DWI, which stands for Driving while Intoxicated. In Pa, we call it a DUI, which is Driving under the influence. It’s just a difference in words only. But, the statutes governing DWI/DUI do differ from state to state. For example, many people in New Jersey who have a 1 st DUI wind up with a fine and license suspension—with no jail, probation or house arrest. In Pa, this is not possible for a 1 st DUI because in Pa, 1 st offenses are either offered ARD, which is a first offender probation program, or people plead guilty and face mandatory jail time with probation/parole following. (Of course, they have a right to challenge the case as well). There are many other differences between states as well. So, don’t focus on the DWI/DUI wording, but do focus on what the sentencing exposure is for the state where you are charged.

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    Serving Lehigh, Northampton, (including Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, and all other towns of those counties). Also serving Federal Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (U.S. District Court).
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