EMPLOYMENT RELATED ACCUSATION DEFENSE LAWYERS

Serving Erie, Edinboro, Crawford and rest of Northwestern PA

Criminal Accusations Can Put Your Career and Freedom at Risk

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A criminal accusation connected to your employment can have consequences that extend far beyond the possibility of criminal charges. An investigation may affect your job, professional reputation, professional license, future employment opportunities, and relationships with coworkers, clients, or the public.

The Travis Law Firm represents individuals facing criminal accusations and investigations arising from their employment, profession, or position of responsibility. We defend clients throughout Northwestern Pennsylvania and work to protect their rights throughout every stage of a criminal investigation or prosecution.

An accusation is not a conviction. However, how you respond to an investigation can have a significant impact on what happens next.

Employment-Related Criminal Accusations

Employment-related accusations can arise in many different circumstances. An allegation may begin with a complaint to an employer, a report to law enforcement, an investigation by a government agency, or an accusation made by a coworker, client, customer, student, patient, or another individual.

Depending on the circumstances, an investigation could involve allegations of:

Child Abuse or Child Neglect

Teachers, coaches, healthcare professionals, childcare workers, school employees, and others who work with children can face serious allegations involving the treatment or supervision of a child.

An accusation of child abuse or neglect can result in a criminal investigation and may also create employment, reporting, or professional consequences. These cases require careful attention to the underlying allegations, available evidence, and applicable Pennsylvania law.

Assault Charges

An allegation that an employee or professional assaulted another person can quickly become a criminal matter. The circumstances may involve a workplace dispute, an interaction with a client or customer, an incident involving a student or patient, or another situation connected to employment.

The Travis Law Firm defends individuals facing assault allegations and works to examine the evidence, circumstances, and legal issues involved in each case.

Sexual Assault and Sexual Misconduct Allegations

Allegations involving sexual conduct can have serious criminal and professional consequences. These accusations may arise in workplaces, schools, healthcare settings, organizations, or other professional environments.

Depending on the circumstances, an investigation may involve law enforcement, an employer, a licensing authority, or another agency. Early legal representation can help protect your rights while the allegations are investigated.

Theft and Fraud Allegations

Employees and professionals may face criminal accusations involving alleged theft, fraud, unauthorized transactions, misuse of company property, or other financial allegations.

These cases can involve employment records, electronic communications, financial records, surveillance footage, access logs, or other forms of evidence. The specific facts and applicable criminal statutes can significantly affect the potential consequences and available defenses.

Workplace Harassment-Related Criminal Allegations

Not every workplace dispute is a criminal matter. However, certain allegations involving threats, physical conduct, stalking, harassment, or other behavior can lead to a criminal investigation.

If an employment dispute has resulted in a police investigation or potential criminal charges, it is important to understand the distinction between an employment matter and a criminal prosecution and to address the criminal investigation appropriately.

Allegations Involving Vulnerable Individuals

Professionals and employees who work with children, elderly individuals, patients, people with disabilities, or other vulnerable individuals may face heightened scrutiny when an allegation is made.

The circumstances surrounding these accusations can be complicated, particularly when information comes from multiple witnesses or agencies. A criminal defense attorney can examine the allegations and evidence while protecting the accused person's legal rights.

Other Criminal Allegations Connected to Employment

Employment-related criminal investigations are not limited to a specific category of offense.

Depending on the circumstances, an employee or professional may face allegations involving:

  • Assault
  • Theft
  • Fraud
  • Identity theft
  • Harassment
  • Stalking
  • Threats
  • Sexual offenses
  • Child-related offenses
  • Computer crimes
  • Unauthorized access to information
  • Drug offenses
  • Weapons offenses
  • Property offenses
  • Other misdemeanor or felony charges

The appropriate defense depends on the specific allegations, evidence, witnesses, applicable Pennsylvania law, and the stage of the investigat

When an Employment Investigation Becomes a Criminal Matter

An employer may conduct an internal investigation without criminal charges being filed. A complaint may also be reported to law enforcement or another government agency.

Once police or another investigative agency becomes involved, statements, documents, electronic communications, photographs, recordings, and other evidence may become part of a criminal investigation.

Depending on the circumstances, an investigation may involve:

  • Police officers or detectives
  • District attorneys or prosecutors
  • Employers or human resources departments
  • Private investigators
  • Children and Youth Services
  • Professional licensing boards
  • Government agencies
  • Other regulatory or investigative organizations

These investigations can overlap. An employment investigation can create information that becomes relevant to a criminal case, while a criminal investigation can create employment or professional consequences.

Understanding which process you are facing is an important part of protecting your rights.

How Criminal Accusations Can Affect Your Career

For many professionals, the potential consequences of an accusation extend beyond the criminal courtroom.

A criminal investigation or conviction may affect:

  • Current employment
  • Professional reputation
  • Future employment opportunities
  • Background checks
  • Professional licensing
  • Certifications or credentials
  • Employment-related investigations
  • Relationships with clients, patients, students, or coworkers

Pennsylvania regulates numerous professions through professional and occupational licensing boards. Under Pennsylvania's professional licensing laws, criminal convictions can be considered in certain licensing decisions, although the effect depends on the particular offense, profession, licensing board, and circumstances of the case.

A criminal accusation does not automatically mean that someone will lose a professional license. Pennsylvania's licensing process includes specific rules governing how criminal history is considered, including individualized assessments in applicable cases.

For someone whose career depends on a professional license, the potential professional consequences should be considered alongside the criminal defense.

Why Early Legal Representation Matters

If you are contacted by law enforcement or another investigative agency about an allegation connected to your employment, what you do before charges are filed can matter.

An investigation may involve requests for an interview, questions about workplace events, requests for records, or attempts to obtain statements from witnesses.

You may believe that explaining the situation will resolve the matter. However, statements made during an investigation can potentially become evidence.

An experienced criminal defense attorney can help you understand the allegations, evaluate the circumstances, protect your legal rights, and determine how to respond to an investigation.

If criminal charges have already been filed, your attorney can evaluate the charges and evidence and develop a defense based on the specific facts of the case.

Defending Employment-Related Criminal Accusations

The Travis Law Firm approaches each criminal case based on its specific facts and circumstances.

Our attorneys can examine:

  • The allegations being made
  • The timeline of events
  • Statements from witnesses
  • Physical and documentary evidence
  • Electronic communications
  • Video or photographic evidence
  • Employment records
  • Police reports
  • Investigative methods
  • Search and seizure issues
  • Statements made during the investigation
  • Whether the evidence supports the allegations
  • Whether constitutional or procedural issues affect the case

The objective is to identify the legal and factual issues that may affect the outcome and pursue the strongest defense available under Pennsylvania law.

Experienced Criminal Defense Attorneys

When a criminal accusation threatens your freedom, reputation, or livelihood, experience matters.

The Travis Law Firm's criminal defense team brings decades of combined legal and investigative experience to criminal cases throughout Northwestern Pennsylvania.

Founder Grant C. Travis is a seasoned trial attorney who has represented clients in criminal defense and DUI matters throughout his career. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Jason Crouse brings more than 25 years of experience in criminal law and federal law enforcement. Before joining The Travis Law Firm, he represented more than 1,000 clients as a public defender and spent 23 years as an FBI Special Agent, including experience with complex investigations involving drug trafficking, gang investigations, and child exploitation cases.

That combination of courtroom experience and investigative experience provides The Travis Law Firm with valuable perspective when defending clients facing criminal accusations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I be criminally charged because of something that happened at work?
What should I do if police contact me about an accusation at work?
Can my employer report an accusation to the police?
Can a workplace investigation turn into a criminal investigation?
Can a criminal accusation affect my professional license?
What if the accusation against me is false?
Should I talk to my employer about the accusation?
What if I have not been charged with a crime yet?

Serving Northwestern Pennsylvania

The Travis Law Firm represents clients facing criminal accusations throughout Northwestern Pennsylvania, including:

  • Erie
  • Edinboro
  • Crawford County
  • Warren County
  • And surrounding communities

The Criminal Defense Attorneys at The Travis Law Firm have extensive experience litigating in Pennsylvania courts. Each Defense Attorney at our law firm is fluent in Pennsylvania Law to protect your rights and freedom. If an accusation connected to your employment has become a criminal investigation or resulted in criminal charges, the circumstances should be addressed carefully and promptly.

* THE TRAVIS LAW FIRM, P.C., only handles cases involving Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Workers’ Compensation, DUI, and Criminal Defense.

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