Experienced Criminal Defense in Berks County
When you're facing a criminal charge in Pennsylvania, the decisions you make in the first hours and days are critical. Having an attorney who understands how the prosecution will build their case — and where that case can be challenged — can make the difference between a conviction and a dismissal. Mays & Rotenberg was founded on exactly that insight.
Both Todd Mays and Leah Rotenberg spent years prosecuting cases in Berks County before making the transition to defense work. They know the local courts, the judges, and the prosecutors personally. That familiarity is an asset your defense deserves.
Types of Criminal Charges We Handle
Our firm represents clients facing a wide range of criminal charges in the Court of Common Pleas of Berks County and in Pennsylvania's appellate courts. Our practice areas within criminal defense include:
- Assault and aggravated assault
- Drug possession and drug trafficking
- Theft, burglary, and robbery
- Domestic violence and harassment
- Weapons offenses
- White-collar crime and fraud
- Sex offenses and Megan's Law charges
- Probation and parole violations
- Juvenile offenses
- Expungement and record-sealing petitions
Whether you are facing a summary offense, a misdemeanor, or a serious felony charge, we bring the same level of preparation and advocacy to your defense.
What to Do If You've Been Arrested
The moments after an arrest are when people are most vulnerable to making mistakes that hurt their case. The most important thing you can do is exercise your constitutional rights: remain silent, and ask for a lawyer immediately. You have an absolute right under the Fifth Amendment not to speak with police, and you have a Sixth Amendment right to counsel.
Do not attempt to explain yourself, minimize the situation, or provide information you believe is helpful. Statements made to law enforcement — even innocent ones — can be used against you. The time to tell your story is with your attorney present.
Once you or a family member contacts Mays & Rotenberg, we move quickly. We will gather information about your charges, appear at arraignment if needed, advocate for reasonable bail conditions, and begin building your defense from the first day.
Why Experience Matters in Criminal Court
Criminal defense is not a practice area where inexperience is acceptable. Pennsylvania's sentencing guidelines, evidentiary rules, and pretrial procedures are complex. Berks County courts have their own practices and expectations. Attorneys who know these systems — and who have built professional relationships in them — are far better positioned to achieve good results for their clients.
Our attorneys have tried hundreds of cases in Berks County courtrooms, first as prosecutors and now as defense counsel. They know how to read a case, when to negotiate, when to file a suppression motion, and when to take a matter to trial. That experience is not something you can replicate with Google searches or a general practice attorney who handles a criminal case once a year.
Our Approach to Your Defense
Every criminal case begins with a thorough review of the police reports, witness statements, physical evidence, and charging documents. We look for constitutional violations — unlawful searches, improper interrogations, defective warrants — that can lead to suppression of evidence or outright dismissal. We evaluate the credibility of witnesses and the reliability of forensic evidence.
We also consider your individual circumstances — your employment, your family, your prior record, and your goals. Some clients want to fight every charge at trial. Others are better served by negotiating a reduced charge or pursuing a diversion program. We present all available options honestly and let you make the decision with complete information. The choice of how to proceed is always yours.
Throughout the process, we keep you informed. Criminal proceedings move through multiple stages — preliminary hearings, arraignments, pre-trial conferences, motions hearings, and potentially trial — and we explain each step clearly so you always know where your case stands and what to expect next.
If you or someone you care about is facing a criminal charge in Reading, Wyomissing, or anywhere in Berks County, contact Mays & Rotenberg today. The consultation is free, there's no obligation, and your conversation with us is confidential.