Police officers interact with a person near a patrol car, illuminated by blue and red lights in a nighttime urban setting

When Your Future Is On The Line, Turn To Us

Penn State Football Arrest and Citation Defense

Arrests and citations are common concerns during Penn State football weekends, when Beaver Stadium, tailgating areas, and downtown State College see large crowds and increased police activity. Decker & Bradburn represents Penn State students and visitors facing criminal charges and citations arising from football games, tailgates, and other athletic events.

Arrested at Beaver Stadium or a Penn State Tailgate?

Football weekends bring a lot of activity to State College. Police officers patrol Beaver Stadium, surrounding parking areas, tailgates, and downtown State College. Alcohol-related incidents, disputes, drug allegations, and other conduct can quickly lead to a citation or arrest.

Some of the charges people can face during Penn State football weekends include:

The charge you are facing matters, but so do the details surrounding what happened. What did the officer see? What happened before you were stopped? Were there witnesses? Were you in possession of the alcohol or drugs? Were you involved in the conduct described in the police report? These details can affect the available defenses and how the case should be approached.

A Penn State Student May Have More Than One Problem to Deal With

For Penn State students, a football weekend arrest or citation can create another concern. A criminal case and a Penn State disciplinary matter are separate proceedings, and a student may have to address both. A student could potentially have to deal with the court system while also dealing with the University.

That can be especially stressful when a student worries about school, housing, scholarships, athletics, or what an incident could mean for future employment.

Paying a citation may resolve the charge in a way that carries consequences, so students and visitors should understand their options before entering a plea or paying a fine.

What If You Don’t Live in State College?

Many people who are charged during Penn State football weekends don’t live in Centre County.

You may have traveled to State College from another part of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, New York, or somewhere else for the game. If you receive a citation or are charged with a crime while visiting, you may wonder whether you must return to State College, whether you need to appear in court, and how a Pennsylvania charge could affect you where you live.

An attorney can help answer those questions before you decide how to proceed.

Don’t Ignore a Penn State Football Citation

It is easy to think that a citation for something like underage drinking, public drunkenness, or disorderly conduct is not a big deal. But a citation is still a legal matter.

Keep the paperwork you received from police and pay attention to any court date or other instructions. Don’t assume that ignoring the citation will make the problem disappear.

If you were arrested or cited at Beaver Stadium, a Penn State tailgate, or another Penn State athletic event, Decker & Bradburn criminal defense lawyers can review what happened and explain your options.

Our attorneys represent clients in State College and throughout Centre County. We understand the local court system and the types of issues that can come up during busy Penn State football weekends.

If you were arrested or cited at Beaver Stadium, a Penn State tailgate, or another Penn State athletic event, our State College criminal defense attorneys can review what happened and explain your options.