As a recent case in Warrington shows, if you have two family members with active PFA orders against you, then you have twice as many opportunities to land yourself in legal trouble.

29-year-old Damon McKie, Jr. was found guilty of strangling a female victim in 2019. Yet, in April 2022, McKie was arrested once again for harassing the very same victim. This time, he allegedly also targeted the victim's mother with stalking and harassment.

Judging by these reports, McKie was hardly doing his best to avoid violating either PFA order. However, within this story lies lessons that more well-meaning individuals can learn from.

Multiple PFA Orders Present Unique Challenges

When you become the subject of a PFA order, you have a clear set of rules to follow. But what if you share a child with someone, and they have a PFA order against you, and their mother also has a PFA order against you?

If you believe the child could be in danger, and the only two guardians you can contact to check on the child are the mother and grandmother, then how do you ensure your child's welfare?

These are the sort of questions that arise when someone has multiple PFA orders filed against them. You must also realize that multiple PFA orders give the prosecution greater leeway to violate your rights.

In the case of Damon McKie, Jr., both the daughter and mother had an order of protection in place at the time of McKie's 2022 arrest. Say, to illustrate our point, that there is insufficient evidence to show that McKie violated the daughter's PFA order. Even still, there may be enough evidence to show that McKie violated the mother's PFA order against him.

All of this goes to show the importance of an effective attorney. Rather than trying to navigate the challenges of one or more PFA orders yourself, an attorney can help you and eliminate the risk of an avoidable violation.

If You're in Danger and Have Yet to Get a PFA Order, Don't Wait to Take Legal Action

PFA orders are  a useful feature of Pennsylvania's criminal justice system. However, in many cases, these orders are:

• Filed wrongfully
• Filed in a way that is not practical (like in the example where both mother and grandmother have a PFA order against the child's father)
• Overly restrictive

PFA orders put the subject in imminent danger of legal consequences at all times. Simply showing up at the wrong place at the wrong time could result in life-changing legal ramifications. Having an attorney who understands your situation, and can advise you whenever a problem arises, is invaluable.

Contact a Pennsylvania Attorney About Your PFA Order-Related Issues Today

If you have a PFA order against you, or are facing a pending PFA order, it's time to hire an attorney. Contact attorney Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm today online or call us at 888-535-3686 to learn how we can assist you.