In a criminal case, the state, through a prosecutor, initiates the suit, while in a civil case the victim brings the suit. Persons convicted of a crime may be incarcerated, fined, or both. Criminal defense attorneys represent clients who have been accused of committing a crime, and defend their rights at each stage of a misdemeanor or felony case -- from an arrest to an appeal after conviction. Criminal defense attorneys may be hired privately or provided by the government (called "public defenders").
Meyersdale is a borough in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, on the Casselman River, 73 miles (111 km) southeast of Pittsburgh. In the past, its chief industry was the mining of coal. Meyersdale was first settled as early as 1776, but the growth of the town dates from the advent of the first railroad in 1871. Coal mining began in the next year. In 1900, 3,024 people resided here, and in 1910, 3,741 people resided here. The population was 2,473 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. Meyersdale is widely known as a sports town. The small community has little to bond over since the slow decline of the coal industry, other than sports. The Meyersdale “Red Raiders” have appeared on the state radar in numerous sports: Girls Volleyball, Football, Girls Basketball, Wrestling, Baseball and Track & Field. The first state champions from Meyersdale Area High School were two brothers; David and Michael Warnick. David (class of 1988) won two individual PIAA state titles in 1987 and 1988. Michael (class of 1989) won the 1989 PIAA state title held in Hershey, PA..