In Wake of Margle's Drug Charges Wilson Borough Looking For New Solicitor

On Tuesday, I told you that local attorney Stanley Margle, who is facing drug charges, was jailed for refusing to provide a drug-testing sample to pretrial services. Although he's presumed innocent, he's still required to comply with bail conditions. He learned the hard way just what can happen when they are ignored. According to the docket sheet, which sometimes can be a day or two behind real time, he was still jailed as of last night. Lehigh Valley Live has reported that Margle has since provided a sample, so the court might be inclined to release him. ... Or not.

As I mentioned, Margle was still Wilson Borough's Solicitor as of their reorganization meeting in January. That may be changing soon. Wilson Borough is now looking for a new Solicitor. Proposals are due February 20.

A post about a local attorney going through hard times is going to attract a lot of interest, especially when he has public clients. Years ago, I wrote about another local lawyer who was stealing money from clients and his own firm to pay for his drinking and gambling addictions. He never forgave me and once accosted me at a high school basketball game. 

I understand the anger. As most of you know, I am an alcoholic. Not a former alcoholic. There's no such thing. If you can't handle booze, you can never handle it and should always refer to yourself as a current alkie. I am very fortunate that I am one of the last of the true alcoholics, meaning that I was only using booze and no other drug. I am also grateful that one stint in rehab and one year of daily AA meetings have kept me sober. 

When confronted with the reality that an addiction is interfering with matters that mean something to you, most addicts and alcoholics will blame anything but their addition for their problem. In Stanley's case, it is a mysterious "rogue cop." Certainly not cocaine. 

Eventually, the lucky among us hit bottom. It finally dawns on us that we are addicts or alcoholics and it's something we can't outsmart. 

In my case, I hit bottom after the Disciplinary Board saw through my bullshit and recommended that I be suspended. I actually wandered off to the Delaware Gap National Recreation Area, where I was gonna' off myself. I don't know what happened because I told no one about my problems, but a good friend who practiced law with me somehow found me and talked me down. His nickname was Sunny. To this day, I don't know how he knew or how he was able to find me. 

My sincere hope is that Stanley has hit bottom and that he now realizes he's not smarter than his addiction. He still has a lot to offer this world and believe he can make an excellent contribution to this world if he meets his problem head on and fights it like the good lawyer he was a few years ago. 

UPDATED: Easton Area Attorney Stan Margle Faces New Drug Charges

According to the Pa. online docket sheet, Easton-area attorney Stan Margle is facing new drug charges. He's been charged by Bethlehem Tp Investigator Ed Fox with possession or use of drug paraphernalia stemming from an incident on July 23. Charges were filed on August 5, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled before Magisterial District Judge Dan Corpora on September 9. 

As I told you back in February, Margle already faces charges of possession of both controlled substances and drug paraphernalia.  He was charged with these drug offenses after he left juvenile court but forgot his bag.  In an attempt to determine the owner, Sheriff Deputies opened the bag and discovered that it belonged to Margle. They also discovered what was later determined to be cocaine, along with the paraphernalia facilitating its use. There was also video surveillance showing Margle bringing a satchel into Juvenile Court and then leaving without it. He later returned for the bag, only to discover it had been turned over to county detectives.  

Criminal court for the earlier charges is set for August 26. 

I will update this post if I can learn additional details. 

UPDATED 8/7/25, 11 AM: Lehigh Valley Live reports more details. Believe it or not, he's accused of leaving yet another bag in a court facility. And of course, he is claiming he was set up. 

Attorney Who Forgot His Cocaine in Juvenile Court Scheduled For Court Today

As I told you back in February, Stan Margle, age 67, a prominent Easton area attorney, has been charged with possession of both controlled substances and drug paraphernalia.  He was charged with these drug offenses after he left juvenile court but forgot his bag.  In an attempt to determine the owner, Sheriff Deputies opened the bag and discovered that it belonged to Margle. They also discovered what was later determined to be cocaine, along with the paraphernalia facilitating its use. There was also video surveillance showing Margle bringing a satchel into Juvenile Court and then leaving without it. He later returned for the bag, only to discover it had been turned over to county detectives.   

He waived his preliminary hearing and is scheduled for criminal court today. He appears to be representing himself.

As a first offender, Margle is likely eligible for ARD. 

Margle was a $1,000 campaign contributor to DA Steve Baratta. 

There are no actions against him by the Pa. Disciplinary Board.

UPDATED 7/10/25, 12:00 AM (originally posted 7/8/25, 12:00 am)

Margle's criminal case has been rescheduled until August 28. At a hearing before Judge Michael V. Koury yesterday, Margle was directed to post $5,000 bail in bail, unsecured. This is essentially a promise to pay $5,000 if he fails to appear. 

Margle Has Yet To Face the Music on Drug Charges

Stan Margle, age 67, a prominent Easton area attorney, has been charged with possession of both controlled substances and drug paraphernalia.  These are misdemeanor charges and were lodged on February 18.  While suggesting that he had been framed, Margle also said he wanted to put the matter behind him as quickly as possible. " He vowed to “move diligently to have this, in whatever way, quietly and peacefully behind me, and therefore behind us.” He has a strange way of showing it. 

Margle's preliminary hearing, originally scheduled for March 25, has been continued twice. It is currently scheduled for April 24.

No attorney has entered an appearance for Margle. If he really wanted to put this matter behind, he'd have a lawyer and would already have applied for ARD (a special program for first offenders).