Matthew M. McClenahen

Matt M. McClenahen of the McClenahen Law Firm in State College, Pennsylvania, focuses exclusively on criminal defense, offering advice and skillful representation to individuals facing a wide range of criminal charges from summary offenses to serious felonies. He accepts cases from State College and communities throughout central Pennsylvania, including Centre, Mifflin, Juniata, Huntingdon, Clearfield and Clinton Counties. He represents many Penn State students, as well as students from other schools who visit Penn State. His practice includes defense of summary offense charges like underage drinking, disorderly conduct, criminal mischief and public drunkenness, misdemeanor charges like DUI, drug possession, simple assault and thefts, and felony charges such as delivery/ possession with intent to deliver marijuana and other drugs, aggravated assault and sex offenses.

Mr. McClenahen has a reputation for providing personal service, and with his 16 years of experience, he offers a reassuring and knowledgeable presence to his clients and their loved ones every step of the way.  He makes himself available on the weekends and after hours via cell phone and e-mail. 

After serving a judicial clerkship under the Honorable Timothy S. Searer of Mifflin County, Mr. McClenahen began his criminal defense career in 2001 in the busy York County Public Defender's Office. He quickly gained a reputation as a formidable trial attorney, with an impressive record of 20 wins, six losses and one hung jury in trials not involving felony drug charges. In felony drug trials, which are among the hardest trials for a defense attorney to win, his career record is 6-5. In his five years as a public defender, Mr. McClenahen gained experience in defense investigation, expert witnesses, plea negotiations and advanced trial practice in addition to becoming certified to handle death penalty cases. In 2006, Mr. McClenahen returned to State College and opened his own law firm.

Mr. McClenahen is member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the Centre County Bar Association and the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys. He is a 1997 graduate of the Dickinson School of Law in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, which was the last class to graduate from the Dickinson School of Law before its merger with Penn State. He attended Penn State as an undergraduate and graduated at the top of his class with a Bachelor of Science in German in 1994. His honors included Phi Beta Kappa, Delta Phi Alpha German Honor Society,  the Golden Key Honor Society and serving as a student marshal at graduation.