Category Archives: Criminal Defense
Problems with Evidence and the Chain of Custody?
Let’s say you’ve been arrested and charged with a crime. The prosecutor feels pretty confident about a conviction, based on forensic evidence. Is there a possibility that the evidence may be tainted? A proper examination of the chain of custody could be worth investigating. It is but one way cases can turn upside down… Read More »
Florida’s Pretrial Release Option
If you have been charged with a crime in Florida, there are several ways things could go from here. You could be held in jail as you await your trial; you could be released on your own recognizance; you could post bail or bond to secure your release; or you could participate in a… Read More »
Challenging Eyewitness Testimony in Court
Have you been placed at the scene of a crime by eyewitness testimony? If so, it can be extremely frustrating to have a complete stranger make an accusation that is completely untrue! What could possibly motivate someone to lie about your presence at the scene? The truth is, although eyewitnesses may be sincere in… Read More »
Florida Hate Crimes Defense
If you have been charged with a misdemeanor or a felony, the charges could be reclassified to a more serious degree, with resulting heftier penalties, if it is determined that prejudice factored in the commission of the crime (775.085). Clearly, with so much on the line, securing aggressive, experienced criminal legal counsel is essential… Read More »
Should a Defendant Testify at Trial?
Many defendants feel strongly that once they get the opportunity to testify, the jury will see the case through their eyes and will acquit them of any criminal charges. The fact of the matter is, though, that determining whether or not a defendant should take the stand is a something that needs to be… Read More »
Drug Paraphernalia Charges
If you’ve been charged with possessing drug paraphernalia, you are facing a surprisingly stern penalty: Florida statute 893.147 lists it as a first-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to a year behind bars, plus as much as a $1,000 fine. For a law-abiding citizen who doesn’t have run-ins with law enforcement as a general rule,… Read More »
Another Battery Arrest for Chris Brown
After a packed performance at the Coral Sky Amphitheatre, Chris Brown left the venue in handcuffs, arrested for an alleged April 2017 felony battery charge that had been hanging over his head since he was last here in Florida. Authorities have been holding off on charging Brown, since he’s been traveling for the past… Read More »
When Being Drunk Becomes a Crime in Florida: Disorderly Intoxication
Once you are 21 years old, you have the privilege to purchase and enjoy alcohol whether in your home, at a party, or at a bar or restaurant. However, there are limits to this privilege under Florida law. If law enforcement officers encounter you when you are intoxicated in public, you may be committing… Read More »
Driver at Fault in Fatal Orlando Crash Arrested in May
Authorities announced in May that the driver responsible for a deadly Valentine’s Day crash in Orlando has been arrested. A 22-year-old man has been arrested and charged with multiple offenses for crashing his Honda Civic into a Pontiac, killing the Pontiac’s two occupants at the scene. According to witnesses, the man was waving an… Read More »
Expungement in Florida
In certain circumstances, you may be able to ask the court to remove a certain record from your criminal history. Expungement, also known as expunction, is the process of destroying a record. It is different than having a record sealed, which means it still exists, it is just not available to the public. Obtaining… Read More »
