A Cooper City physician was arrested and charged with domestic battery last month after an altercation with his wife. According to the wife, her husband put his hand around her neck after pushing her against their bathroom wall. The husband then threw the wife to the ground. The couple's son allegedly observed the altercation. The husband was arrested shortly after the incident and was held on a $35,000 bond.
]]> Domestic violence includes sexual, physical, emotional and psychological abuse between intimate partners. While victims of domestic violence can be both men and woman, statistics show that approximately 92 percent of cases involve women. If an individual is arrested and domestic violence charges are brought, a judge may issue an injunction, prohibiting the individual from contacting his or her loved one. If the individual is later convicted, it may result in probation, jail time, court mandated counseling and, if children are involved, loss of custody.Domestic violence cases are generally complicated and charged by emotion. In the present case, if the wife decides to seek an injunction against her husband in response to the incident, it may affect the husband's ability to access the family home as well as restrict his access to the couple's child.
In addition to having a damaged reputation, if convicted of domestic battery, the husband may face a number of other serious consequences.
Source: SunSentinel, "Physician charged in domestic battery case," Linda Trischitta, April 30, 2013
]]>According to the 37-year-old girlfriend, the argument began shortly after her boyfriend got up and passed by her on his way to the kitchen. She says that as he passed, he purposefully farted in her face and walked away. Angry, she says she went into the kitchen and confronted him. Moments later, police were dispatched to the residence where the boyfriend claimed she used physical violence against him.
]]> Police say they found the man in front of his home, bleeding from cuts on his left arm and abdomen. He claims that the couple was arguing about money when she threw a knife at him. He then says she left but later came back and began hitting him with a stick. The 37-year-old girlfriend disagrees and says that her boyfriend immediately became agitation and began yelling at her when she confronted him about his flatulence.Currently, the woman is being charged with aggravated battery and remains in police custody on a $50,000 bond. As some people in Florida may know, the escalation of charges to aggravated can mean that penalties are also increased leaving a person in a particularly difficult legal situation. While it's not clear at this time whether a court date has been set or not, it will be important for the woman to acquire legal representation to make sure that her case is heard and her rights are protected.
Source: The Huffington Post, "Deborah Ann Burns, Florida Woman, Says Fart in Face Provoked Knife Fight," Megan Griffo, May 9, 2013
]]>The student's teacher reportedly did not know the 16-year-old was conducting the experiment, so school officials called police. The 16-year-old now faces criminal charges. She has been charged with possession and discharge of a weapon on school grounds and discharging a destructive device. She was also expelled.
]]> The student has reportedly never been in trouble before. However, school officials felt that it was necessary to expel her because her alleged behavior violated their code of conduct.This case is certainly unfortunate. Juveniles sometimes make poor decisions. It appears that this student's simple curiosity could have a major impact on her life.
Because young people have so much ahead of them and so much to look forward to, cases like this should not be taken lightly. It would be best to consult with an experienced criminal defense attorney and to rely on them to fight the charges. In this specific situation, there may be steps that can be taken to get the teenager back in school. With the right help, teenagers who find themselves in similar situations can hopefully put incidents like this behind them.
Source: USA Today, "Florida teen arrest, expelled over science 'blast'," Michael Winter, May 2, 2013
]]>The 47-year-old man in this case is an alleged drug dealer. He fled from police in Orlando, but authorities pursued him. At one point, stop sticks were used to try to end the chase. Although three of his vehicle's tires were deflated, he continued to flee. Eventually, authorities physically hit the back of his car. The vehicle then went into a ditch.
]]> When authorities searched the man's car, they claim to have found a semiautomatic weapon, crystal meth, marijuana and a few thousand dollars in cash. The 47-year-old man has been charged with trafficking methamphetamine with a firearm, aggravated fleeing and eluding as well as aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.The man reportedly had a female passenger with him at the time. However, she has not been criminally charged.
Dealing with the police can be scary. The man in this case may not have known what to do when he was approached by police. He may have thought that fleeing from the authorities was the best alternative.
When someone is facing serious allegations, as the man in this case is, it is wise to fully understand the charges and the possible penalties. An experienced criminal defense attorney is often a good resource for people. An attorney can explain the situation to the accused and determine the best course of action moving forward.
Source: The Orlando Sentinel, "Drug-trafficking suspect arrested after chase through 5 counties," Arelis R. Hernandez, April 25, 2013
]]>It is alleged that agents conducted a six month investigation prior to the arrests being made. Police claim the investigation was conducted because of complaints made by various neighbors that drug sales were taking place.
]]> Police assert that as part of a conspiracy the individuals arrested would get a hold of the prescription drugs legitimately, but that those charged would then turn around and sell the prescription pills to other individuals. The 81-year old man arrested was accused of selling his prescription medications at a price of $13 per pill.Two others arrested were charged with purchasing marijuana from out-of-state and then selling it to Florida residents. Police claim that these two individuals were not a part of the pill selling ring, but that police did come upon them during the investigation.
A major concern with conspiracy cases is that it sometimes involves individuals cutting deals with prosecutors to reduce their sentences. In making those deals, individuals may in some cases reduce their sentences only by testifying about someone else.
Anyone arrested on drug charges should contact a criminal defense attorney who can provide them with an understanding as to how plea deals operate in the courts. Attorneys can cross examine individuals testifying against their clients, and can make certain that any unreliable testimony is disregarded.
As no two arrests are alike, every individual has the right to have their case heard separately. No one should be forced to face severe criminal penalties based upon guilt by association. Also, no conviction should be based upon testimony generated only because others have something to gain by placing the blame on someone else.
Source: Orlando Sentinel, "Seminole County cops arrest 19 in drug case," by Rene Stultzman, April 10, 2013
A Florida woman was recently charged with scheming to defraud and grand theft, both of which are felonies. Authorities claim the 45-year-old woman stole $50,000 from a professional group in the state called Oncology Managers of Florida. The woman served as the treasurer for the group until last month when she was fired. She had served on the board of the organization for close to a decade.
]]> Police claim evidence shows that money was transferred from the group's bank account into the woman's personal accounts. She was reportedly the only person with access to the group's account.Authorities believe the thefts occurred between July 2007 and November 2012. A total of $280,000 was reportedly taken from the group's account over that time period. However, because of the statute of limitations the woman can only be charged for alleged crimes that occurred since March 2009.
Petty theft is generally considered a minor crime. Grand theft, on the other hand, is one of the most serious forms of theft. People charged with grand theft could end up serving time behind bars.
People make mistakes. In these tough economic times people may be inclined to do things that they normally wouldn't have considered doing before. When someone in Florida faces serious theft charges it is usually best to rely on an experienced attorney to be sure the accused is treated fairly.
Source: Orlando Sentinel, "Treasurer arrested after cancer group finds nearly $300,000 missing," Susan Jacobson, April 10, 2013
]]>A 17-year-old in another state was driving a car when he was involved in a fatal car accident. He was charged with vehicular homicide because he was under the influence of marijuana and alcohol at the time of the crash.
]]> The young man's family could not afford bail, so he was placed in a county jail. Because he was a minor he had to live away from the other inmates. He was placed in solitary confinement.He was given a cell mate for a short time, but was ordered back to solitary confinement after the two had an altercation. However, the thought of being in solitary confinement was too much for the young man to handle. He committed suicide after just 10 minutes in his cell.
Since 2008, about 100,000 teenagers have been placed in adult correctional facilities. Many of them are placed in solitary confinement for their own protection. However, it often causes serious psychological problems.
Because they are still developing, it is important that juveniles are treated appropriately as they make their way through the criminal justice system. To be sure they are treated fairly, Florida families would be wise to reach out to an experienced criminal defense attorney for help.
Source: Rock Center with Brian Williams, "Criminal justice system's 'dark secret': Teenagers in solitary confinement," Elizabeth Chuck, Deirdre Cohen and Sarah Koch, March 22, 2013
•· Our firm handles cases involving juveniles. For more information, please visit our Orlando juvenile delinquency page.
]]>Five years later, the Florida Supreme Court determined that the initial search outside the home was unconstitutional because the police officer did not have a warrant when he brought the trained dog to the property. The evidence found inside the man's home was thrown out.
]]> Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld that decision. The justices ruled that law enforcement officers must obtain warrants for searches in and around homes involving trained police dogs.Under the Fourth Amendment, people in the United States are protected from unreasonable searches and seizures. Although law enforcement officers in Florida and beyond have an important job to do, they must conduct investigations in line with the U.S. Constitution. This recent ruling shows how important it is for evidence to be obtained legally.
People who face serious drug charges in Florida may feel that a conviction is on the horizon. However, a person cannot be convicted until his or her guilt is proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Many aspects of a case must be examined before a case even reaches a jury.
As we've mentioned before on this blog, everyone in this country has rights, even people who are accused of serious crimes. Before a person gives up entirely, it would be wise to examine how law enforcement officers acquired certain pieces of evidence.
Source: Reuters, "Supreme Court limits police use of drug-sniffing dogs," Jonathan Stempel, March 26, 2013
•· Our firm handles a variety of criminal cases. Please visit our Orlando criminal defense page for more information.
]]>The juvenile in this case is a 12-year-old boy. He allegedly brought two guns to school recently. One of the guns was said to be a loaded semi-automatic weapon. The guns were reportedly found by a school resource officer in the student's backpack.
]]> The student faced a judge, but was later released from a juvenile detention center. Criminal charges have not been filed against the student's parents. Authorities say they are hoping to learn how the young boy obtained the weapons. Parents in Florida can be criminally charged if a young person obtains weapons from their home.It is unclear why the student may have brought the guns to school. He may not have had ill intentions and likely didn't realize the ramifications of his alleged actions. That is often the case when juveniles are involved in illegal activity. Unfortunately, criminal charges can affect a young person's ability to obtain college scholarships. It can also interfere with driving privileges.
Criminal charges and subsequent convictions can have a profound effect on a person's life no matter what age they are. However, they can have an even greater impact on a young person's life by interfering with college plans and even employment opportunities. Therefore, it is important to aggressively fight juvenile charges.
Source: wftv.com, "12-year-old accused of bringing loaded gun to school faces judge," March 19, 2013
]]>Authorities called the alleged growing operation "sophisticated." They say this is the third alleged growing operation that they have uncovered since December in which plants were grown using the hydroponic method.
]]> The man in this case has been officially charged with marijuana cultivation, possession with intent to sell and possession of drug equipment.Law enforcement officials in Florida and beyond are eager to charge and prosecute those involved in alleged drug crimes. People who are convicted of certain drug crimes in Florida could end up spending years behind bars and be forced to pay large fines.
It is unclear what led police to the man's home in this most recent story. One way to fight drug charges is to look at how law enforcement officers obtained evidence. Evidence can be thrown out if it is determined to have been obtained illegally.
People in the general public often forget that even people who are charged with serious crimes have rights. It is important that those rights are upheld. An attorney who handles drug crimes cases will work hard to ensure that an individual's rights have not been violated and will not be violated in the future.
Source: Orlando Sentinel, "Longwood police bust marijuana grow house," Susan Jacobson, March 14, 2013
]]>Orlando police were called to an apartment complex recently. When they arrived, they found three people that had been shot. Two people died as a result of their injuries. A third person was hospitalized. That person's injuries do not appear to be life-threatening.
]]> Two people have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the shooting, including a 17-year-old. They are facing various criminal charges including two counts of first-degree murder and armed home invasion robbery.The two men face similar charges. However, authorities believe the 17-year-old was not the shooter in this incident.
It is unclear what led police to these two men. Both men would be wise to begin planning a criminal defense strategy in order to fight the charges. It will be especially important for the 17-year-old's case to be handled with care because he is a juvenile.
Although it is unknown how this specific case will turn out, there may be questions about the severity of the charges against the 17-year-old, especially considering that he is not an adult and that it appears he was not the shooter in this instance.
The charges the two men face are quite serious. If convicted as adults, they could end up facing harsh penalties. In situations like this, the knowledge and experience that a criminal defense attorney has can be invaluable. An attorney may fight for reduced charges. In the end, an individual could end up facing less severe penalties.
Source: cfnews13.com, "17-year-old is 2nd person arrested in Orlando triple shooting," March 7, 2013
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