Category Archives: Criminal Defense
Long-Term Effects of Juvenile Convictions
Florida law automatically expunges (erases) most juvenile criminal records when the former offenders turn twenty-six, which is very good news for these individuals. Many state laws don’t include this possibility. But the bad news is that a juvenile criminal record could haunt a person for at least a decade before the automatic expungement provision… Read More »
Florida Man in Jail After Allegedly Shooting Lyft Driver
On May 26, 2025, authorities arrested a 17-year-old Bay County man and charged him in connection with the fatal shooting of a ridesharing driver. According to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, officers responded to a report of a shooting in Panama City Beach around 2:20 a.m. At the scene, deputies said they found a… Read More »
Woman Arrested for Threatening Children
On April 2, 2025, a 59-year-old woman was arrested on two counts of aggravated assault and false imprisonment after she allegedly held two children at gunpoint for fishing in her backyard. Brevard County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the woman’s home after she called 911 to report two teenage boys had been fishing in… Read More »
What is the Definition of Possession of Drugs?
Under federal law, “possessing” drugs is more than “having” or even “holding” drugs. Drug possession, as defined in 21 USC § 844. In federal court, drug possession is usually a misdemeanor, regardless of the amount of contraband. However, if the defendant possesses a significant amount, U.S. attorneys usually enhance charges to something like drug… Read More »
Challenging the Evidence in Federal Criminal Court
Most evidence is admissible in federal court unless that evidence is unduly prejudicial. A prior criminal record is the classic example of unduly prejudicial evidence. If jurors hear such evidence, while it may be relevant to the case at hand, they may convict the defendant because s/he’s a bad person, not because s/he committed… Read More »
Basic Search Warrant Requirements in Federal Cases
Unless a narrow search warrant exception applies, under the Fourth Amendment, federal agents must have valid search warrants before they search for, and seize, drugs or other contraband. The Fourth Amendment is part of the original Bill of Rights. Over the years, courts have fleshed out this requirement in even more restrictive ways. More… Read More »
The Two Kinds of Reasonable Suspicion in a DUI Case
Reasonable suspicion, or the belief that someone is involved in criminal activity, is basically an evidence-based hunch. Courts use the “reasonable person” or “reasonable officer” standard to evaluate reasonable suspicion in criminal cases. Basically, the question is whether an officer of similar experience and status would consider the circumstances sufficiently suspicious to warrant intervention…. Read More »
11-Year-Old Arrested Following Crime Spree
Authorities in Alachua County tracked down an 11-year-old boy who allegedly pointed a gun at two individuals and demanded their vehicles. Deputies said they responded to a “suspicious incident” on March 25, 2025 at around 3 p.m. in the Meadowbrook neighborhood. “The victim stated the suspect pointed a gun at them and demanded their… Read More »
How Do I Get Out of Jail in Hillsborough County?
Many Floridians ask this same question every day and night. The Sunshine State has one of the highest percentages of unsentenced inmates in the country. In other words, many county jail inmates have been arrested but not convicted of a crime nor even officially charged with a crime. To reduce the number of unsentenced… Read More »
What is a Deportable Offense?
Either directly or indirectly, almost any misdemeanor or felony could be a deportable offense. Aggravated felonies and CIMTs (crimes involving moral turpitude) usually prompt immediate deportation proceedings. More on that below. Furthermore, at a later status adjustment hearing, any criminal record is a black mark that could make the difference between a permanent status… Read More »
