Recent Blog Posts
What are Aggravating Factors and How Can they Impact my Case?
When reading about criminal charges and their penalties, the term “aggravating factors” will likely come up. These are the details about an offense that can affect the severity of the penalties a defendant faces after he or she is convicted. In some cases, an aggravating factor can even change how an offense is charged…. Read More »
Can my Teenage Son or Daughter Face Criminal Charges for Sexting with Another Teen?
Today, text messages and social media are how we communicate. For many teenagers, this is the primary, even sole means of communication with certain friends. Many young people entering their first relationships and navigating the world of dating and sex engage in sexually explicit messaging, also known as “sexting,” with partners and potential partners…. Read More »
Using your Right to Stand your Ground as a Defense Against a Battery Charge
In Florida, you have the right to stand your ground when you feel threatened. This is in contrast to laws in other states that impose a duty to retreat, a legal obligation to make every possible effort to escape from a threat before engaging in violence as a form of self defense. Your right… Read More »
What are the Penalties for Violating the Terms of my Probation in Florida?
When an individual is found guilty of a criminal offense, he or she may be sentenced to probation rather than incarceration. Probation is a form of supervision that permits an individual to remain in his or her home and part of his or her community, but requires that he or she comply with a… Read More »
Hazing is a Criminal Offense in Florida
Joining a fraternity or sorority has its benefits. It can provide a sense of community and lead to volunteering opportunities and meaningful connections that serve a student in the years after he or she graduates. For many students, these benefits are worth the difficulties of joining a Greek society, which can include hazing. Hazing… Read More »
I am Going to Jail. What Can I Expect?
If you have been convicted of a criminal offense, you could find yourself heading to jail. Sometimes, this happens even if you work with an experienced criminal defense lawyer. In any case, if you are going to spend time in one of Florida’s county jails, take some time before you are admitted to educate… Read More »
The Differences Between Careless Driving and Reckless Driving in Florida
As a driver, you have the responsibility to drive courteously to prevent collisions with other drivers, pedestrians, and stationary objects. If you cause an accident because of your failure to uphold this responsibility, you can be found negligent and thus liable for the victim’s damages. If you are convicted of reckless driving, you can… Read More »
Marriage Fraud – What are the Penalties for an American Spouse?
When most people think of fraud, they tend to think of credit card fraud and investment scams. These are two types of fraud, but certainly not the only type. Fraud is a theft crime, which means it can be used to steal money, information, valuables, or anything else with monetary value. This includes the… Read More »
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia in Florida
Drug use does not occur in a vacuum. Whether a drug is injected, snorted, or smoked, it is used in conjunction with an apparatus. This apparatus, along with items used to cultivate and transport the drug, is considered to be a piece of drug paraphernalia. In Florida, the possession of drug paraphernalia is a… Read More »
Cocaine Trafficking is on the Rise in Florida
According to drug enforcement officials, drug trafficking into South Florida is happening at a higher rate than it has at any point in the last decade. In the past year, Customs and Border Protection officers confiscated approximately 9,500 pounds of cocaine being moved into the nation through Florida. Cocaine overdose deaths in Florida are… Read More »
What Makes a Piece of Evidence Inadmissible in Court?
In any criminal case, evidence is a key part of the legal proceeding. Evidence is what the prosecution uses to link the defendant to the offense as well as what the criminal defense team uses to show that the defendant is innocent. Using evidence effectively is the key to convicting an individual or keeping… Read More »
What to Do if you are Charged with Trespassing
Trespassing is defined as the act of entering a private area without permission from its owner. This can be a house, a section of a home or public building, or even an empty lot. If you do not have authorized permission to enter a space or structure, entering it can be deemed to be… Read More »
Posting Bail: What it Does, What it Requires
When an individual is arrested and taken to jail, a bail amount is set for him or her. Bail is the money that the individual can pay in exchange for being released from jail while his or her case moves through the criminal justice system. Bail is not always money. Sometimes, it is a… Read More »
Types of Property Crime
There are many different classifications for criminal offenses. Within these classifications, there are often subdivisions. Property crimes are offenses that involve the unauthorized taking or destruction of another party’s property. Within the realm of property crimes, there are multiple subtypes. These subtypes of property crime are listed below. Property crimes can involve tangible items… Read More »
Why You Need to Comply with your Subpoena
In the most basic sense, a subpoena is a request for evidence to use in a criminal case. The court issues subpoenas to individuals who can provide this evidence, which can be anything from a testimony about an event to a document that shows critical information about the event. A subpoena is not a… Read More »
Marijuana Possession for Personal Use vs. Marijuana Possession with the Intent to Distribute
Although states across the nation are decriminalizing and legalizing marijuana for recreational use, it is still a Schedule I controlled dangerous substance under the Controlled Substances Act and illegal outside of regulated medical use in Florida. Florida’s laws differentiate between the possession of a small amount of marijuana for one’s personal use and the… Read More »
What is Petit Theft?
Petit theft is defined as the theft of property valued at less than $300 with the intention of permanently or temporarily depriving the rightful owner of that item. In other words, it does not matter if you intend to return an item taken for your own benefit – “borrowing” another person’s property without his… Read More »
How to Prepare for your Deposition
If you are facing a criminal charge, you are going to become acquainted with numerous court procedures in a short period of time. One of these is the discovery process, which includes interrogations, depositions, and requests for the submission of specific pieces of evidence to the court. A deposition is a conversation between you… Read More »
What is a Hate Crime?
A hate crime is a criminal offense motivated by the offender’s bias against the victim based on the victim’s race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, gender, or national origin. In nearly all cases, hate crimes are violent offenses such as murder, arson, assault, or battery. When an offense is deemed to have been a… Read More »
What is Contempt of Court?
When the court orders you to comply with an order, you must comply with that order. Failing to comply with a court order is known as contempt of court. Court orders can be made for actions that occur outside the courtroom, such as orders to pay child support or comply with a subpoena, as… Read More »