Jacksonville Criminal Attorney Blog

The anti-crime program, the Jacksonville Journey, has unveiled its new budget and its members say $20 million is needed for the year. Some of the money would fund:

40 JSO officers ($3.9 million)

44 Jacksonville Corrections Officers ($1.5 million)

Jacksonville Juvenile Crime Prevention ($214,200)

Florida Ex-Offender Programs ($600,000)

If you have any questions about criminal charges in Jacksonville, criminal charges in Clay County, criminal charges in Nassau County, or criminal charges in St. Johns County, call our Jacksonville Criminal Attorneys at (904) 634-0900.

A new Florida law was passed that will allow police to pull you over if you are not wearing your seat belt. Before June 30th, when the law takes effect, police had to have another reason before stopping your car, such as

broken tail light
expired tag
speeding or
window tint

When this law is able to be enforced, police will have yet another reason to stop your car and ultimately search it if they say you acted nervous, the police say they smelled pot, or they claim to see drugs in plain view in your car.

If you have been stopped by police in Jacksonville, call our Jacksonville Criminal Defense Attorneys at (904) 634-0900. The police have to have a legitimate reason to stop your car and a legitimate reason to search it. Call our Jacksonville Criminal Attorneys to discuss your rights today.

The south downtown Los Angeles police department, Maywood Police Department, has been cited by the attorney general for:

Gross misconduct
Use of Excessive Force
Lacking probable cause for arrests
Lacking probable cause for searches
Having no real supervision for these officers

The Los Angeles Times investigated the department and discovered that many of the police officers at Maywood had left other law enforcement agencies because of their bad performance or their own breaking of the law.

If you have been arrested in Jacksonville, contact our Jacksonville Criminal Defense Lawyers at (904) 634-0900.

A Monroe County corrections officer, Shawn Hernandez, and a law enforcement officer with Florida Fish and Wildlife, Jonathon Jacox, have been arrested for drug charges in Florida. They have both been charged with conspiracy to traffic drugs, possessing a gun during the commission of a felony, and intent to traffic drugs. Undercover narcotics officers set up a fake drug transport with the two law enforcement officers.

If you have been arrested in Duval County, call our Duval County Criminal Defense Lawyers at (904) 634-0900.

We have all heard about drunk driving (DUI) arrests in Jacksonville, but Boating Under the Influence (BUI) charges are less common. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reports these statistics:

BUI Arrests in Jacksonville (Duval County)

2008 - 2
2007 - 1
2006 - 9
2005 - 17
2004 - 16

BUI Arrests in Clay County

2008 - 0
2007 - 1
2006 - 2
2005 - 2
2004 - 2

BUI Arrests in Nassau County

2008 - 1
2007 - 3
2006 - 1
2005 - 0
2004 - 0

BUI Arrests in St. Johns County

2008 - 5
2007 - 3
2006 - 1
2005 - 4
2004 - 4

If you have been arrested for DUI or BUI, contact our Jacksonville DUI and BUI Attorneys at (904) 634-0900.

Former Jacksonville Jaguar, Jimmy Smith, was arrested in Jacksonville last week on drug charges. He was arrested for possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving on a suspended license. A Jacksonville judge set Smith's bond at $11,500 and he was released, but Smith may have to go back to jail.

He has a pending DUI charge in Jacksonville and is out on bond on that charge. The state attorney's office has moved the court to revoke his bond on the DUI case because he was arrested on other charges in Jacksonville. As long as the new criminal arrest is supported by probable cause, Smith's bond can be revoked and he will remain in jail until the conclusion of his DUI case.

If you have any questions about drug charges or DUI charges in Jacksonville, contact our Jacksonville Criminal Defense Law Firm at (904) 634-0900.

Jennifer Collier, a teacher in Duval County, has been arrested for having sex with a student more than once. She is facing charges of sexual battery and two counts of lewd/lascivious conduct in Jacksonville.

Collier is a teacher at James Weldon Johnson Middle School. The alleged victim in the case is a 14 year-old boy. She has resigned from her teaching position as a Duval County school teacher.

Collier is in jail and a judge has set a "No bond". That means Collier cannot be released from jail unless a Jacksonville Criminal Defense Attorney files for a Bond Reduction in Jacksonville.

If you have any questions about bond reductions in Jacksonville or sex charges in Jacksonville, contact our Jacksonville Bond Reduction Attorneys at (904) 634-0900.

Drug officers, Robert McDonnell and Richard Cujdik, have been demoted to desk positions in the wake of accusations of police misconduct in Philadelphia. The officers are accused of lying to get search warrants and in cases where they didn't get a warrant, searching cars anyway.

If it is found that these two police officers did lie to get search warrants, any illegal items (drugs) found in the illegal searches would be suppressed because it is the "fruit" of an unlawful search. The same results apply to searches conducted without a warrant.

If you feel that the police illegally searched you in Jacksonville, contact our Jacksonville Criminal Lawyers at (904) 634-0900.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement released crime statistics for all Florida counties, including arrest statistics for Clay County. The department found Clay County's 2008 crime numbers were:

Murder - 5
Rape - 68
Robbery - 110
Aggravated Assault - 744
Burglary - 1234
Theft - 3642
Grand Theft Auto - 262

If you have been arrested in Clay County, contact our Clay County Criminal Defense Attorneys at (904) 634-0900.

According to the 2008 Annual Crime Report published by FDLE (Florida Department of Law Enforcement), Jacksonville's statistics are as follows:

116 arrests in Jacksonville for homicide

276 arrests for rape in Jacksonville

3061 arrests for robbery in Jacksonville

4935 arrested for aggravated assault in Jacksonville

12682 arrested in Jacksonville for burglary

32922 arrested in Jacksonville for thefts

4229 arrests in Jacksonville for grand theft auto

If you are facing criminal charges in Jacksonville, Florida, call our Jacksonville Criminal Defense Lawyers at (904) 634-0900.

FDLE (The Florida Department of Law Enforcement) keeps track of crime trends and has released last year's information regarding juvenile arrests in Florida. In 2008, there were:

81 juvenile Homicide arrests

537 juvenile Sex Crime arrests

24657 juvenile Theft arrests

13011 juvenile Drug arrests

498 juvenile DUI arrests

If your child has been arrested in Duval County, contact our Jacksonville Juvenile Crime Law Firm at (904) 634-0900.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement analyzes crime statistics for all of Florida and according to their 2008 Annual Report:

Florida Homicide Arrests Total - 801 (722 men and 79 women)

Florida Sex Crimes Arrests Total - 2439 (2394 men and 45 women)

Florida Robbery Arrests Total - 8910 (7941 men and 969 women)

Florida Burglary Arrests Total - 21715 (19469 men and 2246 women)

Florida Theft Arrests Total - 84364 (51637 men and 32727 women)

Florida Aggravated Assault Arrests Total - 31391 (24446 men and 6945 women)

Florida Drug Crime Arrests Total - 146905 (118521 men and 28384 women)

Florida DUI Arrests Total - 61354 (47019 men and 14335 women)

If you have criminal charges in Jacksonville, contact our Jacksonville Criminal Law Firm at (904) 634-0900.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement just released the 2008 Annual Crime Report for the state of Florida. The report contains a large amount of crime information, including arrest statistics for the state. According to the report:

1,031,627 people were arrested in Florida in 2008

889,465 were males and 260,468 were females

118,306 were arrested juveniles in Florida

If you have been arrested in Northeast Florida, contact our Northeast Florida Criminal Defense Law Firm at (904) 634-0900.

Crime has dropped 46% in Tampa, according to a study analyzing crimes committed during the past 6 years in this Florida city. The article points out that the major categories of crimes followed by the study were:

1. Sex Crimes
2. Thefts
3. Grand Theft Auto
4. Aggravated Assaults
5. Robberies
6. Burglaries
7. Homicides

Call our Jacksonville Criminal Defense Law Firm at (904) 634-0900 if you have any questions about arrests in Jacksonville, Florida.

There is a proposal in front of the Jacksonville City Council that would urge construction companies that have a contract with the city over $200,000 to hire people with criminal backgrounds in Jacksonville. According to an article at jacksonville.com, the companies effected would be those hired by Jacksonville to conduct clean-up projects and construction projects.

Operation New Hope estimates about 57,000 people come to Jacksonville this year who have been released from Florida jails or prisons. Operation New Hope is a program that assists ex-offenders with finding long-term jobs and also builds homes in Jacksonville's struggling neighborhoods.

If you have been arrested in Jacksonville, arrested in Clay County, arrested in Nassau County, or arrested in St. Johns County, contact our Jacksonville Criminal Attorneys at (904) 634-0900.

Five Florida corrections officers were fired yesterday after being accused of beating a Florida State Prison inmate. The five men fired are:

Officer James Coleman
Seargent Richard Kross
Seargent Anthony Reed
Leutenant William Hinson
Officer Raymond Williams

The case has been given to the prosecutor's office in Gainesville, Florida to decide whether or not to press criminal charges.

If you have been arrested in Jacksonville, call our Jacksonville Criminal Defense Law Firm at (904) 634-0900.

A Douglas Anderson teacher has been arrested for having sex with a minor. Katrina Jackson is currently not allowed to be in the classroom while the criminal charges in Jacksonville are pending.

Jackson is out of jail on a $15,003 bond with an ankle monitor in Jacksonville. She has been charged with unlawful sexual activity with a minor who is 17 years-old. That felony charge in Jacksonville is a second degree felony punishable for up to 15 years in prison.

If you have been arrested on sex charges in Jacksonville, call our Jacksonville Sex Lawyers at (904) 634-0900.

A 2007 study by the Ft. Meyers Juvenile Assessment Center shows that the majority of juveniles arrested for committing crimes is linked to drug abuse. In an article on news-press.com, the review showed that of the juveniles that were brought to the center after being arrested:

59% used illegal drugs

47% used alcohol

44% smoked pot

15% used cocaine

The article also cites a 2008 survey conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The survey found:

16% of juveniles used drugs other than pot

32% of juveniles smoked pot

If your child has been arrested as a juvenile in Jacksonville, contact our Jacksonville Juvenile Attorneys at (904) 634-0900.

There may be more cuts for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement in the 2009-2010 budget. According to an article in the Sun Sentinel, FDLE may have to cut hundreds of jobs, including administrators that manage the Florida sex offender website and manage the Florida criminal records database.

The budget cuts may also limit FDLE's ability to help local police departments, like the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, investigate major drug crime investigations.

If you have been arrested in Jacksonville, arrested in Clay County, arrested in Nassau County, call our Jacksonville Criminal Defense Law Firm at (904) 634-0900.

A city councilman in Nebraska asked the city council in Beatrice, Nebraska to reimburse him for legal expenses that stemmed from his DUI arrest. Alan Fetty asked for $1200.00 from the city because after his arrest for DUI (driving under the influence), the charge was eventually dropped by prosecutors. When taken to the police station, Fetty blew .07, which is under the legal limit to be considered DUI. (that is the same legal limit in Jacksonville for a DUI) The city turned down Fetty's request for reimbursement.

If you have been arrested in Jacksonville for DUI, contact our Jacksonville DUI Lawyers at (904) 634-0900.

Reggie Williams, a former Jacksonville Jaguar, has been arrested on drug charges in Texas. He was arrested for felony possession of cocaine, a third degree felony in Florida. This is Williams' second arrest this year. He was arrested in February for DUI (driving under the influence or drunk driving) and possession of marijuana.

If you have any questions about criminal charges in Jacksonville, call our Jacksonville Criminal Defense Law Firm at (904) 634-0900.

A Nassau County corrections officer has been arrested in Fernandina Beach, Florida for allowing inmates to smuggle drugs into the jail. Cody Flint-Davis has been arrested and charged in Nassau County for failure to perform his duties as a Nassau County Sheriff's Officer, official misconduct, and for disclosing secret law enforcement information.

Nassau County police say Flint-Davis is shown on camera allowing Florida inmates to conceal drugs in mop buckets, giving inmates dirty pictures, and telling inmates about possible searches by corrections personnel. His Nassau County bond was set at $55,010.00.

If you have been arrested in Nassau County, Florida, contact our Nassau County, Florida Criminal Defense Lawyers at (904) 634-0900 for a free consultation.

A Michigan Appeals court has upheld the convictions of Michigan police officers Patrick Carson, Robert Hey, Peter Jacquemain and Robert Jacquemain. The police officers were convicted of obstruction of justice and perjury. One of the ex-officers was involved in road rage with a civilian driver and he called his police buddies and reported that the civilian driver ran him off the road.

The other ex-officers arrived and ran into the civilians car, pulled him out, and threw him on his head. The other ex-officers then beat him in front of witnesses.

To make matters worse, these ex-officers met together and came up with a story to justify their beating of the civilian.

Carson is serving 33 months in prison and the other ex-officers got community control and probation.

If you have been arrested in Jacksonville, call our Jacksonville Criminal Attorneys at (904) 634-0900.

A high school teacher has been arrested in Jacksonville on child pornography charges. John Watson taught an ROTC program at Ribault High and after his Jacksonville arrest, he is now assigned outside the classroom.

Watson is charged in with 5 counts of possession of child pornography in Jacksonville. He is being held in the Duval County Jail on $500,015 bond.

If you have been arrested for possessing child pornography, call our Jacksonville Sex Crime Attorneys at (904) 634-0900.

According to an article on Jacksonville.com, driving while tired may cause as many accidents as driving while under the influence (DUI). The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that 80% of traffic accidents are caused by the driver being tired. JSO does not keep track of how many accidents are caused by tired drivers, but they think "a lot". Joseph Kaplan, a director at Sleep Disorder Center at Mayo, claims if you are awake for more than 24 hours, your mental capacity is the same as if you are drunk.

If you have been arrested in Jacksonville for Driving Under the Influence (DUI or Drunk Driving), contact our Jacksonville DUI Lawyers at (904) 634-0900.

According to an article on wtsp.com, the state of Florida ranks #5 among our country's most dangerous states. CQ press has come out with their Crime State Rankings based on

1. Arrests in Florida

2. Corrections in Florida

3. Crimes in Florida

4. Courts in Florida

5. Drug and Alcohol Treatment in Florida

6. Law Enforcement Budgets in Florida

7. Juvenile Crimes in Florida

The study found Nevada to be the most dangerous state, with Louisiana second, South Carolina third, and New Mexico fourth.

If you have been arrested in Jacksonville, arrested in Clay County, arrested in Nassau County, or arrested in St. Johns county, contact our Criminal Attorneys in Jacksonville at (904) 634-0900. Our Jacksonville Criminal Attorneys are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to assist you on your criminal matter.

A Jacksonville woman, Stephanie Smith, has been arrested and charged with child neglect in Jacksonville. Police say she left a small child she was babysitting in a bathtub and upon her return, the child was passed out. The child later died.

To be arrested and charged with Child Neglect in Jacksonville and all of Florida, it has to be shown that she:

failed to provide the child with the care, supervision, or services necessary to maintain the child's physical health.

It can be based on a single incident or repeated incidents. If convicted of this felony in Jacksonville, Smith is facing up to 15 years in prison.

If you have been arrested in Jacksonville for child neglect or child abuse, call our Jacksonville Child Abuse Attorneys at (904) 634-0900.

A former Jacksonville Fire Department Captain, Larry Norris, has been arrested for:

1. Aggravated Assault in Jacksonville, which is a third degree felony punishable for up to 5 years in prison,

2. Carrying a Concealed Firearm in Jacksonville, which is a third degree felony, and

3. Discharge and Possession of a Firearm on School Property in Jacksonville, which also is a third degree felony.

Police say Norris was shooting at 2 men who stole his daughter's truck.

If you have any questions about gun charges in Jacksonville, contact our Jacksonville Gun Attorneys at (904) 634-0900.

A University of Florida graduate, Robert O'Ryan, was arrested and charged with felonious stalking of Shawn Johnson, who is on the show, Dancing with the Stars. O'Ryan was also charged with carrying a loaded gun in his car, which is a misdemeanor charge in California.

If O'Ryan was arrested in Jacksonville, Florida, and was carrying a concealed gun in his car, that would be a third degree felony punishable for up to 5 years in prison. In Florida, there are different levels of stalking.

If he willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly followed or harassed her, that would be a first degree misdemeanor in Jacksonville punishable for up to a year in jail.

If he did what is stated above AND made a credible threat with the intent to place her in reasonable fear of death or injury, he could be arrested for aggravated stalking in Jacksonville and is subject to 5 years in prison.

If you have been arrested for stalking in Jacksonville, call our Jacksonville Stalking Lawyers at (904) 634-0900 for a free consultation.

A proposed Florida law will allow Jacksonville police officers who are under investigation for wrongdoing to stay on the streets. Sheriff Rutherford is against the bill because it will take away his discretion as the head of the department to discipline his employees as he sees fit.

Police officers should be taken off the streets if they are being investigated for wrongdoing or breaking the law. A police officer's job, above all, is to exercise sound judgment before action and display truthfulness after any action. If there is any question about an officer's judgment pre-event and his credibility post event, he should be suspended pending investigation. It is so important because police officers can talk to us one minute and kill us the next with virtual immunity. Officers should be held to a very high standard because our liberty and lives are on the line. This is a very special occupation and those officers that demonstrate unsound judgment and have repeated credibility issues in the department should be weeded out, not enabled.