Jacksonville Criminal Attorney Blog

Jacksonville’s citizens get crazy in their ideas sometimes. Immaturity, restlessness and pure thoughtless behavior become the push behind the illegal activity. However, if one considers the consequences of the activity one is participating in, one becomes highly aware that one’s freedom may become restricted for a long period of time. Fortunately, if one in this situation obtains an experienced attorney to fight for one’s case, one can ensure one’s rights are defenses will be known and protected.

According to the Florida Times-Union, Curtis Amelio Hardy, 25, and Jennifer Kay Brazell, 28, both of Kingsland, are charged with motor vehicle hijacking. Hardy and Brazell’s arrests came after the two threatened a taxicab driver with a knife, stole cell phones from the man, and then stole his taxicab. The taxicab was later abandoned. With the help of police bloodhounds, Hardy and Brazell were both found in a trailer park nearby.

Jacksonville carjacking crimes are serious offenses for all involved, because of the violent nature and complicated nature of the crime. Unfortunately, more young people are accused of crimes of this nature simply because of the thrill involved. However, the terror that will fill one’s life when charged with a crime like this will make one wish one could turn back the clock.

Under Florida Statute 812.133, carjacking is first-degree felony offense. If no weapon is involved in the carjacking, then the offense can bring as much as thirty years in prison. However, if a deadly weapon of any type is involved, then the punishment for the crime extends to life imprisonment. This is a harsh reality for the an accused party to face, particularly for a party with no criminal record.

Many times in Jacksonville, accused parties feel that the nature of their crime is not that serious or that the punishment for such a crime could be lessened because they have been good in the past. However simple an idea this may be, the fact is that a clean record with the legal system may show a Judge that one is not a hardened criminal or someone who should be locked for the maximum amount of time allowable.

Many times within the legal system, one’s past may hold the key to one’s future. Judges will look at the character and past good and bad acts of the accused when contemplating sentencing. Particularly if the crime is of a heinous nature or one that might cause a Judge to render a harsher punishment upon the accused, if one has a good record, such as documented good behavior in the community, or no run-ins with the law, then the Judge might take a second look and lighten one’s punishment.

Many accused parties throughout Jacksonville face criminal charges of this nature all of the time. For some, the reality of lengthy jail time is coming fast leaving no way to fight back. However, if one in this situation obtains an experienced Jacksonville carjacking crimes defense attorney to fight for one’s case and ensure one’s rights are protected, one will be able to know that one will have the best defense possible to one’s charge and that one will be able to move on from this bump in the road to the future.

Continue reading " Kingsland Couple Carjacks Taxicab Driver at Knifepoint " »

Jacksonville’s citizens have many different ideas about how they feel they should run their lives, what sorts of activities they enjoy, and differ in actions they do in private. However, when one’s activities encroach on someone else’s dignity, the consequences can be costly. One in a situation like this should obtain an experienced attorney to fight for one’s case and ensure one’s rights are protected.

According to the Florida Times-Union, Freddie Owen Felder III of Hastings has been sentenced to life in prison for lewd or lascivious battery against a child younger than 16 after he pleaded no contest to just before his trial. The crime was said to have occurred after Felder III entered in the room of a teenage girl, threatened her with a knife, and then choked and raped her. DNA evidence allegedly put Felder III at the crime scene.

Jacksonville sexual assault crimes typically involve a State attorney who will stop at nothing to either have enough evidence to convict one for a long time, regardless of whether one is innocent or not, or scare one into submission with a plea deal. Although many see plea bargaining as an enemy, many times, plea bargaining can be the best option for one to use to avoid a much worse sentence than is reasonable.

Plea Bargaining is a common practice in the legal system that many times helps and hurts accused parties within the legal system. When one goes before the Judge to enter one’s plea, or acknowledgement of the charges against one and whether one admits or denies one did the crime accused of. However, if one bargains with the State for less time or a probationary sentence in exchange for a plea of guilty, then one might actually receive less time than one might have had the case gone to trial.

Much can affect one’s plea, including evidence and the Judge’s prior sentencing style, that might affect the course of a bargain with the State. Many times, when a person is accused of a sexual assault crime, the State will attempt to scare someone into a plea bargain that is not at all appealing. Particularly when DNA is a factor in prosecution, the State will push hard against one to try to make one fold under and except a deal that will put one behind bars for an excessive amount of time.

Many times, and contrary to popular belief, taking a plea deal can actually be a lifeline that might save one from an even worse punishment. Sometimes, Judges may feel that they must take out their own retribution on defendants in criminal prosecutions, particularly when the charge is of a heinous nature. For example, if one knows that the State has enough evidence to probably convict one of the one’s charge, and one’s Judge is known for handing down minimum heavy sentences for sex crimes, if one is offered a much better plea deal, one’s best bet is to take the deal.

Unfortunately for many accused parties in the legal system, the State will offer bad deals to people who have either simply made mistakes or innocent people who are falsely accused. If one is in a situation such as this, one should not wait for the State to trample on one and go to jail for an excessive amount of time. One should obtain an experienced Jacksonville sex crimes defense attorney to fight for one’s case and ensure one’s rights are protected.

Continue reading " Florida Man Who Pled No Contest In Sexual Assault Case Sentenced To Life " »

Jacksonville’s citizens have strong family ties and will fight for the respect, honor, and dignity of those ties. This principle is especially true when a family member is harmed by another. However, just because one is charged with a crime of this nature does not automatically mean that one is guilty of that crime. The legal system is meant to protect one from harm, and one in a situation like this should obtain an experienced attorney to make sure that the legal system does protect one from the abuses of others.

According to the Florida Times-Union, Kenneth Laverne Johnson of Jacksonville, who had recently been charged with the sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl, was beaten up at his apartment by the girl’s father. The beating occurred after the girl’s father went to Johnson’s apartment and began beating him up while his daughters stayed outside. The father had Johnson pinned to the floor until Jacksonville police arrived.

Jacksonville sexual assault crimes typically involve an angry victim or an angry victim’s family who wants revenge. Furthermore, no matter what the manner of the assault, when a child is involved, the parent of that child begins to lose control over their rational senses and move into a child protective like state. However sympathetic one might be towards someone in this situation, society must also assume a protective role over the accused in a case like this.

Many times, people feel angry and irrational in regards to touchy subjects like sexual assault on a minor. However, the inescapable fact is that the accused is merely the accused, not necessarily the guilty. For many in situations like these, the accused will be ridiculed and left to the media’s destructive devices, ruining the accused’s reputation. Unfortunately for the accused, in many situations like this, the accused will be forever shamed without even being convicted of any crime.

Numerous times throughout Jacksonville, as well as other surrounding areas, the State, law enforcement, and the media, will many times hold their own personal trial on TV and in newspapers in order to personally attack and ridicule the accused. However angry people may be about a crime’s occurrence, one must realize that until a Judge and jury has found one guilty of a crime, under the American legal system, one is presumed to be innocent.

In this case, as much as one may sympathize with the father of this poor child, as well as the victim of this tragedy, Johnson has only been charged. Furthermore, if Johnson is ever convicted, Johnson should be punished by the legal system, rather than a private citizen who even though society may sympathize, should not exact his own revenge against the accused. Only through the proper operation and execution of the legal system may order remain orderly and an accused’s rights be protected.

Many times, accused parties in the legal system may feel as though everyone has them painted as guilty and that there is no fighting chance for freedom. However, if one obtains an experienced Jacksonville sexual assault crimes defense attorney to fight for one’s case and ensure one’s rights are protected, one will be able to ensure that one will be protected from the abuses of the legal system and will be able to have the best possible defense to one’s charge.

Continue reading " Father of Sexual Assault Victim Attacks Accused Jacksonville Man " »

Jacksonville’s citizens sometimes feel that they need to take what is not theirs in order to ensure that they have what they want and need to survive. From nine to ninety, people are accused of theft crimes, some, which they did not commit. If someone has been in a situation like this, one should obtain an experienced attorney to fight for one’s case and ensure one’s rights are known and protected.

According to the Florida Times-Union, Torre Frankie Ludwig, has been charged with grand theft after he was found with a catalytic converter and a sawzall in his van. Ludwig’s arrest came after an Orange Park salvage shop alerted police that Ludwig had sold them thirteen catalytic converters in a week’s time, Ludwig receiving over $1,000 in profit from the sales.

Jacksonville theft crimes typically involve theft of some sort of property that will be resold in order to get money. This means that pawn shops, junk yards, and salvage shops, will be the first targets for the reselling of stolen property. As such, the police and shops such as these have teamed up to report suspicious activity such as receiving stolen property or reselling stolen property. Unfortunately, the time between receiving the stolen property and identifying the seller may be too far removed to be accurate.

Most think that theft crimes would be crimes such as robbing banks, department stores, and other commonly associated establishments. However, as the economy has taken a turn, the types of items being stolen has increased and diversified. Catalytic converters have become a very common target for theft, as one theft catalytic converter could be worth as much as $200 at a junkyard or scrap shop.

Law Enforcement as well as others in the legal system are endeavoring to crack down on theft crimes such as these before they become more prevalent in courtrooms across Florida. Many people accused of such crimes are punished much harder for that particular offense because the nature of the offense has such secondary effects as an inoperable car that must now be towed. However tragic for the victim, many of these accused parties’ intent was not to intentionally harm one person but try to help one’s self acquire one’s needs.

Many times in Jacksonville, the place receiving stolen property will attempt to identify the person who supposedly sold the stolen property to them. Police will normally pass around pictures and general information about suspects of such crimes at these establishments. However, by the time that a business or an employee attempts to identify the person, the memory of that suspect is faded, leaving too much room for error in identification.

Many times in the legal system, innocent people are accused of crimes simply because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Unfortunately, proving one’s innocence may not be an easy task on one’s own. Fortunately for one in a situation like this, if one obtains an experienced Jacksonville theft crimes defense attorney to fight for one’s case and ensure one’s rights are protected, one will be able to make sure that one will suffer for something that one simply did not do.

Continue reading " Jacksonville Area Man Arrested For Stealing Catalytic Converters " »

Jacksonville’s citizens can sometimes be very dramatic and sometimes very violent when they are dramatic. For many, violence against friends and family members will bring about the consequence of a criminal case being brought against them. If one has been in a similar situation, one should obtain an experienced attorney to fight for one’s case and ensure one’s rights are protected.

According to the Florida Times-Union, Rico Gray, husband to the recently convicted Marissa Alexander, has spoken to the media about the events surrounding the shooting Alexander was accused of. The shooting, according to Gray, occurred after Gray and Alexander began fighting. Alexander then allegedly grabbed a gun, loaded it, and fired at Gray and the couple’s two children. Alexander has been sentenced to twenty years in prison.

Jacksonville assault crimes typically involve an action on the part of the accused that is unreasonable given the circumstances, but acceptable in the mind of the accused at the time. Unfortunately for the accused, in such instances, the legal system does not agree. However, the mental state of the accused is an avenue that can be used to either lessen one’s amount of time one would serve, or not serve any time at all.

Many times in Jacksonville, people are victimized in the relationships that participate in, and retaliate with force to make the victimization stop. Unfortunately for many accused individuals within the legal system, the reality of home life is more than one could take and because one reacted in the manner in which they thought adequately protected themselves from harm, the consequence one faces is an even worse harm than the harm one was trying to escape from.

In this case, Alexander was denied immunity under Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” Law, which allows someone to use deadly force if they fear that imminent harm is upon them. In this case, Alexander claimed that Gray was being violent towards her; Gray refuted that he merely held his arms up to “buy time” so that he and his children could leave the home. This telling is one timeline of the events, although there is no evidence that the man’s statements were entirely accurate.

Many times in family related crimes such as a domestic battery charge or, in this case, multiple aggravated assault charges, the accused is caught in a battle of words, as typically there is not enough evidence to show who started the altercation and how the altercation finished, as many of these crimes, like in this case, happen in private homes. This lack of sure truth about the events of criminal act many times will subject the accused to an even rougher and sometimes longer time in the legal system.

When one is up against the wall in legal battles attempting to salvage what freedom one has left, one should not waste time thinking about the possible outcomes. One in a situation like this should immediately obtain an experienced Jacksonville aggravated assault crimes defense attorney to fight for one’s case and ensure one’s rights and defenses are known and protected. One should not waste time when the solution to one’s predicament is out there waiting.

Continue reading " Husband Speaks Out To Media In Jacksonville Triple-Assault Case " »

Jacksonville’s citizens get involved in some recreational activities that are helpful to themselves and others that happens to be fun. Unfortunately for some, the activities that some choose to participate in are highly illegal. Fortunately for someone in this situation, if one obtains an experienced attorney to fight for one’s case and ensure one’s rights are protected, one can be sure that whatever activity one was accused of being involved in will only be a bump in the road and not a long-term stop in one’s life.

According to the Florida Times-Union, Shayne Warren Silcox, 41, Devin Scott Breiva, 28, Andrew Henry Witt, 48, Nancy Stephanie Wolosko, 41, and William Lee Morgan, 41, of Clay County have all been arrested in connection with a meth lab bust at a Motel 6 on the Westside. The arrests came after Jacksonville police got the tip from Clay County Sheriff's Office detectives who had detained Silcox and Breiva for questioning regarding meth sales in that county.

Jacksonville drug crimes typically involve some form of addiction on the part of the accused to a substance that is dangerous, both to themselves and others. Many individuals within the system typically begin to create, sell, or participate in distribution of drugs because they feel that they need more of that drug in order to feel comfortable in their own skin. However, the reality is that once one is arrested, feeling comfortable in one’s own skin may never be possible again.

Methamphetamine, or meth, is a very common substance on the drug market today. Because meth is very explosive, the Sheriff's Office bomb squad and a Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department hazardous materials team typically are called to dismantle a meth lab. Thus the legal system typically will punish a meth related drug crime more harshly than a drug crime involving marijuana or other drug. Unfortunately for the accused, the possibility of a tougher sentence becomes too much for the mind to handle on one’s own.

Many times in Jacksonville as well as surrounding areas, Judges and Prosecuting attorneys will attempt to show that the accused was a menace to society and that the accused should be locked away for a long period of time, paying for their crime with victimization in a prison cell. However the accused may be painted to a Judge or a jury, the accused needs help through rehabilitation, not a prison cell that will be used to house hatred for the system, increasing the likelihood of creating a repeat offender.

Many times, a drug crime is merely a desperate cry for help, which the State simply does not hear. However, if one obtains an experienced Jacksonville drug crimes defense attorney to fight for one’s case and ensure one’s rights are protected, one will be sure that one’s experienced attorney will be able to give one the help one needs to succeed in one’s defense and get the rehabilitative help that one needs to move on from this experience to a brighter future.

Continue reading " Five Arrests Made in Westside Jacksonville Meth-Lab Bust " »

Jacksonville’s citizens get angry sometimes and say things they should not say. Other times, they commit actions out of anger that are illegal. However, a person is not guilty just because they have been charged with a crime. Unfortunately for many, the process the State uses to prove guilt is not always fair. One in a situation like this should obtain an experienced attorney to fight for one’s case and ensure that one’s rights and defense are known and protected.

According to the Florida Times-Union, Kishon Larhame Birch of Jacksonville has been charged with the murder of Birch’s girlfriend, Rolanda Michelle Harrell. The murder was said to have occurred at their apartment, when Birch slammed Harrell against kitchen appliances and then beat her to death. Police say Harrell’s two young daughters and son were in the apartment.

Jacksonville felony violent crimes typically involve some action on the part of the accused which causes unwanted physical harm or death. Unfortunately, many of these actions are not thought out, nor are they wanted after the fact. However, many accused parties do not feel that a mental state such as anger to be important to their case. On the contrary, a picture of the mental state of the accused or the perceived mental state that a State prosecutor might paint for a jury is crucial in determining whether a jury will be swayed to believe that one is either guilty or innocent.

Many times in the legal system, the State will gather testimony from any and all parties involved, directly or indirectly with the crime in question and use that testimony to show guilt. However, much of that testimony may be skewed or altered by the time that the jury first hears it. Unfortunately for many that will face this sort of altered testimony against them, the odds of being able to show that error or disprove an alleged witness will be a tough battle to fight on one’s own.

In this case, the first red flag in testimony gathering will be the testimony of the deceased’s children. Children are very impressionable and simply unaware of the weight of their statements to police, the State and any other official that might be involved in a court proceeding. Furthermore, as much as most would like to think that children do not have the intent to lie under their free will, the reality is that children could be given incentives to say certain things that they would not have otherwise.

From what can be seen from the facts, all of the children witnessing the event were under seven years old and as such, probably do not have the ability to properly or accurately describe what actually happened. At such a young age, a loaded or leading question to a small child might provoke an incorrect or inaccurate response, but a response that the State will attempt to use against the accused. What is even more unfortunate for the accused is that if the case goes to trial, the State will put the children on the stand to testify before a jury with this most likely inaccurate testimony.

Many times, the accused will face testimony and evidence hurdles that seem too tall to jump over. However, if one obtains an experienced Jacksonville felony violent crimes defense attorney to fight for one’s case and ensure one’s rights and defenses are known and protected, one can be sure that one will not fall victim to the State’s attempt to use misleading statements against one in one’s case.

Continue reading " Jacksonville Man Accused of Killing Girlfriend In Front of Children " »

Jacksonville’s citizens have many interesting that they do in their lives that involves the internet. Unfortunately, there are those people who do things on the internet that are both illegal and costly to one’s future. Even though these sorts of crimes seem horrible, the person accused of committing the crime deserves the same Constitutional protections as anyone else in the United States. Someone in a situation like this should obtain an experienced attorney to fight for one’s case and ensure one’s rights are protected.

According to the Florida Times-Union, Kamil Mezalka of Palm Coast was arrested for possession of child pornography received from the internet. The arrest came after FBI agents issued a search warrant at Mezalka’s house, after which Mezalka retaliated by stabbing his computer with a samurai sword. Mezalka’s computer contained hundreds of files containing picture of sexually abused children.

Jacksonville child pornography crimes are normally crimes that involve someone who’s computer has child pornography on the hard-drive, or on the computer’s IP address. However, what is unfortunate is that many prosecutors, police, and other parties fail to realize that a computer may be used by others in a home or office. This failure to investigate thoroughly, many times, makes a victim out of an innocent party.

For someone who has being investigated for and charged with pornography, depending on how much evidence is found and the severity of the Judge’s opinion, an accused party could serve a very long time in federal prison. In this case, Mezalka could serve anywhere from five to twenty years for the crimes he is accused of. If Mezalka was wrongfully charged, a great injustice would be done by locking him away for any amount of time.

When a child is involved in any sort of crime, most attorneys, Judges, and other members of the community’s hearts are hurt. Unfortunately for the accused, this means that public pressure as well as personal anger many times back a decision to prosecute the first possible defendant law enforcement can find. This process is extremely detrimental to the life and dignity of a private citizen who has now become a defendant a criminal prosecution.

Many times, other users of the same computer are the culprit, causing one to be blamed for a crime one would not commit oneself. Unfortunately, even after there is enough evidence that might show that the accused is not the actual perpetrator, the prosecutor in charge will refuse to drop the case. Many times, this will be discouraging to the accused, because one is struggling to prove one’s innocence and the State seems to know that one is innocent.

Many times, the accused in criminal prosecution will face a slew of officials who are determined to put one behind bars. However, if one in a situation like this obtains an experienced Jacksonville child pornography crimes defense attorney to fight for one’s case and ensure one’s rights and defenses are known and protected, one can be sure that even though the State is one’s enemy, one’s experienced attorney will be able to win the battle for one’s freedom.

Continue reading " Samurai Sword-Wielding Florida Man Faces Child Pornography Charges " »

Jacksonville’s citizens have needs that they feel surpass others, to the point in which they feel those needs be satisfied by taking by force. Unfortunately for them, the law does not allow for such actions and will punish those who break the law very severely. If one has been accused of such a crime, one should obtain an experienced attorney to fight for one’s case and ensure one’s rights are protected.

According to the Florida Times-Union, police are on the lookout for a man who allegedly robbed the Compass Bank on Monument Road in Jacksonville. The robbery occurred after the man, who came into the bank dressed in a shirt and tie, handed a bag and a note to the teller demanding the money. A security dye bomb went off in the thief’s bag, however, causing the man to be covered in red paint, which police are using as a method of identifying the suspect.

Jacksonville theft crimes typically involve an accused party who is desperate and needs money to pursue some want or need. Unfortunately, most of the people actually guilty of theft crimes only stole because they sincerely thought they needed it, rather than the common perception of greed. Unfortunately, the legal system does not typically take these into consideration these factors in determining whether to severely prosecute the accused.

For many banks and law enforcement in Jacksonville, the newest and most effective device used to find the thief is the dye pack, an explosive container placed amidst the money being stolen so that when the thief goes to open the bag, the dye pack explodes in the thief’s face, which will not wash off for a period of weeks. Unfortunately for the accused, the sentence for the crime is not so easily washed off either.

Many times in Jacksonville, the average individual feels that they either want something so much they cannot control that want, or they need to feed their family and have no money. However, there are alternative and legal means that might be pursued that, even though they may take longer, will yield the most benefit and have the least negative consequences.

Unfortunately for those that choose the path of theft, one can spend countless hours in legal battles, facing a very large prison sentence, and face outrageous criminal fines and restitution requirements. The amount of time spent trying to successfully complete the crime will seem wasted and in vain, as one will face a number of different legal hurdles that one may not be able to combat on one’s own. In a situation such as this, one might feel the walls closing in around one, like there is no way out.

One has one choice of relief in a situation like this. One charged with a crime of this nature should contact an experienced Jacksonville theft crimes defense attorney to fight for one’s case and ensure one’s rights and defenses are known and protected. One can either sit back and wait for the Judge to render a decision against one, or one can take charge of one’s defense and win one’s cause for freedom.

Continue reading " Red-Handed Man Still Not Caught In Jacksonville Bank Robbery " »

Jacksonville’s citizens have many issues that they deal with concerning family and other types of personal relationships. For some, violence is the answer. For others, violence may the only choice to defend themselves from a possible fight that could end in the death of one. If one has been accused of such a crime, one should obtain an experienced attorney to fight for one’s case and ensure one’s rights are protected.

According to the Florida Times-Union, Yolanda Lenette Stills has been charged with the murder of her fiancé, Ricardo McMillan. Stills allegedly stabbed McMillan to death over a fight about a pack of cigarettes in the early morning at their Jacksonville apartment. McMillan was later taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. Stills has a criminal record of repeat violence.

Jacksonville felony violent crimes cases are typically cases that involve revenge or anger induced violence. For many though, violent actions are caused by another’s violent action against them. Unfortunately though, some violent crimes are induced by a desire to not lose whatever possessions that one has in one’s life. Many times, deprivation of valuables in the past may cause deprivation of freedom in the future.

Many times in Jacksonville, as well as many other cities around the globe, people grow up in an underprivileged neighborhood with very little possessions to call their own. For some, if they make it out of this situation, those people have a greater appreciation for the possessions they have. For others who unfortunately are still in this situation, the value of simple objects can be great, and might be something worth fighting for.

As one can glean from this case, Stills killed her fiancé over a pack of cigarettes. An individual who has had possessions in their life would not kill a human being over such a trivial object as a pack of cigarettes. This is clearly an example of a woman who has not had much in her life and was probably scared that her fiancé was going to take her belongings away from her.

Many times, the State knows of one’s reason for violent action and see that it was because of economic deprivation, and will completely ignore that fact, painting the accused as a senseless individual who is a menace to society and should be locked away. Unfortunately for many of the accused in situations like this, the ability to mount the required defense on their own would be nearly impossible.

One may think that the walls are closing in as the State draws near to prosecute. However, one has options for relief. If one obtains an experienced Jacksonville felony violent crimes defense attorney to fight for one’s case, one will ensure one’s rights and defenses are known and protected. One should stand idly by while one’s freedom is being restricted. One needs help. One needs an experienced attorney.

Continue reading " Jacksonville Woman Kills Fiance Over Cigarettes " »

Jacksonville’s citizens sometimes become caught up in activities that are illegal. Other time, individuals are accused of crimes that they simply had no involvement in. Unfortunately for many, the accused is treated as guilty before they even step foot in a courtroom. If one has been in a situation such as this, one should obtain an experienced attorney to fight for one’s case and ensure one’s rights are protected.

According to the Florida Times-Union, Christopher D. Durden, who was originally charged with the sexual battery of a 12-year-old, has been set free after the State Attorney’s office officially dropped the charges. The State said that evidence concerns regarding the allegedly victim’s testimony was the reason for the charge being dropped.

Jacksonville sexual assault crimes are typically crimes that once accused of, no matter who the victim may be or the circumstances of the case, the representation associated with that offense will be forever worn by the accused, guilty or not. Many times, the accused becomes the victim because of a choice by a prosecutor to file charges without an ability to make a case.

Under Florida Statute 794.011, a person 18 years of age or older who commits sexual battery upon, or in an attempt to commit sexual battery injures the sexual organs of, a person less than 12 years of age commits a capital felony. This means that someone accused of this crime could serve a life sentence or even worse possible outcomes. The harsh reality is that there are many who have served sentences like these and have been innocent or have been professionally or socially ruined in the community.

Attorneys have an ethical duty to the community to make sure that only meritorious claims are brought before the court, and similarly, only meritorious criminal charges with reasonable basis that might lead a person to find guilt should be filed; if the evidence is insufficient, the charges should be dropped, as was properly done in this case. Unfortunately, proper procedure is not always followed, leaving meritless criminal charges being filed against accused parties who have been violated by a flawed system.

In many cases, even if the charge that was wrongfully brought and subsequently dropped, the damage is sometimes irreversible. Average citizens who have had their lives in order and happen to be accused of a crime they did not commit, especially one related to sexual battery, can cause one to lose one’s job, friends, family, and every sense of peace and security one has in one’s life, regardless of whether one is found to be innocent or not.

Countless innocent people are subjected to treatment such as this every day within the legal system, and need the best representation possible in their case. One in a situation such as this should obtain an experienced Jacksonville sexual battery crimes defense attorney to fight for one’s case and ensure one’s rights and defenses are known and protected.

Continue reading " Jacksonville Man Set Free After Child Sexual Battery Charges Dropped " »

Jacksonville’s citizens do commit crimes that are heinous, and when those crimes are so atrocious as to warrant a harsh punishment, one will receive such a fair punishment. However, that fair punishment is not always so fair, leaving the accused suffering far worse than one ever deserved. If one has been in a situation such as this, one should obtain an experienced attorney to fight for one’s case and ensure one’s rights are protected.

According to the Florida Times Union, Keith Anthony Brown has been sentenced to 100 years in prison for the rape of a 12-year-old girl. The conviction came after Brown was arrested in 2010 and was also convicted of multiple counts of sexual battery and lewd molestation. The sentence will force Brown to spend the rest of his life in prison.

Jacksonville sexual battery crimes typically involve an accused party who is felt by many to be a menace to society and unfit for the social situations that life forces people into. However, most of the people that are accused of sexual battery crimes would not actually commit those crimes again, or were caught in an awkward situation that they could not legally fight their way out of.

Many times in Jacksonville, the accused is not given a fair level of treatment similar to other accused parties, particularly when the accused party is supposedly involved in a sexual crime. Unfortunately for many accused parties is that when they enter the courtroom to face a sexual assault charge, they are already presumed by the court to be guilty.

Many times, an accused party in a sexual assault case will have supposed DNA evidence that proves that the accused did the crime in question. The State will attempt to sling whatever kind of evidence they can at one in order to say that one did the crime in question. However, if one has an experienced Jacksonville sex crimes defense attorney to fight for one’s case, one can ensure one’s rights and defenses are known and protected.

The State may attempt to punish someone simply because they believe that the person charged, no matter whether or not there is enough evidence to prove that that person committed the crime, committed the crime, and therefore deserves to be made an example of. This system is not fair nor just and is not one in which the accused individual needs to be subjected to.

If one obtains an experienced attorney to fight for one’s case, one can be sure that the evidence that is available will be used to show that one’s innocence is obvious and that one will not be subject to the legal abuse by the State. One cannot afford to take a chance with one’s defense, when one’s risk of going to jail for a long period of time could be lessened if not completely avoided.

Continue reading " Jacksonville Man Gets 100 Years For Sex Crime Conviction " »

Jacksonville’s young adults have many things that they think are fun, and unfortunately, they will do those things, legal or not, on a whim. Unfortunately for those who do such illegal activities, the cost can be tremendous. If one has been charged with one such criminal activity, one should obtain an experienced attorney to fight for one’s case and ensure one’s rights are protected.

According to the Florida Times-Union, Ronnie Joe Sneed, Jr. has been charged with reckless driving, resisting an officer, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license and having no vehicle registration. He was also wanted on an outstanding warrant on a battery charge from Marion County. His arrest came after he spilled his motorcycle in a high-speed pursuit with police. His passenger was thrown off the motorcycle but was unharmed.

Jacksonville traffic violations cases typically range from smaller offenses such as speeding tickets or reckless driving offenses. However, when those offenses are coupled with more serious driving offenses or outstanding warrants as in this case, the costs and punishments for those crimes can be severe. Furthermore, the penalties will probably be more severe if there are outstanding warrants in the mix.

Many times in Jacksonville, citizens have committed traffic crimes such as reckless driving, been ticketed, set a court date, and then failed to show up for court on the preset date. As unfortunate as it is, the Judge may put out a warrant for one’s arrest, particularly if the matter involved one’s bail hearing for any criminal matter. At that point, the court is making the accused a fugitive evading the law, as is in this case.

An outstanding warrant on someone involves a few possibilities that a Judge will take into account when making subsequent decisions regarding bail and leniency towards the accused. One Judge might look to the fact that an accused individual was on an outstanding warrant and see that the accused is simply another lawbreaker who needs punishment. However, if one knows one has an outstanding warrant and has the ability to turn one’s self in, the Judge may look favorably towards the accused and afford an easier time for the accused while in the system.

In this case, the accused ran away from police because he was probably aware that he was a fugitive and was not wanting to get caught by police. Even though it is the human instinct to run when faced by the possibility of one’s freedoms being stripped, when one is caught, one is caught. Furthermore, the police can only temporarily deprive one of one’s rights. However, one controls just how much the police and the legal system control the outcome.

One can either hope that the system is fair and treats one with the dignity of a citizen that is expected under the Constitution, or one can obtain an experienced Jacksonville traffic violations defense attorney to fight for one’s case and ensure one’s rights and defenses are known and protected. One should not have to face an army of difficult legal problems alone. One needs an experienced attorney.

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Jacksonville’s citizens have heated moments in time when they overreact and attempt to do things that are not reasonable. However, some of those decisions can be based upon a sense of fear of the consequences of what might happen should they not retaliate. If one has been in a situation like this and is facing a criminal charge, one should obtain an experienced attorney to fight for one’s case and ensure one’s rights are protected.

According to the Florida Times-Union, Nicholas David Ortiz has been charged with attempted murder, shooting into a public establishment and battery and Daniel Leon has been charged with principal in the first degree in a nighttime shooting at Park Place Pub in Jacksonville. The charges came after Ortiz and Leon allegedly left the establishment after heated debate and fire shots at the bar while driving away.

Jacksonville felony violent crimes cases normally involve an actor who has done some act that constitutes a danger to not just himself but to everyone else around him. However, the reason behind the action is sometimes not looked into nearly as well as it should be to determine what actually caused the accused to do that action, and whether that action was against his or her will.

Many times, the State will assume that an accused party committed whatever crime they committed on their own volition without any prior coaxing or coercing, either passive or active. However, many modern crimes are being pushed by an economic duress that is causing people to react violently in their work, either legal or illegal.

Unfortunately for the accused, many times, the violent crime, particularly one involving a shooting, is motivated by other illegal activity. This does not excuse the first illegal activity; however, the fact that because of duress, a violent felony was committed, this may be seen as something to lessen the amount of time one might serve or serve to show that one would not have committed the crime but for the duress.

This defense is clearly seen in the following example: A poor man is stealing food to feed his family. It is a down economy and in order to ensure that his family is fed, he removes other people from the playing field of stealing food, violently. This individual did not want to harm his competition but wanted to ensure his family was fed, and was willing to do so at all costs.

Many times, individuals commit violent crimes that they do not have either the right mind for or they feel they have no choice but to commit. However, when one has been charged with committing that crime, one has only one choice that one should feel they have to make. One should obtain an experienced Jacksonville felony violent crimes defense attorney to fight for one’s case and ensure one’s rights and defenses are known and protected.

Continue reading " Arrests Made In Nighttime Jacksonville Bar Shooting " »

Jacksonville’s citizens sometimes get angry and do things that are irrational and that, if accomplished, will lead to physical harm of another or possible death of another. No matter what the circumstance, those actions have the consequences of legal action; one in a situation like this should obtain an experienced attorney to fight for one’s case and ensure one’s rights are protected.

According to the Florida Times-Union, Jay Lemuel Donnel Kennedy has been convicted of attempted first-degree murder after allegedly slashing his wife's face at a Jacksonville salon, trying to cut her throat. The conviction came after Kennedy came to Jacksonville from Georgia with the intent of killing his wife at a flea market hair salon. Kennedy faces life in prison because he is a habitual offender.

Jacksonville felony violent crimes cases typically are crimes of passion or crimes that are much more based on the mindset of the accused committing the crime. Many times, violent crimes of this nature are crimes that seen as cold and methodical; however, many times, the accused has simply lost all control for a brief moment. Unfortunately for the accused in a prosecution like this, a crazed individual is not the image that a jury will see nor here, many times.

Many times in a case such as this, one’s mental state at the time that the crime was allegedly committed can be the key to winning one’s case. Many times prosecutors will try to paint a picture of a defendant who planned for a long period of time an act that probably only took five seconds to think up and was probably based on an irrational thought that caused the accused to lose control.

Unfortunately for many accused people in our broken legal system, the State prosecutor does more than just attempt to show that the defendant committed the crime in question, but attempts to show that the accused is a menace to society that should not be able to walk the streets ever again. For many, the system makes a victim of the accused party, leaving a broken individual having to pick up the pieces from a legal invasion.

The legal system is not just meant to protect those who have been wronged by those people who have committed bad acts. The legal system and the Constitution’s primary purpose is to protect the due process of law and make sure that the accused in a criminal prosecution has rights and that that those rights are duly protected in order to ensure fairness and justice. Those rights are not protected when the accused is made to suffer at the hands of a State attorney who wants their own personal revenge on the accused.

One has but few options when being attacked by the possibility of a criminal prosecution.
One can give in to the taunting and hassling of the State, or one can obtain an experienced Jacksonville felony-violent crimes defense attorney to fight for one’s case and ensure one’s rights and defenses are known and protected. If one obtains an experienced attorney, one will be able to ensure that one will not be made a victim of the State and that one will have all of one’s rights protected.

Continue reading " Man Convicted of Slashing Wife’s Face at Jacksonville Salon Club " »

Jacksonville’s citizens have interesting involvements in many different activities, from clubs and organizations, to hobbies and crafts. Unfortunately for some though, one’s hobby may be use of a controlled substance and one’s organization may be a drug ring. If one has been charged with a crime such as this, one should obtain an experienced attorney to fight for one’s case and ensure one’s rights are protected.

According to the Florida Times-Union, James Lamark Early of St. Augustine has been indicted for conspiring to manufacture and distribute more than 280 grams of crack cocaine, maintaining a drug-involved premise and multiple distributions of crack cocaine. His charges came after the man allegedly ran a drug house where he sold the crack. If convicted on all counts, the man will serve a minimum life sentence because of prior drug convictions.

Jacksonville drug crimes typically involve an individual who is dealing drugs in small amounts to friends or neighbors. Most of the time, those kinds of operations are not too complicated. However, when drug houses become the path of choice, the possibility of getting caught goes considerably up as well as the amount of time one might have to serve should they face a charge such as this. Many times, it proves better to never start the habit than to reap whatever small reward one might see, and still reap all of the consequences.

Many times, the accused in a criminal prosecution can be abused at times and sometimes made a victim because of a state or federal prosecutor’s overzealous attempt to inflict as much chaos into the life of the accused as possible. Many times, the accused is mentally tortured by the highly intimidating court theatrics that a prosecutor might put on, claiming that the accused is a menace to society and should be locked away for longer than any person should ever have to spend in jail, particularly for non-violent offenses such as drug charges.

For many, the thought of having to undergo the long, tiresome and costly court proceedings, including a trial, many will be more prone to fold under and accept a plea deal from a prosecutor that does not care about the best interests of the accused. When one see’s a flashy attorney throwing around legal terms and accusing someone of an offense that may not even be what they have done, one’s morale and ability to fight may be severely diminished.

Fortunately for the accused, one does not have to fight the battle for one’s freedom alone. If one obtains an experienced Jacksonville drug crimes defense attorney to fight for one’s case and ensure one’s rights are protected, one can be sure that one will know one’s rights, know what the prosecution is trying to spin one to be, and be able to fight for one’s innocence. One should not have to go to jail for a long period of time when one can get an experienced attorney to fix the problem before it becomes one.

Continue reading " Jacksonville Area Man May Face Life-Sentence For Drug Charges " »

Jacksonville’s citizens have many different characteristics that separate them from others, making them their own individual. Unfortunately, it is the common characteristics that plague our citizens when the individual being sought after for a crime looks very similar to many people. If one has been in a situation such as this, one should obtain an experienced attorney to fight for one’s case and ensure one’s rights are protected.

According to the Florida Times-Union, Jacksonville Police are looking for a man believed to be in his mid- to late-20s following an armed attempted sexual assault on a woman. The crime allegedly occurred after the suspect took the victim into an abandoned house and attempted to perform a sexual attack on her with a gun. The victim was able to escape the suspect, and was able to provide enough detail of the suspect for a composite sketch made for police search purposes.

Jacksonville sexual assault cases typically involve the accused being portrayed as a scary attacker who severely overpowered the victim and caused them both physical and mental harm. However, the legal system mistakenly forgets the harm caused to accused from a misidentification of an attacker, particularly one accused of a crime such as sexual assault.

Jacksonville police use many means of identification of suspects whom the police are searching for, including eye witness testimony, victim testimony, license plate numbers and any other evidence that might possibly be used for finding the suspect. However, many of these methods use to find suspects end up in the wrong person being found an accused of the crime.

Eye Witness testimony is one of the widely used means of identification and search by the police. The use of eye-witnesses can help in proper apprehension of the guilty; however, eye-witnesses are not typically within a reasonable distance of the crime in order to positively identify as a suspect as the suspect. Therefore, eye-witness identification can be detrimental to the accused’s case.

Furthermore, the police will attempt to use victim testimony and identification. However tragic, many times, the victim’s testimony and description of the victim’s attacker may be different than actuality because the traumatic effect of the attack will cause memory loss that might affect the recollection of the attacker’s face or other identifying features.

Many times, the accused is really a victim of a false accusation because of poorly obtained or seen eye-witness testimony that causes one to look the guilty party being sought after. If one has been in a situation such as this, one should obtain an experienced Jacksonville sex crimes defense attorney to fight for one’s case and ensure one’s rights are protected. One should not risk going to jail or even going through legal proceedings that will put an undue burden on one when one can obtain an experienced attorney to fight for one’s cause.

Continue reading " Jacksonville Police Search For Sexual Assault Suspect Based On Composite Sketch " »

Jacksonville’s citizens have an extreme amount of stress going on in their daily lives, so much so that many of those people turn to drugs. Unfortunately for those people, the State will not take pity on a someone with an addiction and try to get them help, but rather attack them with an extreme punishment for the crime. If one has been involved in a situation such as this, one should obtain an experienced attorney to fight for one’s case and ensure one’s rights are protected.

According to Florida Times-Union, Rachel Marie Tavares, 36, no address; Thomas Lipton Robinson III, 37, of Crookshank Drive; and Karla Diane Cheshire, 32, of Palmer Street, have been arrested with production of methamphetamine in St. John’s County. Their arrests came after their local CVS pharmacy called the police after the three came into the store attempting to buy medications containing pseudoephedrine, used for the production of methamphetamine. The police tailed the van they used and found a meth lab in it.

Jacksonville drug crimes that rise to the level of production of the drug in question typically involve some form of addiction on the part of the person creating the drug. Most people who are involved in production of a drug such as methamphetamine, marijuana, or other drugs have an issue with their own consumption that makes them more susceptible to addiction, thus adding to the increase in amount that person will be in possession with and eventually will produce.

Many times in Jacksonville, the person accused of possession of enough of a substance to be considered a dealer or a person that is accused of production of that drug is participating at this rate because that person is merely trying to support their habit. Unfortunately, the point of no return has already passed to get out of the drug trade, for many, once one has hit one’s peak in their addiction. One becomes stuck in a never-ending story of drug usage and sales.

When the police arrest someone involved in such a drug trade, one has two options for one’s future. One can either obtain an experienced Jacksonville drug crimes defense attorney to fight for one’s case and ensure one’s rights and defenses are known and protected, or one can hope that the State will never attempt to lock one away in a dark prison for a long time instead of trying to have one’s options and punishment more proactive and helpful for one’s rehabilitation.

In many cases, if one’s experienced attorney is able to show the court that one’s drug usage, sales, and creation of the drug exists in such high amount because of one’s insurmountable drug addiction, one can be shown to need a proactive rehabilitation effort that will be vastly more beneficial than a hard prison sentence that will simply make one’s drug problem worse.

Continue reading " Three Charged in Meth-Lab Crackdown In St. John’s County " »

Jacksonville’s hunters have a love for a sport that goes beyond just an end-of-line goal. Hunters love the thrill of the hunt. However, what they do not love is when they are charged because of accidental gunfire that causes the death or serious harm of another. If one has been in a situation such as this, one should obtain an experienced attorney to fight for one’s case and ensure one’s rights are protected.

According to the Florida Times-Union, Steve Egan shot his girlfriend in the upper part of her legs with a .30 caliber rifle at a hunting camp in Flagler County. The gunshot was said to occur after Egan shot a what he thought was a wild pig, and then shot again, not even realizing his girlfriend was in the line of fire. His girlfriend, Lisa Simmons, has been listed in serious condition.

Jacksonville gun crimes typically involve some sort of intent or negligence on the part of the accused in harming the victim. This could be from an accidental firing of a gun or from an intentional want to kill. Either way, when the charges are filed, the State will attempt to show the worst in a person and show that that person they are describing is a person deserving of a harsh punishment. This is a scary thought for an accused person, because they realize the State is charging at them with everything the State has.

Many times, the State will take an obvious accident case and twist it into “an intent to kill” case. Unfortunately for the accused in a case such as this, one will be described as someone who wanted someone dead and tried to do make sure that want became reality. As bad as this sounds, the State will dive into the very fiber of one’s life and try to dig up as much dirt on one in order to establish a motive to commit the crime in question.

The first thing that will happen when the police come to question one after an accidental accident is attempt one to make statements that would lead to a cause for further investigation. From there, evidence becomes combined here and there, and before long, one has a picture of an intentional commission of a crime against oneself, with little hope of fighting it.

One in a situation such as this has few options. One can either go along with the State as they lead one down the path to one’s prison time for a crime that had no intent behind it, or one can go to obtain an experienced Jacksonville gun crimes defense attorney to fight for one’s case and ensure one’s rights are protected. With the help of one’s experienced attorney, one can be sure that one’s statements cannot and will not be able to be used against one’s self for prosecution. One’s words can lead to one’s demise, but one’s words can also lead to one’s victory.

Continue reading " Florida Man Shoots Girlfriend In Quest For Hog " »

Jacksonville’s legal process starts very quickly, leaving the slow to be eaten by the harsh process of the criminal system. However, if one follows a few simple steps towards a better future in one’s road ahead, one will stay away from being mauled by an overly-aggressive process who is abusing the system. One in this situation should obtain an experienced attorney to fight for one’s case and ensure one’s rights are protected.

According to the Florida Times-Union, George Zimmerman has been released on $150,000 bail in Seminole County. Zimmerman was originally arrested for his involvement in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman allegedly killed Martin in self-defense, and as a result, is pleading the controversial defense of the stand your ground law, which will see some rocky roads ahead.

Jacksonville felony violent crimes may vary in type of harm as well as venue, but when the person accused of such a crime begins first steps into the criminal system, the crime becomes very similar in process, and thus is very important no matter what offense one is charged with. If one knows one’s options and allows for consideration of all options, one’s choice will be the best and most well laid plan for a better future free from the criminal justice system.

Many times in Jacksonville, the accused is scared of the thought of being in jail and just wants to go back home. Some of these people immediately make bail and run as far away from the legal system as possible. This may seem like the best idea at the time; however, the consequences of the action after it has been done can sometimes be hard to take back. In a situation like this, running away after posting bail can be the worst mistake in a case.

Sometimes, depending on the circumstances surrounding the case, one’s attorney can have one released on one’s own recognizance. Being released on one’s own recognizance means that the court will release one without imposing bail costs for release, on the promise that one will appear to all court proceedings one is involved in, and that one will cooperate with the court.

In this case, Zimmerman’s attorney as well as opposing counsel and the judge had to assess whether to first allow Zimmerman to leave police custody, as he might be a flight risk, and furthermore, the amount of money that would be reasonable for Zimmerman to be released. However, in many situations, it might be a safer idea to rest easier in jail knowing that one has at least some manner of police protection, especially in a high-profile crime such as this.

Many times, the minute one’s bail is set, one rushes to the bail bondsman’s office to be released from police custody, as any smart individual would. However, one should not hesitate on the next and most crucial step to a proper defense. One should obtain an experienced Jacksonville felony violent crimes defense attorney to fight for one’s case and ensure one’s rights are protected.

Continue reading " George Zimmerman Released On Bail In Florida Murder Case " »