Jacksonville Criminal Attorney Blog

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has released its 2008 crime report. The numbers in the report show crime in Fernandina has gone down and Nassau County as a whole has shown an increase in certain crimes.

The numbers of arrests and crimes committed in 2008 are:

Nassau County

Grand Theft Auto - 60 (down 20 from 2007)

Theft - 624 (up 82 from 2007)

Burglary - 259 (down 22 from 2007)

Aggravated Assault - 372 (down 28 from 2007)

Robbery - 18 (up 4 from 2007)

Rape - 2 (down 6 from last year)

Homicide - 1 (same)

Fernandina

Grand Theft Auto - 4 (down 14 from last year)

Theft - 165 (down 5 from last year)

Burglary - 37 (down 20 from 2007)

Aggravated Assault - 15 (down 5 from 2007)

Robbery - 10 (up 3 from last year)

Rape - 0 (down 5 from last year)

Homicide - 0 (same)

If you have questions about criminal charges in Nassau County / Fernandina Beach / Amelia Island, call our Nassau County Criminal Defense Attorneys at (904) 634-0900.

Posted by Mussallem & Forbess | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Criminal Topics in the News

Bookmark:

With crime increasing in Jacksonville, everyone is searching for solutions. One possible program to reduce the crime rate is "All Pro Dads". This program is focused on bringing fathers who have been gone from their children's lives back.

"All Pro Dads" holds events where activities include meeting football players, raffles, interactive sports, etc. The goal is to facilitate communication between fathers and their children.

Posted by Mussallem & Forbess | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Criminal Topics in the News

Bookmark:

No Contest - A criminal defendant's plea that the defendant will not contest the charge. When a criminal suspect enters this plea, he or she is not admitting guilt.

Nolle Prosequi - Literally means "not to wish to prosecute". It is legal notice that the criminal charges have been dropped. The criminal charges have been dismissed.

Notice of Appearance - A criminal defense lawyer's written notice filed with the court announcing on the record that he or she is representing someone who has criminal charges against them.

Oath - A pledge by which a person swears to tell the truth.

Objection - A formal statement by criminal defense counsel that he or she protests something that has occurred in court and seeks a judge's ruling on the point.

Offender - A person who has committed a crime.

Offense - A violation of law.

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

Posted by Mussallem & Forbess | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Criminal Topics in the News

Bookmark:

This month, $4 million will go to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office to increase police presence in Jacksonville's most violent neighborhoods. The money will go to "Operation Safe Streets", which is JSO's attempt to reach out to the community while tracking violent criminals. Police are watching out for violent crimes and gun crimes.

Sheriff John Rutherford wants to add 225 new police officers over the next 5 years. The goal is to create more "community policing" in the areas of Jacksonville where the crime rate is the highest.

Posted by Mussallem & Forbess | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Criminal Topics in the News

Bookmark:

Recently, many states have changed their laws regarding the restoration of civil rights of felons. According to the Los Angeles Times, about 760,000 felons had their rights restored in the last 10 years. Advocacy groups claim that around 5.3 million citizens cannot vote because of their felony conviction.

The State of Florida has restored the voting rights of around 120,000 felons who had served their time. If you have been convicted of a felony and would like to restore your civil rights, visit the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida.

Posted by Mussallem & Forbess | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Criminal Topics in the News

Bookmark:

Alan Crotzer, a former Florida prison inmate, was pardoned this month because of DNA evidence. Crotzer was sentenced to prison for two rapes and a robbery. In addition to being released from the 25 years he spent in prison, he also received a $1.25 million award for the false conviction.

Along with being found innocent, Crotzer also got his prior conviction for selling pot in prison expunged from his record. The logic behind this decision was that if he wasn't wrongly incarcerated in the first place, he would not have received this charge.

Posted by Mussallem & Forbess | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Criminal Topics in the News

Bookmark:

On October 1st, it became a crime to change your caller ID information in Florida. If you change the name and number that appears on your caller ID, you could be charged with a first degree misdemeanor punishable for up to 1 year in jail.

Two companies have sued the State of Florida in federal court and claim the law violated first amendment free speech rights. TelTech and Wonderland Rentals sell a calling card that enables the caller to change the caller ID. The companies have around 50,000 clients.

If you have any questions about misdemeanor charges in Jacksonville, call our Jacksonville Criminal Attorneys at (904) 634-0900.

Posted by Mussallem & Forbess | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Criminal Topics in the News

Bookmark:

A new bill was introduced to the Jacksonville City Council to encourage companies doing business with the city and Jacksonville itself to hire people released from jail or prison. If the new law passes, the city can withhold payments if the companies do not provide the required monthly reports on how many ex-inmates were considered or hired by the contractor.

The ex-offender applicant must:

1. Qualify for the position sought.

2. Not pose a risk to co-workers.

3. Show they have been rehabilitated.

Posted by Mussallem & Forbess | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Criminal Topics in the News

Bookmark:

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has ended a 3 month investigation into a man accused and arrested for clearing and filling about 10 acres of wetlands. Thomas Bodie is charged with a third degree felony punishable for up to 5 years in prison.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has its own Division of Law Enforcement, which is the oldest in the state. The agency, with its 141 officers, is responsible for enforcing Florida's environmental regulations and laws. The Division suggests to be on the lookout for:

- Transportation Accidents
- Oil or Chemical Spills
- Trucks dumping into sewer drains
- People burying drums on any property

Posted by Mussallem & Forbess | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Criminal Topics in the News

Bookmark:

The sheriff of Clay County has expressed concern about Jacksonville increasing the number of police officers. The sheriff believed criminals may cross over the border into Clay.

Channel 4 News (News4Jax.com) reports that 6 Jacksonville men have been arrested for violent crimes in Clay County. Three men are charged with armed robbery with a deadly weapon and the other three are are charged with armed robbery.

Some of the men allegedly said they went to Clay County because they didn't want anyone to recognize them.

If you have any questions about Violent Criminal Charges in Jacksonville, call our Jacksonville Criminal Defense Attorneys at (904) 634-0900.

Posted by Mussallem & Forbess | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Criminal Topics in the News , Violent Crimes

Bookmark:

According to the Florida Department of Corrections, there is 98,192 current inmates in the Florida prison system. There are also more than 158,000 people on probation, which is regulated by corrections.

The largest number of people who are sentenced to prison are sent there for drug crimes. The inmates who complete some type of drug treatment while in prison are 13.5% less likely to return. Around one third of all released inmates return to a Florida prison within 3 years.

It costs the taxpayers of Florida $20,000 per inmate per year.

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

Posted by Mussallem & Forbess | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Criminal Topics in the News

Bookmark:

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement just released its Semi-Annual Crime Report. It provides a comprehensive look at the crime statistics of Florida counties from January-June 2008.

Here are some of their findings:

Duval County - Jacksonville Criminal Charges

- 49 Murders
- 133 Rapes
- 1495 Robberies
- 2513 Aggravated Assaults
- 5917 Burglaries
- 16200 Larcenies
- 2227 Grand Theft Autos

Clay County - Green Cove Springs Criminal Charges

- 3 Murders
- 44 Rapes
- 54 Robberies
- 381 Aggravated Assaults
- 655 Burglaries
- 1813 Larcenies
- 150 Grand Theft Autos

Nassau County Criminal Charges

- Murder
- 2 Rapes
- 18 Robberies
- 372 Aggravated Assault
- 259 Burglaries
- 624 Larcenies
- 60 Grand Theft Autos

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

Posted by Mussallem & Forbess | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Criminal Topics in the News

Bookmark:

The Jacksonville chapter of Crime Stoppers doesn't just use the telephone to gather information about crimes. First Coast Crime Stoppers now also uses emails and text messaging to receive tips about crimes. (web tipping and text tipping})

First Coast Crime Stoppers is a volunteer organization started in 2002. Their principle is "someone other than the criminal has information that can solve a crime."

Here are some statistics about Jacksonville Crime Stoppers thru September 2, 2008:

- 1206 arrests made
- 2086 cases cleared
- $346,500 rewards paid
- $416,205 worth of drugs seized

If you questions about a criminal matter, please call our Jacksonville Criminal Attorneys at (904) 634-0900.

Posted by Mussallem & Forbess | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Criminal Topics in the News

Bookmark:

With the increasing rate of crimes involving guns in Florida's cities, the Orlando Sentinel gathered records from Florida's biggest police agencies. Here are some of their findings:

- Over 60,000 guns were confiscated from Florida streets in the last 5 years.

- All of these firearms were involved in criminal charges or left at crime scenes.

- Orlando seized 1,160 firearms last year.

- The 9 mm pistol was the most popular, with 10,297 seized in the last 4 years.

- The number of 9 mm pistols confiscated has doubled in Jacksonville, Tampa, and Orlando in recent years.

If you have any questions about gun charges in Jacksonville, Clay County, or Nassau County, call our Jacksonville Gun Charges Attorneys at (904) 634-0900.

Posted by Mussallem & Forbess | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Criminal Topics in the News , Gun Crimes

Bookmark:

The Jacksonville Chapter of MAD DADS has a walk scheduled for October 18th. This canvassing of the northwest neighborhood is where a double shooting occurred recently. One man was shot 7 times and the other was hit in the legs. No suspects have been found by JSO.

MAD DADS, Men Against Destruction Defending Against Drugs and Social Disorder, is a group of Jacksonville men and women who coordinate anti-drug and anti-violence events in the Duval County area. The also develop community improvement projects to reduce drug abuse and violence in our city. The main goal is to regain control of our community youth, neighborhoods, and families.

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

Posted by Mussallem & Forbess | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Criminal Topics in the News

Bookmark:

The University of Florida Medical Plaza on the Emerson Expressway was the victim of $42,000.00 of theft. Fourteen air condition units were stolen from the Jacksonville medical complex.

Many times, the thieves are destroying the air units to get to the copper. They can sell the copper for a good amount of money at metal scrap yards. If the suspects are found, they could face charges of Grand Theft and if they sell the parts, Dealing in Stolen Property.

Grand Theft can be charged if the item(s) stolen are valued at $300.00 or more. This criminal charge is a third degree felony punishable for up to 5 years in prison.

You can be charged with Dealing in Stolen Property if you sold or bought an item you knew or should have known was stolen. This charge is a second degree felony and is punishable for up to 15 years in prison.

If you have any questions about theft charges in Jacksonville, call our Jacksonville Theft Attorneys at (904) 634-0900.

Posted by Mussallem & Forbess | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Criminal Topics in the News , Theft

Bookmark:

As of October 1, 2008, it is a third degree felony to smuggle a cellphone into Florida's prisons. If convicted, you could receive up to 5 years in prison and a $5000.00 fine. The Florida law also prohibits possession of beepers, radios, or PDA's.

The Florida Department of Corrections is training dogs to detect cellphones in the inmates' cells. Prison officials believe an inmate having a cell phone will lead to escape plans being formed, drug deals being planned, and harassment of victims. Florida is the 3rd largest state prison system in the United States.

Posted by Mussallem & Forbess | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Criminal Topics in the News

Bookmark:

Last year, over 14,000 Jacksonville students in Duval County public schools skipped more than 20 days of class according to the Florida Times Union at Jacksonville.com. Of that number,

- 53% were boys
- 47% were girls
- 48% were African American
- 38 % were White
- 7% were Hispanic

When children are not in school, they are more likely to commit crimes and this is a major concern for the Jacksonville Journey. According to Jacksonville united Against Truancy, 44% of juvenile violent crimes are committed during school and 75% of the inmates in jail were truants at one time.

If you have any questions about juvenile criminal charges in Jacksonville, call our Jacksonville Juvenile Attorneys at (904) 634-0900.

Posted by Mussallem & Forbess | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Criminal Topics in the News , Juvenile

Bookmark:

Jacksonville resident, Chris Watkins, was arrested for the armed robbery of the Super 8 Motel on International Speedway in Volusia County. Police say he was carrying a gun and wore a mask while demanding cash from the front register.

To be convicted of Armed Robbery in Florida, the state attorney has to prove that the man took money with the intent to permanently keep it and in the course of taking the money, put the clerk of the hotel in fear of force, violence, or assault. Of course, they must also prove he used a gun during the robbery.

Armed Robbery is a first degree felony punishable for up to life in prison.

If you have any questions about robbery charges in Jacksonville, call our Jacksonville Robbery Attorneys at (904) 634-0900.

Posted by Mussallem & Forbess | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Criminal Topics in the News , Robbery

Bookmark:

Jacksonville resident, Billy Woods, was approached in his home by a man in full fire marshal uniform driving a white car with the Jacksonville Fire Department's logo. The man requested to search Woods' house and "inspected" his home for 10 minutes.

The Jacksonville Fire Department will come out and inspect your house if you request it, but Woods never put in such a request. Woods has reported the incident to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. Impersonating a fire marshal is against both Florida law and Federal law.