If you have been arrested in St. Petersburg on an extradition warrant from another state, Florida law gives you the right to a hearing in which you can fight the extradition. Goldman Wetzel can help. Our defense attorneys will aggressively defend your rights and...
Crack cocaine, or crack, is a free base form of cocaine that is highly addictive. While chemically similar to cocaine, crack has a different formulation and results in a different effect or “high.” Many states have stiffer penalties for crack possession than for...
Synthetic drugs have become quite popular in Florida in the past few years. Two of the most common are alpha-pyrrolidinovalerophenone (PVP), and methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV). PVP goes by the street name “flakka;” MDPV goes by “bath salts.” Both drugs cause...
In drug cases, judges usually sentence a convicted felon to certain punishments based on the Florida’s Criminal Punishment Code. Penalties are contingent upon the severity of the crime, which schedule the drug belongs to, the amount in question, the defendant’s...
Yes, if you were arrested but not charged, it will appear on your criminal record. Having any mars on your record — even arrests for crimes you did not commit — can pose a hurdle for you. You might want to consider having your records expunged or sealed, if possible....
The double jeopardy clause, provided in both federal and state statutes, protects defendants from being punished twice for the same crime. It is a constitutional right. Used in appropriate cases, double jeopardy can be an effective procedural defense. If you are being...
The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects people from unreasonable searches by law enforcement. Whether police obtained evidence via an illegal search and seizure are one of the most important considerations in any criminal case. When police officers...
In a 2013 decision, the Florida Supreme Court ruled that police need to obtain a warrant to search a cell phone. Any evidence the investigators obtain from a suspect’s cell phone without a warrant, such as videos and text messages, may be inadmissible. The courts may...
Having a criminal record can significantly damage a person’s future. Unless the record has been sealed or expunged, convicts might have issues in their daily lives, including when trying to rent an apartment or find a job as well as going to school, since a criminal...
Date rape is a common variation of sexual battery and is a serious felony offense. Date rape charges can completely change the direction of your life. If convicted, you can face imprisonment, fines, loss of privileges, and a lifetime label of a sex offender. Date rape...