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...
Phencyclidine, also known as PCP, Angel Dust, Tic Tac, or Crystal, is a Schedule II drug [under Florida Statute § 893.03] that causes amnesia, numbness, hallucinations, and sight distortions. Because of PCP’s high potential for abuse, Florida law enforcement officers...
If you have an outstanding warrant or were arrested in Florida but live out of state, it is important to understand what your options are and how to proceed in such a way that, hopefully, means you will not need to return to the state to resolve your case. Our office...
There are three types of sobriety tests law enforcement officers may use when they pull someone over for suspected DUI, each of which we discuss in more detail below. If the driver performs poorly, the officer will likely require her to take a breathalyzer after the...
After the vote failed by a narrow margin in 2014, Amendment 2 passed on November 8 with 71 percent of Floridians voting for legalizing medical marijuana. The new law will take effect starting on January 3, 2017, but legislators are still writing the new regulations....
If you have a criminal case pending, it is a good idea to restrict or suspend your use of social media until your case is resolved. Investigators and prosecutors use evidence gleaned from social media all the time to charge, prosecute, locate, and convict people. And...
Unlawful sale, trafficking, or possession of flunitrazepam is a serious felony crime in Florida, punishable by imprisonment and substantial fines. Sold under the brand name Rohypnol (street name: roofies), flunitrazepam is a powerful sedative that doctors used to...
Florida's ongoing controversy over the death penalty is coming to a head with a new ruling from the Florida Supreme Court. On October 14, the state Supreme Court mandated new legislation to require a unanimous jury to sentence a defendant to death. What changes is the...