Operation SpiderWeb 2 was the name police authorities gave to an internet-based scheme to catch sex offenders attempting to solicit minors in Orange County, Florida. The sex sting led to the arrest of 31 Florida males who were lured to the arrest location by police drafted online posts offering “fun” with underage kids. The Orange County sheriff stated to...
Continue ReadingA controversial Florida law is currently being challenged before a federal appeals court. The state law aims to withhold benefits from welfare applicants who may be guilty of certain drug crimes by requiring that they purchase and pass a drug screening test before they may be granted food stamps, child care subsidies and other welfare benefits. The law is...
Continue ReadingThe criminal justice system is far from perfect. As a result, even when an innocent individual has mounted a convincing criminal defense, he or she still may be convicted. Thankfully, advances in DNA evidentiary analysis has made it possible for roughly 300 innocent individuals to be exonerated of their criminal convictions. Unfortunately, the devastation that wrongful convictions cause cannot...
Continue ReadingFour years ago, the Florida legislature passed a law designed to help those who had been wrongfully convicted of criminal charges. Though attorneys skilled in criminal defense law can often prevent wrongful convictions, the system is not perfect. The wrongful conviction compensation law was designed to right these wrongs in some small way. Unfortunately, only three individuals have received...
Continue ReadingOctober has been designated National Cyber Security Awareness Month. As a result, Florida officials are cracking down on cyber theft crimes, internet child pornography crimes and other electronically-based offenses. Florida is being targeted by both state and federal officials especially, due to the number of identity theft cases which have been reported to the Federal Trade Commission in recent...
Continue ReadingThe last patient still being hospitalized after being injured during the horrific Colorado movie theater shooting in July was finally discharged from the hospital earlier this week, according to a statement released by the University of Colorado Hospital. The patient, a comedian by profession, was one of the 58 people injured during the movie theater mass shooting that also...
Continue ReadingNeighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman made headlines after being involved in an altercation that left 17-year-old Trayvon Martin dead. The incident brought many issues to the forefront of our nation’s collective conscience, race relations, racial profiling and self defense – specifically Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law. Since the incident, Zimmerman has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder, he...
Continue ReadingAccording to a report by WFTV Eyewitness News, four out of 10 Florida drivers stopped by police for suspected drunk driving refuse breathalyzer tests. However, what these Florida motorists may not know is that simply refusing a breathalyzer can be a serious offense in Florida. Breathalyzer Refusal Rates in Florida Given the high rates of breath test refusal in Florida,...
Continue ReadingA Kissimmee man accused of lying about being robbed and assaulted during an attempted drug buy was recently taken into custody. The man told Osceola County Sheriff’s deputies that he had planned to meet with an unknown woman to make a drug deal. But when he went, the Kissimmee man said two men accosted him, taking his wallet and...
Continue ReadingIn a criminal trial, eyewitnesses can play a major role in whether the prosecution will obtain a conviction. Eyewitnesses, however, can sometimes prove to be unreliable, as shown by the recent Trayvon Martin case in Florida. When witnesses give inconsistent testimony, criminal defense for the accused can use these inconsistencies to discredit their testimony. For example, recently four witnesses...
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