In 2002 actor Bill Cosby met Andrea Constand at his alma mater, Temple University in Philadelphia, where she was on the staff of the women’s basketball team. Later, in the beginning of 2004, Cosby invited Constand to his home to discuss her career options. While she was there, Cosby gave…
On May 10, 2017 United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued a Memorandum to all federal prosecutors titled Department Charging and Sentencing Policy. The new policy requires federal prosecutors to charge and pursue the most serious, readily provable offenses, i.e., those that carry the longest guidelines sentence, including mandatory minimum…
Together with Arizona and South Carolina, Florida is considered to have some of the more strict DUI laws in the country. Soon, however, Utah will be the undisputed king of strict DUI laws in the nation. Currently, all states require a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or greater for someone…
Capable criminal defense lawyers know there are two major avenues for defending drug possession cases. The first is to pursue traditional defenses such as investigating search and seizure issues, warrant issues, actual versus constructive possession issues and other similar traditional defenses. The second major avenue, and one unfortunately oftentimes overlooked,…
Cesar Gonzales-Mugaburu , a 60 year old foster father who had previously opened his home to scores of disabled children, was acquitted yesterday in a New York Supreme Court of endangering or sexually abusing several boys while they were in his care. The verdict followed a five week trial during…
You meet a woman on an internet dating site or through a dating app such as Tinder. You subsequently end up having what you understood to be consensual sex. Later, however, the woman calls you complaining you forced her into having sex with you or otherwise contends the sex was…
I’ve had numerous inquiries about registration requirements for those convicted of felonies within the State of Florida. Many folks, and apparently even some lawyers, believe the registration requirements only apply to those convicted of sex offenses. That is incorrect. Thus, while it is commonly known that certain sexual offenders or…
A Polk County teacher was arrested this month for showing pornography to students in his classroom. My review of the facts indicates that as is typical in many criminal matters, there are potential defenses available to the teacher that potentially could absolve him, or at a minimum, mitigate the severity…
A little over two years ago, the first of many arrests were made in connection with automobile insurance fraud schemes here in Jacksonville. The schemes involved “staged”, or prearranged, accidents at low speeds to create realistic accident scenarios. The driving participants would then seek medical treatment at select clinics established…
This week the Times-Union reported on a couple who were arrested for allegedly abusing their 7-week old daughter only to be later exonerated. The story is a great example of why we shouldn’t jump to conclusions when such allegations initially are made. Rather, we should wait for all the evidence…