Florida Criminal Defense Attorney Blog

Federal indictments have been handed down against 12 Tampa Bay men for stealing more than $1 million in cars, prescription drugs, lawn care equipment and construction equipment. The charges were levied in federal court as the accused men sold the prescription pills and other items across state lines in Alabama.

According to the Pasco County sheriff, the drugs the men are accused of stealing include methadone, morphine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, amphetamine and Viagara. The prescription drugs and painkillers were allegedly stolen from various pharmacies. The case against the 12 Tampa suspects began when the Pasco County sheriff himself pulled over two trucks for speeding coming out of the woods with lawn equipment in tow.

A Largo man was arrested by Pinellas County Sheriffs on charges of violation of probation, domestic aggravated assault, fleeing and being a felon in possession of a gun among other charges. Charlie McDuffy has served time for manslaughter and allegedly violated his probation stemming from that conviction when he shot at his father following an altercation.

McDuffy is on probation until January 2011 stemming from an incident in which he and a friend were charged with murder after beating and breaking the neck of Charles Carroll. McDuffy was only 14 at the time. He was found guilty of manslaughter and spent three years in prison. The incident with his father occurred back in February but he was arrested this week after a deputy located his car at the Rainbow Village housing complex.

Ellen Schmaling was arrested in Sarasota County for allegedly having sex with at least three underage, teenage boys. The 36-year-old has been arrested and charged with three felony counts of having sex with a minor and three misdemeanor counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor by supplying them with prescription drugs.

According to the Sarasota Herald Tribune, Schmaling met the alleged victims at a skate park located in Payne Park. Three boys have already told authorities that they have engaged in sex with the woman and also received money, gifts and prescription drugs from her. The crime was uncovered by the mother of a 15-year-old who found text messages from Schmaling that she felt were inappropriate.

A woman who allegedly stole a Chihuahua puppy from a litter in Holiday, Florida has been arrested and charged with grand theft. Kylea Lynn Jenness turned herself in after authorities were closing in on her for poaching the pooch. She was booked into Land O’Lakes jail and was being held without bail.

According to TampaBay.com Jenness stuffed one of the Chihuahua puppies into her shirt while two men who were with her distracted the woman who was selling the puppies. Jenness saw an ad for the puppies in a local newspaper. The owner had enough information about the trio to allow police to track down Jenness’ boyfriend via a social networking Internet site. Neither of the men with Jenness is expected to be charged for theft.

According to My Fox Tampa Bay, Tampa police have arrested the man they believe was responsible for attempting to run over a police officer and shooting two people outside of a local night club. Eugene Scurry has been charged with aggravated battery and aggravated battery on a law enforcement official. He is also facing charges of resisting arrest.

Scurry was arrested at Brandon Regional Hospital. The 27-year-old went to the hospital due to a gunshot wound to his arm. After causing a disturbance at the hospital, detectives arrived on the scene and recognized Scurry as the man wanted in the shootings outside Club Mirage. He was taken to the Hillsborough County jail following his release from the hospital.

Clearwater police have arrested a 48-year-old man, and charged him with kidnapping, sexual battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and failure to register as a sex offender. According to TBO.com Jackie Bridges is being held without bail in the Pinellas County Jail.

The arrest follows an incident on Monday where Bridges allegedly jumped into the car of a woman he knew and used a knife to force her to have sex with him. According to the alleged victim, this is not the first time Bridges has assaulted her. On January 8, Bridges allegedly punched and cut the same woman. She did not report the incident out of fear.

Continue reading "Man Held In Pinellas County Jail On Charges Of Sexual Battery, Kidnapping And Not Registering As A Sex Offender" »

Lance David Ziegler’s wife told her husband Wednesday that she was leaving him. Although it was a nice gesture to soften the news of their impending divorce with a home-cooked meatloaf, it turned out to be a big mistake. Ziegler allegedly used said meatloaf to assault his wife and was arrested in Manatee County on charges of domestic battery.

The 39-year-old web designer is alleged to have taken the meatloaf and smashed it into his wife’s face after she gave him the bad news. Zeigler denies this but when Manatee County Sheriff’s officers arrived on the scene the woman had red sauce on her face, although it was apparently just a small amount. Ziegler was denied bond.

Continue reading "Domestic Battery With A Meatloaf? Manatee County Man Arrested On That Very Charge!" »

Tampa Police arrested Antonio Lamar Brooks on charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon following a September 24th assault. According to TBO.com officers say Brooks was drinking beer with 42-year-old Rodney Thomas. The two got into an argument and Brooks allegedly slashed Thomas’ face with a utility knife.

Thomas needed more than 150 stitches resulting from the assault. Brooks sliced Thomas from his left eye to his chin while the pair were walking on 15th Avenue in Tampa. Brooks is now in jail and his bail has been set at $15,000.

Continue reading "Tampa Man Needs More Than 150 Stitches In His Face After Assault With a Utility Knife" »

An Ybor City nightclub with a history of violence on its premises added another ugly chapter to its legacy this past weekend when 21-year-old Stephen Kreilkamp was shot multiple times including twice in the chest according to police and as reported on TampaBay.com. Police have already arrested a suspect as 20-year-old Khakem Jones of Tampa has been charged with attempted second-degree murder and carrying a concealed weapon. Kreilkamp is in serious condition following the incident.

According to the story there have been at least three fatal attacks at Club Empire and numerous other incidents the last seven years. Two bouncers were shot in 2002, another patron was shot in 2005 and a man from Temple Terrace was fatally stabbed in 2006. Another man was shot to death after being kicked out of the club for a fight with his alleged murderer. The suspect in the shooting is a Hillsborough High grad with no criminal record. The victim has a long list of arrests including violation of probation, aggravated assault and theft charges.

Continue reading "Twenty-One Year Old Shot Multiple Times Outside Of Ybor City Nightclub" »

A make-up artist will be brought in to cover up offensive tattoos on the face and neck of a neo-Nazi on trial for murder in Pasco, Florida. The tattoos have been acquired in the time since John Allen Ditullio Jr.’s arrest for a stabbing that took place in 2006 that left a 17-year old dead. One tattoo is an expletive and another is a swastika that cannot be covered by a shirt collar.

Ditullio’s defense lawyer successfully argued that the tattoos may intimidate or influence the jury and way them away from the facts in the case. The neo-Nazi is on trial for first degree murder and attempted murder. His lawyer argued that it was no different than allowing a defendant to change out of his jailhouse clothes and into a suit for trial.

In today’s Sarasota Herald Tribune Nancy Goodman is described as having gone on a drunken rampage that resulted in her punching a police officer in the face. The 66-year-old woman was allegedly in her driveway screaming at people when North Port Police were called. When officer Scott Smith approached Goodman she apparently knocked a flashlight from his hand and punched him in the face.

Smith wrote in his arrest report he ‘escorted’ Goodman to the ground where she kicked at the officer. She then refused to walk to the police cruiser so he had to drag her to the car. She was charged with resisting arrest without violence and a felony count of battery on a law enforcement officer. She was taken to Sarasota County jail.

If you have been charged with a crime in Bradenton, Sarasota or Manatee County and are in need of aggressive legal representation, please do not hesitate to contact Criminal Defense Attorney Darren Finebloom at 1-800-FIGHT-IT (1-800-344-4848) or online at FightYourBattery.com to discuss the matter. Also you can contact Darren via email or by stopping in our Sarasota offices located at 200 N. Washington Blvd.

It is safe to say a Tampa bride never envisioned her wedding reception at the Rusty Pelican on Rocky Point ending in a brawl that involved a convicted felon showing up with a gun and a 74-year-old grandmother being chocked but according to TampaBay.com that is just what happened this past weekend. According to the story the trouble started at the end of the night when the groom started throwing dollar bills onto the dance floor as the kids at the wedding ran to pick up the money. That didn’t sit well with some of the guests as the wedding party became split into two sides.

As the two sides argued the confrontation turned physical and a fight started in the Rusty Pelican parking lot. Police were called at that point and one of the officers on the scene was assaulted as he tried to separate the wedding guests. Somehow the fight continued at a new location four miles away in the parking lot of a hotel. At this point police say convicted felon Malcolm Hepburn was called because his cousin was hit with a brick. Hepburn showed up at the parking lot with a stolen gun and approached the groom’s father and the grandmother. As the grandmother protested that the fighting stop she was grabbed from behind by a woman who reportedly said “I am going to choke you out” as she wrapped her hands around the women’s neck.

Officers arrived on the scene and placed Hepburn under arrest charging him with felony battery, grand theft of a firearm, carrying a concealed firearm and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The groom, who was out of prison for less than a month after serving time on cocaine charges, was not charged and he is now on a honeymoon cruise with his new bride.

If you have been charged with a crime in Tampa or Hillsborough County and need qualified legal representation, please do not hesitate to contact Tampa Criminal Defense Attorney Stephen Higgins at 1-800-FIGHT-IT (1-800-344-4848) to discuss the matter or visit our website FightYourCase.com. Also you can contact Stephen via email or by stopping in our Tampa office located at 3426 W. Kennedy Blvd.

What seemed like an innocent traffic stop for illegal tinted windows not only resulted in arrests for drugs and battery but it nearly erupted into a riot with nearly 100 bystanders. According to TBO.com the traffic stop left two officers and one suspect injured and three other suspects are still on the loose. The Polk County Sheriff’s office and the Florida Highway Patrol were both called in to help disperse a crowd of 75-100 people who gathered around during the arrests.

According to police reports once the car was stopped they witnessed a man in the driver’s seat eating marijuana. The officer attempted to arrest the man as a crowd gathered and began to shout profanities. A safety cadet with the officer was then punched by one of those who gathered around the cars. As the assault took place two men fled from the car in possession of marijuana. Police then used a stun gun to stop one of the suspects who was fighting with police but once again an on-looker interfered pulling the darts out of the suspect. One man was charged with possession and another with battery of a law enforcement officer.

If you have been charged with a crime in Tampa or Hillsborough County and need qualified legal representation, please do not hesitate to contact Tampa Criminal Defense Attorney Stephen Higgins at 1-800-FIGHT-IT (1-800-344-4848) to discuss the matter or visit our website FightYourCase.com. Also you can contact Stephen via email or by stopping in our Tampa office located at 3426 W. Kennedy Blvd.

A Tampa man who served two years in a Polk County jail for attempted sexual battery on a child is back in jail. Virticee Thompson was arrested early Monday morning after threatening to kill his wife and himself as he swung a machete back and forth according to Tampa police.

The arrest report indicates that the couple had been married for five years and the victim’s teenage daughter was a witness to the assault as chronicled on TBO.com. Thompson was released from jail in July of 2003 but now he is back inside a cell being held without bail. The 38-year-old has been charged with violation of probation and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

If you have been charged with a crime in Tampa or Hillsborough County and need qualified legal representation, please do not hesitate to contact Tampa Criminal Defense Attorney Darren Finebloom at 1-800-FIGHT-IT (1-800-344-4848) to discuss the matter or visit our website FightYourCase.com. Also you can contact Darren via email or by stopping in our Tampa office located at 3426 W. Kennedy Blvd.

Early Saturday morning a 34-year-old man responded to a knock at the door of his Tampa motel room. At that point three men forced their way in and attacked the man demanding jewelry and money. According to TBO.com the victim suffered serious injuries to his face and lesser injuries to his body.

The attack took place at the Hayes Motel on East Hillsborough Ave. The three men allegedly chocked and punched the victim. He was attacked with a metal pipe according to police reports. The victim was able to escape the hotel room and was chased by two of the three alleged assailants and attacked again. Police have arrested two men they believe were involved and are searching for a third. They were charged with aggravated battery and robbery-home invasion.

If you have been charged with a crime in Tampa or Hillsborough County and need qualified legal representation, please do not hesitate to contact Tampa Criminal Defense Attorney Darren Finebloom at 1-800-FIGHT-IT (1-800-344-4848) to discuss the matter or visit our website FightYourFelony.com. Also you can contact Darren via email or by stopping in our Tampa office located at 3426 W. Kennedy Blvd.

A few months ago Tampa Bay Buccaneer cornerback Aqib Talib was involved in an altercation in Pinellas County with a cab driver. Now the State Attorney has decided to charge the Buc with battery. The charge is simple battery and is a misdemeanor according to TBO.com. Talib was expected to be with the team Friday morning when they left to play the New England Patriots in London, England.

The incident that led to the charges took place on I-275 and Gandy after 11:00 p.m. when Talib and two of his teammates were taking the cab from a St. Petersburg nightclub to a Tampa hotel. The Buc corner was originally arrested on battery and resisting arrest charges. He will only face charges on the first-degree misdemeanor charge of battery though.

If you have been charged with a crime in Tampa or Hillsborough County and need qualified legal representation, please do not hesitate to contact Tampa Criminal Defense Attorney Darren Finebloom at 1-800-FIGHT-IT (1-800-344-4848) to discuss the matter or visit our website FightYourBattery.com. Also you can contact Darren via email or by stopping in our Tampa office located at 3426 W. Kennedy Blvd.

A visitor to USF campus is in jail following a bizarre incident early Friday morning according to police reports and a story on TampaBay.com. Coral Springs’ 18-year-old Daniel Boliek was arrested after a disturbing morning in USF’s Beta Hall dorms. Reports say that Boliek was discovered in a dorm room in his boxers at 6:00 a.m. feeling the face of a sleeping girl. He was spotted by the girl’s roommate and then Boliek ran out of the second-floor room.

Things just got weirder at that point as the 18-year-old took off his boxers and made a shooting motion with his fingers towards a female resident assistant. A campus officer tried to approach Boliek and got punched in the face. After which the officer sprayed him with pepper spray with no affect.

At this point Boliek began to fondle himself and ran out of the dorms where he was tackled by officers. He has been charged with a slew of crimes including battery on a law enforcement officer, disorderly conduct, burglary of an occupied dwelling with assault or battery, exposure of a sexual organ and battery on a university official.

If you have been charged with a crime in Tampa or Hillsborough County and need qualified legal representation, please do not hesitate to contact Tampa Criminal Defense Attorney Darren Finebloom at 1-800-FIGHT-IT (1-800-344-4848) to discuss the matter or visit our website FightYourCase.com. Also you can contact Darren via email or by stopping in our Tampa office located at 3426 W. Kennedy Blvd.

Julio Colon is a 29-year-old firefighter in Hillsborough County who was facing charges of exposing himself two times, once to a jogger and the second time in front of a 16-year-old girl. Things are getting even worse now as a female firefighter has come forward claiming Colon sexually harassed her as reported on TBO.com.

The female firefighter, who works at the station on N. Nebraska, did not file a complaint against Colon for the harassment in March but did come forward once the man was charged with exposing himself to two other women. Colon is accused of hoping out of his Chevy Impala naked after getting the attention of the two women who filed complaints.

If you have been charged with a crime in Tampa or Hillsborough County please do not hesitate to contact Tampa Criminal Defense Attorney Darren Finebloom at 1-800-FIGHT-IT (1-800-344-4848) to discuss the matter or visit our website FightYourCase.com. Also you can contact Darren via email or by stopping in our Tampa office located at 3426 W. Kennedy Blvd.

The same 2004 silver Mercedes was the vehicle of choice for two different men arrested in Pinellas County in a 21-hour span according to a story on TampaBay.com. The first arrest took place Sunday evening according to St. Petersburg Police. That driver, Terence Morgan, was charged with driving without a license and he was not the owner of the car. The next day the same officers reported seeing the same car, with a different driver. Just like the previous day the car was once again involved in several traffic infractions.

Officers pulled the car over for the second time but on this stop the driver of the car threw the Mercedes into reverse and rammed an occupied police cruiser. The driver then tried to get away from the police by driving through a backyard fence. His attempt was unsuccessful. Donnell Clark was Tasered twice and then arrested and charged with aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer among several other charges. Clark was not the owner of the Mercedes either.

If you have been charged with a crime in St. Petersburg or Pinellas County please do not hesitate to contact Criminal Defense Attorney Stephen Higgins at 1-800-FIGHT-IT (1-800-344-4848) to discuss the matter or visit our website FightYourPinellasArrest.com. Also you can contact Stephen via email or by stopping in our Clearwater office located at 4500 140th Ave. North #203.

Thomas Harris was arrested at his Tampa home Friday and charged with 40 counts of possessing child porn according to Hillsborough County Sheriffs and a story on TampaBay.com. Investigators, acting on a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, led to a raid on the man’s Bryan Road home.

Investigators reported finding images of children in Harris’ home that were pornographic in nature. Following his arrest, the East Tampa man complained of health problems and was taken to the hospital. After being cleared medically, Harris was charged and taken to jail in lieu of a $300,000 bond.

If you have been charged with a internet sex crime in Tampa or Hillsborough County please do not hesitate to contact Tampa Criminal Defense Attorney Stephen Higgins at 1-800-FIGHT-IT (1-800-344-4848) to discuss the matter or visit our website FightYourFelony.com. Also you can contact Stephen via email or by stopping in our Tampa office located at 3426 W. Kennedy Blvd.

A Bradenton Police officer was dispatched to investigate a complaint of loud music at 3:00 a.m. Friday morning. According to the Bradenton Herald’s website, the officer arrived on the scene to find Alberto Hernandez-Ortega sitting in a pick-up truck parked in a driveway and according to the officer the man was intoxicated. At that point the 39-year-old man was asked to sit on the tailgate of the truck while the officer went inside the house. At this point things got a bit ugly.

The police officer reported that as he went to enter the home, Hernandez-Ortega approached him. The officer told the man to go back to the truck. Hernandez-Ortega did not comply and walked up to the officer and slapped him. He was placed under arrest for resisting arrest without violence and battery on a law enforcement officer. He was booked into the Manatee County Jail.

If you have been charged with a crime in Sarasota or Manatee County, please do not hesitate to contact a qualified Criminal Defense Attorney. Call Sarasota Defense Lawyer Darren Finebloom at 1-800-FIGHT-IT (1-800-344-4848) or online at FightYourCase.com to discuss the matter. Also you can contact Darren via email or by stopping in our Sarasota office located at 200 N Washington Blvd.

Shannon Wiggins, a 35-yar-old Tampa man, died early Wednesday morning when he fled from police who were following him due to his suspicious driving. According to a story on TampaBay.com Wiggins ran a red light at Armenia Avenue and then hit two cars before running into a light pole. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Wiggins led police officers all over Tampa after running a stop sign and refusing to pull over. The 35-year-old drove to the Tampa International Airport, got on the interstate, got off on Spruce Street and headed towards Cypress. At West Shore Blvd. he saw a police car and took off once again. He ran a red light at Dale Mabry and nearly hit another police car with an officer who was unaware the man in the other car was fleeing.

According to records published on the St. Petersburg Times website, Wiggins had been arrested more than 20 times in Hillsborough County. Some of the charges filed against the Tampa man in the past included Marijuana possession, cocaine trafficking, reckless driving, domestic violence, driving without a license and leaving the scene of an accident.

If you have been charged with a crime in Tampa or Hillsborough County please do not hesitate to contact Tampa Criminal Defense Attorney Darren Finebloom at 1-800-FIGHT-IT (1-800-344-4848) to discuss the matter or visit our website FightYourCase.com. Also you can contact Darren via email or by stopping in our Tampa office located at 3426 W. Kennedy Blvd.

A Tampa Police Officer on foot patrol got a scare early Thursday morning during what seemed to be a routine traffic stop for speeding according to an article published on TBO.com. According to reports the officer observed a Pontiac driving about 15 M.P.H. over the posted speed limit. The officer noticed the windows of the vehicle were down and called for the driver to pull over. At that point 20-year-old Jovenson Emile is accused of attempting to hit a second officer with his car.

Emile was allegedly driving 40 M.P.H. in a 25 M.P.H. zone. At that point an officer attempted to have the 20-year-old pull over. Instead police reports say that Emile swerved his vehicle aggressively towards a second officer. He then took off running a stop sign and heading south on Oregon Avenue. Emile attempted to avoid police by hiding his car in a dark parking lot.He has been charged with aggravated assault on a Law Enforcement Officer.

If you have been involved in a traffic incident in Tampa that has led to your arrest and need qualified legal representation, please do not hesitate to contact Criminal Defense Attorney Stephen Higgins at 1-800-FIGHT-IT (1-800-344-4848) to discuss the matter or visit our website FightYourCase.com. Also you can contact Stephen via email or by stopping in our new Tampa office located at 3426 W. Kennedy Blvd.

A judge in California is allowing prosecutors to move forward with a charge of manslaughter against a man who is accused of killing a pedestrian due to being distracted while texting. An Associated Press story on the Bradenton Herald website reports that Martin Kuehl is facing manslaughter charges after he struck and killed an Orange County woman who was crossing at a crosswalk.

Kuehl is facing up to nine years in prison on the charges that his defense attorney tried to have reduced to a misdemeanor. The judge, while noting that the defendant was not texting at the exact time of the accident, he did have his cell phone in his hand and prior to the crash had been texting back-and-forth. He will now stand trial for gross vehicular manslaughter as the judge ruled the accident was caused by more than ordinary carelessness.

If you have been charged with a crime in Tampa and need qualified legal representation, please do not hesitate to contact Tampa Bay Criminal Defense Attorney Darren Finebloom at 1-800-FIGHT-IT (1-800-344-4848) to discuss the matter or visit our website FightYourCase.com. Also you can contact Darren via email or by stopping in our new Tampa office located at 3426 W. Kennedy Blvd.

Calvin Green, the spokesman for the Hillsborough County Courthouse, has been charged with possession of a controlled substance after he admitted to owning a bag of marijuana and a pipe according to police reports published on the St. Petersburg Times website. Police spotted the pot and paraphernalia at Green’s home while investigating a hit-and-run.

The discovery of the drugs came when an officer was doing a follow up investigation on a traffic crash and saw one of the cars, believed to belong to the suspect, in the driveway of the 56-year-old Green. The officer tried to get someone to answer the door at the house but when nobody did, he began walking around the Tampa home where he spotted the suspect asleep inside. It was at this time the officer apparently spotted a bag of marijuana and pipe. Upon a search of his home, officers found 19 grams of marijuana inside.

If you have been charged with a crime in Hillsborough County please do not hesitate to contact Tampa Criminal Defense Attorney Darren Finebloom at 1-800-FIGHT-IT (1-800-344-4848) to discuss the matter or visit our website fightyourcase.com. Also you can contact Darren via email or by stopping in our Tampa office located at 3426 W. Kennedy Blvd.

St. Petersburg Police are looking for 26-year-old Teico Atkins following an incident where he allegedly rammed his car into another vehicle that contained his ex-girlfriend and their three children. He is being charged with domestic battery and child abuse according to a story published on the St. Petersburg Times website.

According to police Atkins rammed his vehicle into the car of ex-girlfriend Sheneka Arnold. Inside the car were four children, three of whom were Atkins’. He then chased her car for several blocks before Arnold saw a police car and began to honk to get the officer’s attention. At that point Atkins fled the scene. Atkins has 21 prior arrests for various crimes including trafficking and fleeing and eluding.

If you have been charged with a crime in Pinellas County please do not hesitate to contact St. Petersburg Criminal Defense Attorney Stephen Higgins at 1-800-FIGHT-IT (1-800-344-4848) to discuss the matter or visit our website www.fightyourpinellasarrest.com. Also you can contact Stephen via email or by stopping in our Clearwater office located at 4500 140th Ave. North #203.

Army Reservist Patrick Doyle is being held at the Pinellas County Jail after being charged with domestic battery and felony attempted sexual battery. The 27-year-old is accused of hitting his girlfriend, throwing lit cigarettes at her and trying to force her to have sex according to a report published on the St. Petersburg Times website.

Police reports describe the violence beginning after Doyle’s girlfriend failed to bring him dinner when she returned from work. She told Pinellas sheriff’s deputies her boyfriend was drunk and he tried to force her to have sex. When she refused he became violent throwing a chair at her, hitting her and chasing her around their apartment. FDLE reports show that Doyle has been convicted on DUI charges twice since 2000.

If you have been charged with a crime in Pinellas County please do not hesitate to contact St. Petersburg Criminal Defense Attorney Stephen Higgins at 1-800-FIGHT-IT (1-800-344-4848) to discuss the matter or visit our website www.fightyourpinellasarrest.com. Also you can contact Stephen via email or by stopping in our Clearwater office located at 4500 140th Ave. North #203.

A burglary at the Honeysuckle Bar in Ybor City Thursday morning led to a police chase and the use of a helicopter to track down the alleged suspects. The police chase lasted 10-15 minutes according to a report on the Tampa Tribune’s website and took police through the Sulphur Springs and College Hill neighborhoods to the north of Ybor City.

The helicopter was used to track the fleeing car which followed the suspects to a house where a man and woman exited the car and then ran into the home. The report does say police then entered the house and arrested two men who surrendered peacefully. Whether the robbery suspects are two men or a man and a woman still remains to be seen as details emerge.

If you have been charged with a crime in Hillsborough County please do not hesitate to contact Tampa Criminal Defense Attorney Stephen Higgins at 1-800-FIGHT-IT (1-800-344-4848) to discuss the matter or visit our website www.fightyourcase.com. Also you can contact Stephen via email or by stopping in our Tampa office located at 3426 W. Kennedy Blvd.

For three days the Polk County Sheriff’s Office ran a sting called “Operation Hot Date” and their target was prostitutes and pimps who were using Craig’s List to set up meetings. The operation resulted in 28 prostitutes and four pimps being arrested. Those arrested came from Tampa, Pinellas, Orlando, West Palm Beach and Riverview. Undercover officers contacted the woman via Craig’s List and negotiated prices for sexual acts between $125 and $800 according to a story at www.tbo.com.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd put some of the blame squarely on the doorstep of California based Craig’s List for the problem and despite the lack of customers arrested, Judd said that may change shortly. He claimed to have the cell phones and contact books from the prostitutes arrested and their customers may be hearing from Polk County Sheriff’s shortly.

If you have been charged with a crime in Tampa and are in need of a qualified lawyer, please do not hesitate to contact Tampa Defense Attorney Stephen Higgins at 1-800-FIGHT-IT (1-800-344-4848) or online at fightyourcase.com to discuss the matter. Also you can contact Stephen via email or by stopping by our new Tampa office located at 3426 W. Kennedy Blvd.

A Tampa couple was shot early Sunday morning in what is being labeled a domestic dispute as the alleged shooter is the woman’s ex-boyfriend according to a story in today’s St. Petersburg Times. Eric Brewer has died from injuries suffered due to the gunshot while his girlfriend Shirley Sexton is in critical condition at Tampa General Hospital. The suspected shooter is William Privett who surrendered to his attorney who informed the Sheriff’s office.

The couple were sitting in a Chevy Blazer in Hillsborough County Sunday morning when Privett pulled up to them in his 2005 Dodge. He fired shots into the couple’s car and then fled the scene. He has been charged with first-degree murder. The article also reports that Privett has been charged before. In 2007 he was charged with assault with a deadly weapon.

If you have been charged with a crime in Tampaand are in need of a qualified lawyer, please do not hesitate to contact Tampa Defense Attorney Darren FInebloom at 1-800-FIGHT-IT or online at fightyourcase.com to discuss the matter. Also you can contact our lawyers via email or by stopping by our new Tampa office located at 3426 W. Kennedy Blvd.

Three St. Petersburg officers who were off duty at a Tampa Bay Rays game at Tropicana Field in May have been cleared of charges they used unnecessary force following a Taser incident with one unruly fan. The officers were cleared of any wrong-doing by the chain of command board.

The incident took place in section 141-145 of the Trop. Security personnel called the off duty officers to help them take Tyler Strangman into custody for fighting according to reports and a story published on the Tampa Tribune website. Strangman’s cousin Daniel Weightman became agitated about the way his cousin was being treated by stadium security. He was eventually escorted from his seat and allegedly threw an elbow at one of the officers. When Weightman was told to stop resisting he did not comply and was shocked.

Weightman was listed as a juvenile in the police report and his mother and other family, who were at the game as well, claimed the officers used excessive force on the teen, used profanity and that the officers were apparently celebrating the Taser incident back at the police station.

If you have been charged with a crime in Pinellas County, please do not hesitate to contact St. Petersburg Criminal Defense Attorney Darren Finebloom at 1-800-FIGHT-IT (1-800-344-4848) or online at fightyourpinellasarrest.com to discuss the matter. Also you can contact Darrenn via email or by stopping in our Clearwater office located at 4500 140th Ave. North #203.

Lindsey Sermon was supposed to be heading to court for a trial on charges of sexual battery and robbery this morning. Thanks to a DNA test that won’t be happening as Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney’s Office has dropped the charges against Sermon according to today’s Tampa Tribune. The Pinellas man was charged after being accused of raping a woman in October.

The case against Sermon was based on the accusations of a woman who had previously been convicted of making false allegations. It probably didn’t help that Sermon was an ex-con who was allegedly selling marijuana to his accuser. The Public Defender for Sermon fought the $700,000 bail and now has been successful in getting all the charges dropped.

If you have been charged with a felony in Pinellas County, please do not hesitate to contact St. Petersburg Criminal Defense Attorney David Haenel at 1-800-FIGHT-IT (1-800-344-4848) or online at fightyourpinellasarrest.com to discuss the matter. Also you can contact David via email or by stopping in our Clearwater office located at 1400 140th Ave. North #203

Lindsey Sermon was supposed to be heading to court for a trial on charges of sexual battery and robbery this morning. Thanks to a DNA test that won’t be happening as Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney’s Office has dropped the charges against Sermon according to today’s Tampa Tribune. The Pinellas man was charged after being accused of raping a woman in October.

The case against Sermon was based on the accusations of a woman who had previously been convicted of making false allegations. It probably didn’t help that Sermon was an ex-con who was allegedly selling marijuana to his accuser. The Public Defender for Sermon fought the $700,000 bail and now has been successful in getting all the charges dropped.

If you have been charged with a felony in Pinellas County, please do not hesitate to contact St. Petersburg Criminal Defense Attorney David Haenel at 1-800-FIGHT-IT (1-800-344-4848) or online at fightyourpinellasarrest.com to discuss the matter. Also you can contact David via email or by stopping in our Clearwater office located at 1400 140th Ave. North #203

Nathaniel Fine was pulled over by Collier County sheriff’s because he was driving a car that looked like an unmarked police cruiser according to a report in the Bradenton Herald. Police reports indicate the 20-year-old had a car outfitted with red lights in the back and a police scanner. Under Florida law, it is illegal to have a police scanner in a car unless the operator has a radio license or his job requires having a scanner in a car.

Upon pulling Fine over, sheriff’s deputies found an expandable baton inside the car and they later discovered marijuana as well. Fine was charged with possession of marijuana and possessing a radio scanner tuned to law enforcement frequencies.

If you have been arrested anywhere in Hillsborough County, please do not hesitate to contact Tampa Criminal Defense Attorney David Haenel at 1-800-FIGHT-IT to discuss the matter. Also you can contact David via email or by stopping in our Tampa office located at 3426 W. Kennedy Blvd.

You almost have to read this to believe it. Four people ended up in the hospital in Manatee County earlier this week following a failed drug buy where a teenager was robbed and he then called his father for help. That call led to a car chase and then a crash according to the Sarasota Herald Tribune.

The Florida Highway Patrol and Manatee Sheriff’s Office believe 18-year-old Donald Porter got into Michael Gesregan’s truck with the intent to buy drugs. Gesregan allegedly pulled a gun on the teen and robbed him. Porter called his father who chased after Gesregan’s car. The two cars collided leaving four people in need of medical treatment. Gesregan and his passenger were both believed to have ingested drugs while the younger Porter is accused of taking property off his father’s person following the crash.

If you have been charged with a crime in Sarasota or Manatee County, please do not hesitate to contact Sarasota Criminal Defense Attorney David Haenel at 1-800-FIGHT-IT (1-800-344-4848) or online at fightyourcase.com to discuss the matter. Also you can contact David via email or by stopping in our Sarasota office located at 200 N Washington Blvd.

Just as the Jordan Vasquez cases seems to be headed to a resolution that involves no jail time for the Tampa teen, the case of another teen who hit and killed someone with his car in Hernando County rages on. Andrew Morris, the 16-year-old was charged with third-degree murder and grand theft auto when he took his parent’s car without permission and crashed into a patrol car killing Captain Scott Bierwiler, was quoted in court documents printed in the St. Pete Times today.

Morris said he left his house that fateful night angry at his mother but he had no illegal drugs or alcohol in his system. He admitted to taking his mother’s car without permission even backing it out of the driveway in neutral so she wouldn’t hear him driving off. He said while he didn’t think about it at the time, he was aware that was a crime. Five hours elapsed between the time the teen left the house and the accident that took the officer’s life and Morris accounted for his time, which he said was spent driving around and even napping in his school’s parking lot.

If you have been charged with a felony in Pinellas, please do not hesitate to contact St. Petersburg Criminal Defense Attorney David Haenel at 1-800-FIGHT-IT (1-800-344-4848) or online at fightyourpinellasarrest.com to discuss the matter. Also you can contact David via email or by stopping in our Clearwater office located at 1400 140th Ave. North #203.

A dispute over a $6 cab fare led to a two-hour standoff with Tampa police. Andrew Hickey told police he was drunk and armed with rifles and handguns. He threatened to shoot a cab driver who was outside waiting for Hickey to settle a $6 cab fare. Hickey allegedly came out of his house with a gun and threatened the cabbie. (read more)

When police were called to the scene by the cab driver Hickey barricaded himself in his house. He said he would shoot anyone that entered his Tampa house. Tampa Police shut down Paul Avenue from Himes Avenue to Clarice Street as they negotiated with the suspect. After two hours Hickey surrendered without incident. He was charged with petty theft and aggravated assault.

If you have been charged with a crime in Tampa, please do not hesitate to contact Tampa Defense Attorney Darren Finebloom at 1-800-FIGHT-IT or online at fightyourcase.com to discuss the matter. Also you can contact Darren via email or by stopping by our new Tampa office located at 3426 W. Kennedy Blvd.

Gene Masse, a 51-year-old Tampa man, was arrested following an armed confrontation with law enforcement in Hillsborough County. He allegedly threatened to “kill a bunch of cops” and his family before being taken into custody. (read more)

Masse and his son got into a heated argument at their Leila Avenue home according to reports and the confrontation took a turn when Masse armed himself with a shotgun, threatening to shoot the 19-year-old. He is accused of holding his family at gunpoint and threatening to kill them if they called police, which they eventually did. That led to a standoff with law enforcement before the man eventually surrendered. Police found a loaded shotgun in his home. He was booked and held without bail.

If you have been charged with a crime in Tampa, please do not hesitate to contact Tampa Defense Attorney Darren Finebloom at 1-800-FIGHT-IT or online at fightyourcase.com to discuss the matter. Also you can contact Darren via email or by stopping by our new Tampa office located at 3426 W. Kennedy Blvd.

Tampa’s Wikler Moran-Mora came up with a new twist on an excuse for not being home with his wife while he was cheating on her. The self-proclaimed church elder at a Seventh Day Adventist church on Nebraska Avenue texted his wife claiming he had been kidnapped buying him time to have an affair according to Hillsborough County Sheriff’s. (read more)

Moran-Mora’s wife alerted law enforcement of her husband’s abduction which set off a 20-man police operation to try and find the man, which included the use of canine units. Deputies eventually tracked him down outside a 7-Eleven even though he had texted his wife asking her to call off the search because his kidnappers had freed him. Moran-Mora was charged with giving a false report to law enforcement despite the fact he never called the sheriff’s office.

If you have been charged with a crime in Tampa, please do not hesitate to contact Tampa Defense Attorney Darren Finebloom at 1-800-FIGHT-IT or online at fightyourcase.com to discuss the matter. Also you can contact Darren via email or by stopping by our new Tampa office located at 3426 W. Kennedy Blvd.

The case has gained international notoriety and now charges have been filed against the couple whose pet snake killed a 2-year-old Sumter County Girl. The mother of the child and her live-in boyfriend are facing charges of third-degree murder, manslaughter and child abuse after their Burmese python escaped and crushed the little girl in her crib. (read more)

The state attorney’s office took their time in considering how to proceed in this tragic case but eventually they felt the couple showed a reckless disregard that resulted in the death of the child. Both Jaren Hare and Charles Darnell were being held on $35,000 bonds. The state said the snake was not properly secured nor was it registered as required by state law.

If you have been charged with a crime in Tampa, please do not hesitate to contact Tampa Defense Attorney Darren Finebloom at 1-800-FIGHT-IT or online at fightyourcase.com to discuss the matter. Also you can contact Darren via email or by stopping by our new Tampa office located at 3426 W. Kennedy Blvd.

The opening of the National Football League season is less than a month away but opening day may have to wait a little bit longer for Tampa Bay Buccaneer Aqib Talib. The Bucs corner was arrested in Pinellas County Wednesday night and charged with simple battery and resisting arrest without violence. Talib has been released from Pinellas County Jail. (read more)

According to a FHP report Talib punched David Duggan in the neck and right ear with a closed fist. The incident took place at I-275 and Gandy Blvd. Talib was in a cab at the time the officer arrived and refused three requests to get out of the cab. The officer also reported that there was an indication of alcohol influence.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has been notoriously harsh on his players for run-ins with the law. While no punishment has been announced for Talib as of yet, there is a distinct chance he could face a suspension from the league. This isn’t the first sign of trouble from the cornerback. He was involved in a fight at practice in which he hit a bystander with a helmet. Talib was involved in a fight at an NFL mandated rookie seminar and he has been fined on numerous occasions by the Bucs. He was also reported to have failed multiple drug tests while playing at the University of Kansas.

If you have been charged with a crime in Pinellas County, please do not hesitate to contact St. Petersburg Defense Attorney Stephen Higgins, Esq. at 1-800-FIGHT-IT or online at fightyourpinellascase.com to discuss the matter. Also you can contact Stephen via email or by stopping in our Pinellas office located at 4500 140th Ave. North #203.

Did Tampa police foil a would-be robbery on Friday? A police officer approached a car outside Pix Liquor Store on N. Florida Avenue in Tampa after seeing a man shove something down his pants and then get into the passenger seat of a red Camry. The officer asked the man, later identified as Isaac Henderson, to step out of the car. After he did, the officer found a loaded .45 caliber handgun with the serial number removed and a black ski mask. (read more)

Tampa Police have not yet linked Henderson to any burglaries but they are circulating his description to other agencies to see if he fits for any open robberies. Henderson was released on $4000 bail from the Hillsborough County Jail after he was charged with carrying a concealed weapon and altering the weapon’s serial number.

If you have been charged with a crime in Tampa, please do not hesitate to contact Tampa Defense Attorney Darren Finebloom at 1-800-FIGHT-IT or online at fightyourcase.com to discuss the matter. Also you can contact Darren via email or by stopping by our new Tampa office located at 3426 W. Kennedy Blvd.

Police have been investigating a sexual battery charge report since it was filed in May and now they have made an arrest. Daryl Comolli, a North Tampa resident, has been arrested and charged with sexual battery on a child younger than 12 and possession of marijuana. (read more)

Comolli is accused of molesting a 7-year-old girl and according to reports from the Tampa Police Department the 24-year-old confessed to the crime in detail. Upon his arrest, Comolli was searched and officers found marijuana in his pocket.

If you have been charged with a crime in Tampa, please do not hesitate to contact Tampa Attorney Darren Finebloom at 1-800-FIGHT-IT or online at fightyourcase.com to discuss the matter. Also you can contact Darren via email or by stopping by our new Tampa office located at 3426 W. Kennedy Blvd.

Tampa man Michael Wynperle is behind bars and accused of stalking Hillsborough County State Attorney Mark Ober. The 36-year-old Wynperle was charged with aggravated stalking charges and threatening to discharge a destructive device. According to Pam Bondi, spokeswoman for the state’s attorney office, the situation with Wynperle and Ober has been going on for years and escalated recently. (read more)

According to reports from the Florida Department of Correction Wynperle has ‘deep-seated issues with the justice system’. He threatened Ober in 2005 according to detectives but charges of threats against a public servant were dropped. Ober spent time in prison for fraudulently obtaining a driver’s license and fraudulent use of a personal ID. Records show Wynperle has been arrested 20 times going back to 1993.

If you have been charged with a crime in Tampa, please do not hesitate to contact Tampa Attorney Darren Finebloom at 1-800-FIGHT-IT or online at fightyourcase.com to discuss the matter. Also you can contact Darren via email or by stopping by our new Tampa office located at 3426 W. Kennedy Blvd.

A 16-year school district employee was arrested and charged with lewd and lascivious behavior with an eight-year-old student in Tampa this past weekend. Otis Vinson, a janitor at Robles Elementary School, is accused of rubbing an eight-year-old student against him in a sexual manner after the girl told her parents about the incident according to a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department spokesperson. (read more)

Vinson was arrested Saturday and taken to Hillsborough County Jail. He was released on $7,500 bail. He was suspended with pay and if he is to be fired or have his pay withheld, that decision would need to come from the school board. Linda Cobb, a spokeswoman for the school district, said she is unaware of any other complaints ever being filed against Vinson.

If you have been charged with a crime in Tampa, please do not hesitate to contact Tampa Attorney Darren Finebloom at 1-800-FIGHT-IT or online at fightyourcase.com to discuss the matter. Also you can contact Darren via email or by stopping by our new Tampa office located at 3426 W. Kennedy Blvd.

A Tampa man, who did not want his wife to leave, resorted to some desperate measures to keep her from driving away. According to the Tampa Police Department Lincoln Ricketts, a 44-year-old Tampa man, used his car as a deadly weapon in his efforts to stop his wife. (read more)

Ricketts allegedly began ramming his car into the front of his wife’s vehicle but the apparent assault did not stop there. His wife was eventually able to pull away but Ricketts followed her and began ramming the back of her car to force her off the road. No injuries were reported and Ricketts is currently in Orient Road Jail on charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

If you have been charged with a battery in Tampa, please do not hesitate to contact Tampa Attorney Darren Finebloom at 1-800-FIGHT-IT or online at fightyourbattery.com to discuss the matter. Also you can contact Darren via email or by stopping by our new Tampa office located at 3426 W. Kennedy Blvd.

During a recession a lot of couples fight over money and unpaid bills. I guess porn star Stormy Daniels and her husband are no different. The couple got into an argument over an unpaid bill Saturday night and the fight escalated into violence according to Tampa Police who arrested Daniels on charges of domestic battery. (read more)

Daniels, whose off-screen name is Stephanie Clifford, is accused of throwing things at her husband and hitting him in the face. Daniels says her husband was holding her car keys in the air and she was trying to take them back and accidentally struck him in the face several times. The porn star posted $1000 bail and was released from jail on Sunday.

If you have been charged with a crime in Tampa, please do not hesitate to contact Tampa Attorney Darren Finebloom at 1-800-FIGHT-IT or online at fightyourcase.com to discuss the matter. Also you can contact Darren via email or by stopping by our new Tampa office located at 3426 W. Kennedy Blvd.

A Clearwater woman was arrested in Tampa on charges of aggravated battery with a motor vehicle, knowingly driving with a suspended license and leaving the scene of a crash with property damage. Rita Adams, 48-year old, allegedly rear ended a vehicle at Harbor Street and Channelside Drive in Tampa. She then hit the occupant’s of another car who were not in their vehicle at the time. (read more)

According to police Adams tried to flee the scene but was eventually arrested on Adamo Drive. She was taken to Orient Road Jail on $8000 bail.

If you have been charged with a crime in Tampa, please do not hesitate to contact Tampa Attorney Darren Finebloom at 1-800-FIGHT-IT or online at fightyourcase.com to discuss the matter. Also you can contact Darren via email or by stopping by our new Tampa office located at 3426 W. Kennedy Blvd

Tallahassee’s Joseph Kruger claims to have been “running a scheme to defraud, spanning multiple counties” but his plans came to an abrupt halt in Tampa on Monday. The 39-year was arrested at the Wal-Mart at 1505 N. Dale Mabry after stealing a laptop and food. (read more)

Krueger used a fake receipt and told Wal-Mart employees he paid for the laptop in the electronics department at the back of the store according to arrest reports. Store security detained Krueger after a struggle until police arrived. He was taken to Orient Road Jail and held on $8000 bail.

If you have been charged with a crime in Tampa, please do not hesitate to contact Tampa Attorney Darren Finebloom at 1-800-FIGHT-IT or online at fightyourcase.com to discuss the matter. Also you can contact Darren via email or by stopping by our new Tampa office located at 3426 W. Kennedy Blvd.

Patrick Melton is believed to be the youngest person ever charged with possession of child pornography in Tampa according to State’s Attorney J.D. Callaway. Melton, 16-years-old, was first arrested as a minor when his computer was identified as one in a network downloading and trading images and videos of children between the ages of 2-12. After his release from juvenile court, Callaway decided to charge the 16-year-old as an adult. (read more)

According to Callaway the 16-year-old admitted to searching for the child porn and watching it. He also allegedly told police he was grateful he was arrested because he was worried he may one day act on his impulses. Melton is being held on $100,000 bail at Falkenburg Road Jail.

If you have been charged with a crime in Tampa, please do not hesitate to contact Tampa Attorney David Haenel at 813-649-8690 to discuss the matter. Also you can contact David by stopping in our new Tampa office located at 3426 W. Kennedy Blvd.

The prostitution stings in Tampa are continuing and more arrests were made Tuesday night. Eight men were arrested and taken to Hillsborough County Jail following a sting that took place at the Jayhawk Motel. The motel is located on N. Nebraska Avenue. (read more)

Arrest reports claim the eight men offered between $15-$50 for various sexual acts. The men range in age from 20-52 and came from Tampa, Tallahassee and even as far as Boulder, Colorado. According to police one man was arrested after asking an undercover officer if she was a cop. The officer responded with the same question to the man and he then dropped his pants and arrested.

If you have been charged with a crime in Tampa, please do not hesitate to contact Tampa Attorney Darren Finebloom at 813-649-8690 to discuss the matter. Also you can contact Darren by stopping in our new Tampa office located at 3426 W. Kennedy Blvd or email him.

There has been a lot written in the Tampa Bay area about Jordan Valdez and the hit-and-run she was involved in that left Melissa Sjostrom dead. The family of the homeless woman is speaking out. In a letter to the St. Pete Times, Sjostrom’s aunt is “livid” that an apparent plea deal is being offered to the 17-year-old Valdez. (read more)

Lisa Mott claimed in her letter to the newspaper that the family of the victim has not been involved with the decision making process, a claim the State’s Attorney denies. Assistant State Attorney Pam Bondi said the family’s input was sought as it is in all cases. The only information on the plea deal is that it does not involve any jail or prison time.

If you were involved in a crime in Tampa, Hillsborough or Polk County please do not hesitate to contact Darren Finebloom at 1-800-FIGHT-IT to discuss the matter. Also you can contact Darren via email or by stopping in our new Tampa office located at 3426 W. Kennedy Blvd.

According to a criminal complaint in Polk County a Lakeland man has been stealing money from the Walden Lake Golf & Country Club for nearly five years. William Kagel was arrested on a Polk County warrant alleging he embezzled nearly $270,000 while working as the country club’s event sales director. (read more)

According to documents Kagel transferred money from the country club’s savings account into a personal account he opened at a Lakeland credit union. The stolen deposits number 168 and the total money taken was $268,169. Kagel offered to pay the country club back with cash and worthless checks according to the complaint.

If you have charged with a crime in Tampa, Hillsborough or Polk County please do not hesitate to contact Darren Finebloom at 1-800-FIGHT-IT or online at fightyourcase.com to discuss the matter. Also you can contact Darren via email or by stopping in our new Tampa office located at 3426 W. Kennedy Blvd.

Marvin Thompson, Jr. who spent 21 years with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department was arrested and charged with child pornography. The 57-year-old allegedly bought and received child pornography three times through the mail and via the Internet. (read more)

The former law enforcement agent is now facing three counts of sexual exploitation of minors and has a hearing scheduled for July 22 in federal court in Tampa. Thompson was arrested by FBI agents and has been indicted by a grand jury.

If you have charged with a crime in Tampa, Hillsborough or Pinellas please do not hesitate to contact Stephen Higgins at 1-800-FIGHT-IT or online at fightyourcase.com to discuss the matter. Also you can contact Stephen by stopping in our new Tampa office located at 3426 W. Kennedy Blvd.

This week there was a horrible story that took place in Clearwater where four men have been arrested for paying a 12-year old girl for sex. While the girl told police she consented to sex, a girl of just 12-years of age cannot legally give consent. It is hard to find anyone who can argue a 12-year old girl is capable of making that decision. What about a 17-year old? (read more)

Former Lakewood High star football player Marcello Church, who went on to play at Florida State University, may get lumped into a group with these men in Clearwater due to the crime he was charged with last year. Church was arrested on charges of sex with a minor but it is hard to compare a consensual sexual relationship between a 27-year-old and a 17-year-old to one that took place in Clearwater earlier this week even if the law they are charged under is the same.

Church accepted a plea agreement this week and agreed to a lesser charge of child abuse. An adjudication of guilt was withheld and in addition to four years probation. Church was also ordered not to have any contact with the young woman. It will be hard for Church to go anywhere the rest of his life without having the stigma of child abuse attached to his name even though his “victim” wrote a 2 ½ page letter to the judge in his defense saying she was the aggressor in the relationship and she did not feel Church should be punished any further.

If you or a loved one is in a similar situation, we can help. If you have charged with a crime in Tampa, Hillsborough or Pinellas please do not hesitate to contact Stephen Higgins at 1-800-FIGHT-IT or online at fightyourcase.com to discuss the matter. Also you can contact Stephen by stopping in our new Tampa office located at 3426 W. Kennedy Blvd.

The tragic story involving a 12-year-old Tampa boy who is accused of killing his 5-week-old cousin in Marietta, Georgia cannot be charged as an adult. According to Georgia law a child must be 13 to be charged as an adult. The 12-year-old was left in the car with his cousin and police have determined it was not for an unreasonable amount of time so the mother will not be charged with any crime. (read more)

The baby girl was left in the car with her cousin out front of a Target store. When she got back to the vehicle the baby wasn’t moving. When police arrived on the scene the baby wasn’t breathing and was taken to the nearest hospital. She eventually passed away after being taken off life support.

If you or a loved one has been charged with a crime in Tampa, Hillsborough, Pasco or Brandon please do not hesitate to contact Stephen Higgins, Esq. at 1-800-FIGHT-IT or online at fightyourcase.com to discuss the matter.

Byron Baxley, a Tampa resident, was arrested and charged with one count of sexual battery after he allegedly sexually battered a mentally disabled teenage boy. Hillsborough County Deputies arrested the 59-year old and according to reports he admitted to committing sexual acts with the teen.

The incident apparently took place at Baxley’s home on Delray Drive. The teenage boy came to the house around 5:30 p.m. to visit the man and was allegedly convinced to perform sexual acts with Baxley. (read more)

If you or a loved one has been charged with a crime in Tampa, Hillsborough, Pasco or Brandon please do not hesitate to contact Stephen HIggins, Esq. at 1-800-FIGHT-IT or online at fightyourcase.com to discuss the matter.

The case versus Jordan Vasquez took another turn on Wednesday when the Tampa teenager was charged as an adult with leaving the scene of an accident involving a death, a felony, by the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office. The accident took place in February in Hyde Park and resulted in the death of a 33-year old homeless woman named Melissa Sjostrom. (read more)

The case has been hotly debated in the Tampa Bay area as Vasquez is the daughter of an affluent Davis Island family and before the charges on Wednesday the only repercussion of the accident was a traffic citation that was dismissed when the officer failed to show up in court.

If you or a loved one has been charged with a traffic crime in Tampa, Hillsborough, Pasco or Brandon please do not hesitate to contact Stephen HIggins a Tampa Defense Attorney at 1-800-FIGHT-IT or online at fightyourtampadui.com to discuss the matter.

Manatee County Sherriff’s have identified the two victims in a July 4th weekend double homicide as 18-year-old Rubin Gonzalez Garduno and 19-year-old Irwin Figuero. According to witnesses the two teenagers were shot by a person or people in a car while the pair was walking west in 1100 block of 59th Avenue Drive East. (READ MORE)

Police believe the shooting may be gang related and are looking for a blue Mercury Grand Marquis, which may have been involved in the crime. One of the men died on the scene and another was taken to Manatee Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

If you or a loved one has been charged with a crime in Bradenton, Manatee, Sarasota or anywhere on the Sun Coast please do not hesitate to contact Sarasota Criminal Defense Lawyer Darren Finebloom at 1-800-FIGHT-IT or online at fightyourcase.com to discuss the matter.

A 14-year old Bradenton girl reported she was solicited on-line for sex by a Punta Gorda man when he entered into a chat room. Investigators were altered to the solicitation by the child’s mother and then posed as the girl in future chats while setting up a meeting with the Adam Norsell. The 24-year old arrived in Bradenton to meet with the girl where he was arrested.

The investigation was a joint effort by the Bradenton police, the attorney general’s cyber crime task force, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Florida Highway Patrol. Norsell was arrested on charges of solicitation of a minor via computer and traveling to meet a minor according to the attorney general’s office. (read more)

If you or a loved one has been charged with a crime in Bradenton, please do not hesitate to contact Criminal Defense Attorney Darren Finebloom at 1-800-FIGHT-IT or online at fightyourcase.com to discuss the matter.

It is a tough time for the newspaper business. At least 120 newspapers have shutdown since January of 2008 in the United States. Those that have survived are scrambling for ways to increase revenue. The latest way many Florida newspapers have tried to increase ad rates on their websites is to publish mug shots of those recently arrested on criminal charges. The practice has become controversial.

Ethicists are calling the practice of posting photos of those recently arrested ''journalistic malpractice'' and “ethically bankrupt”. Newspaper editors defend the practice as reporting on crime which is a primary mission of a newspaper. (read more). Either way it is popular. In May, the booking blotter generated about 52 percent of the 45.2 million page views to The Palm Beach Post's websites according to a recent newspaper report. The main problem according to some is that there is no follow-up. If the person pictured in the mug shot is released with no charges being filed or acquitted of the criminal act, there is never any mention of that.

If you or a loved one has been charged with a crime in Tampa please do not hesitate to contact Tampa Criminal Defense Lawyer Stephen Higgins at 1-800-FIGHT-IT or online at fightyourcase.com to discuss the matter.

The DUI case versus WTVT Ch. 13 morning anchor Russell Rhodes was dropped five months after he was tackled in a Channelside parking garage by an off-duty police officer. Rhodes was scheduled to be in court on Wednesday but instead he will plead no contest to misdemeanor obstruction as part of a plea deal. (read more)

The state’s case versus Rhodes took a hit when blood evidence was thrown out by County Judge Cheryl Thomas last week, saying it was improperly obtained. Under the terms of the plea agreement Rhodes will perform 50 hours of community service and adjudication will be withheld so the conviction will not be on his record.

If you or a loved one has been arrested for a DUI in Tampa or Hillsborough County, please do not hesitate to contact Tampa DUI Lawyer Stephen Higgins at 1-800-FIGHT-IT or online at fightyourtampadui.com to discuss the matter.

Budget cuts are affecting every government from the national to state and local levels. We are all feeling the pinch but the cuts in Florida’s budget are particularly deep and are starting to affect the citizens of Florida in ways they weren’t expecting. One example is the budget cuts that are currently affecting an already underfunded and overworked Florida Public Defender’s Office. (read more)

When Florida Governor Charlie Crist signed the latest budget into law across the board cuts went into affect and those budget reductions are having a monumental effect on the justice system and the state’s ability to represent defendants. That applies to all parts of the state including Tampa and Hillsborough County.

“I think there are a couple more common ethical issues we are dealing with in the Public Defenders Office,” said Public Defender Matt Shirk. “Our case load is increasing as the population increases and our budgets are decreasing.

“Just his year, the Legislature cut two of our full-time positions out, even though we could have the ability to hire two full-time attorneys in the next fiscal year. They have decided we are not able to. Our case loads are rising. They are well over what every association agrees is the limit for what an attorney should be able to handle in a year. We are two- to-three times that. We are trying to do more with less, yet still be effective advocates for our clients.”

If you or a loved one has been charged with a criminal offense in Florida and need an attorney to fight for your rights, please contact Darren Finebloom at 1-800-FIGHT-IT or online at fightyourcase.com to discuss the matter.

Tampa day care owner Dorothy Ann Sampson-Monroe was arrested for hitting four children ages 3 to 5 at a day care facility she told police she owned. Four years ago Sampson-Monroe relinquished her license after police accused her of shaking a baby and bruising his brain. (read more)

According to the St. Pete Times state records show the 47-years old had been arrested 16 times. In 1991 she was sentenced to two years in prison for felony cocaine charges. Even though State law disqualifies people from receiving a child care license if they are convicted of a felony drug charge waivers can be granted and a Sampson-Monroe did receive one.

If you or any loved one needs help with your criminal case in Tampa and Hillsborough County, please contact Stephen Higgins at 1-800-FIGHT-IT or online at www.fightyourcase.com to discuss the matter.

In the State of Florida, police officers arrest individuals based up on probable cause. Following an arrest, the person is taking to the County Jail and then hopefully released with certain conditions, such as a requirement that the person appear in Court.
As a defense lawyer, the time following an arrest is often the most critical time in a case. The arrest file or paperwork will make its way to the State Attorney's Office for a filing decision. In non-captial cases in Florida, the prosecutor or state attorney will make a decision on what, if any, charges to file. They will assess the facts of the case and determine the strengths and weaknesses.

Ethically, the state attorney should not file an 'information' unless they believe the case can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The 'information' is the charging document - the document that lists the charges against the defendant. Because the state attorney has vast discretion on whether to file the charges or dismiss the charges, the 30 or 45 days prior to the defendant's arraignment is a critical stage for a defense lawyer to contact the state attorney and explain why charges shoudl not be filed.

Hiring a lawyer should occur as close to the arrest as possible so the lawyer can exhaust all options to convince the prosecutor to not file charges on the case. At the law firm of Finebloom and Haenel, we immediately get a head start on the case- we use private investigators to dig up evidence, obtain 911 tapes, and recover potentially valuable tangible evidence. Our private investigators are retired law enforcement officers who know how to obtain evidence and interview witnesses.

In certain cases involving witnesses or victims, it is crucial to speak to these people quickly, while the case is fresh in their mind and before the state attorney files charges. In most jurisdictions like Sarasota, Polk, Manatee, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, the state attorney will normally have to draft a 'decline memo' if the case is dropped after it has already been filed. That is why it is better to get fighting on the case early so that the prosecutor knows we mean business.

Contact an experienced attorney at 1-800-FIGHT-IT to discuss any particular facts of your case

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