Category Archives: Criminal Defense
“Am I Free To Leave?” In A Criminal Case
Most people think that if an officer in a uniform walks up to them on a Dade City sidewalk and starts asking questions, they are legally required to stand there and answer. They imagine that “cooperation” is a mandate rather than a choice. They are wrong. The difference between a friendly chat and a… Read More »
Biometric Compulsion In Criminal Cases
Your smartphone isn’t just a phone anymore. It is a high-definition external hard drive for your soul. It contains every text you’ve sent, every location you’ve visited, and a chronological history of your digital life. For law enforcement, seizing your device is like finding the “black box” of a crashed airplane. The only problem… Read More »
Arrested On Vacation In Florida: What Happens When You Board The Plane Home Anyway?
You came to Florida for beaches, bars, or theme parks. You did not come for handcuffs. But life can get in the way. You got arrested. You bonded out. You still had a return flight booked. So you did what a lot of people do: you got on the plane, went home, and told… Read More »
DNA’s Role In Wrongful Convictions
DNA is an important part of the human body — and all living organisms, for that matter. DNA contains the instructions needed for humans to survive and reproduce. Surprisingly, humans share 99.9% of their DNA with one another. It’s that 0.1% of DNA that varies from person to person. DNA can tell us a… Read More »
Here’s To Bob Dillinger And His 40-Year Legal Career
In this blog, we celebrate the career of Bob Dillinger, who served as the chief public defender for the Pinellas-Pasco judicial circuit. Dillinger retired at the end of 2020. He was elected public defender for the first time in 1996 and served five terms in total. He spent his 40-year legal career defending those… Read More »
What To Know About Police Misconduct
Police officers often think they are above the law. They can do what they want without repercussions. Because of this, police misconduct is common and Florida residents need to be aware of this if they are ever arrested. Police officers often share what is known as a “blue code of silence.” This means they… Read More »
Former FWC Officer Wrongfully Accused Of Child Porn Crimes
Sometimes law enforcement departments get it wrong. They accuse people of crimes they did not do. This is a serious situation. It’s not as easy as blaming someone for something and then apologizing. Being wrongfully accused of a crime can cause a person to suffer damage to their reputation. They may lose the trust… Read More »
High School Student Charged With Lewd And Lascivious Behavior
Sex crimes are taken seriously in Florida, so when a person sexually assaults another person, they can expect to be punished harshly. This is the case for a high school student who allegedly raped another student on campus in early June. An 18-year-old student from Chiles High School is facing charges of lewd and… Read More »
Arrest Made in 1999 Sexual Battery Case
Sometimes criminal cases go cold when there is not enough evidence to convict someone of a crime. However, many cases are seeing the spotlight once again thanks to improvements in DNA testing and analysis. A Florida sexual battery case from 1999 is making news once again now that DNA testing has led police to… Read More »
Dance Teacher Accused of Sex Abuse, Lewd and Lascivious Behavior
Parents automatically assume that coaches and teachers will behave appropriately around their children. However, that is not always the case. Sometimes these adults use their positions of trust to get emotionally and physically close to their students. They may even engage in illegal sexual behavior. A dance teacher in Florida was recently arrested for… Read More »