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In Florida, my case is set for trial. The original charge was for synthetic Cathinone, based on a positive field test by an officer. However, recent lab results from the FDLE show it tested positive for cocaine instead. Can the state attorney change the charge from synthetic Cathinone to cocaine... View More

answered on Apr 3, 2025
Oftentimes the lab testing isn't done until just before trial So it's not uncommon for the lab results to be different than the arrest affidavit. It could be a different drug or a mixture of drugs or no drug at all. Also, the weights might come back different, which might be especially... View More
I am looking for recent rulings in the Marcus Mays case by the Florida Supreme Court concerning the unconstitutionality of the PRR, which might make his sentence illegal. This is important to me because I am facing a similar situation.

answered on Mar 19, 2025
I looked at the Marcus Maye decision in the district court and listened to the recent oral argument before the Fla S Ct. The DCA opinion reviewed the denial of relief filed by a person whose case is from 2003. The DCA said PRR sentence was good. Fla S Ct oral arguments dealt with issues such as... View More
My friend is facing 141 felony counts of scheme to defraud for stealing around $28,000 from work, grand theft, and use of a 2-way communication device in Florida. He has no prior record but was charged with possession of cannabis and attempted escape afterward. He is represented by a public... View More

answered on Mar 19, 2025
Yes, he’s looking at jail or prison time. Actually, his maximum exposure exceeds 500 years. If he’s innocent, he could go to trial for the theft charges. But the escape and marijuana charges are likely not directly related to the thefts. Hence, he could get off the theft charges and still have... View More
I discovered a few months ago that an investigator fabricated audio recordings used against my son, who was sentenced to 18 years in West Palm Beach in 2015. These false evidence findings are now part of the public record. Despite hiring several lawyers over the years, it was only recently revealed... View More

answered on Feb 16, 2025
The usual method is a motion for post conviction relief under Rule 3.850. Normally, there is a time limit of 2 years from the date your son's case. That time limit does not apply when there is newly discovered evidence which could not have been discovered earlier through the exercise of due... View More
The prison releasee reoffender (PRR) act was revived and readopted as official state law on may 5, 2000, as encacted in session law for chapter 2000-246, section 3 laws of Florida.
The Florida Legislature scheduled the enactment of the PRR act to become effective as law on October 1, 2000.... View More

answered on Feb 11, 2025
The maximum sentence at the time of offense controls. Since PRR does not increase the maximum sentence, the maximum sentence was probably life. However, the PRR classification created a mandatory minimum sentence of life. Your defendant may be entitled to a motion to correct sentencing error,... View More
My friend took a 15 year prison plea deal believing that the police had a warrant to find the ''evidence'' in his phone. He never seen the warrant and now that he's in prison he decided to review his discovery. I been helping from out here. The warrant was not included in... View More

answered on Feb 7, 2025
Your friend needs to consider post conviction relief if the lack of a search warrant was a significant aspect of the case. Keep in mind that the case might have been prosecutable for other reasons, or the police may claim he consented to the search. To your question, maybe there's a search... View More
OK so the detective accessed my cousins phone and found incriminating evidence. The forensic unit ''cracked'' the phone then the detective got a search warrant 4 months later(her words in the depo). But when the detective wrote the complaint affidavit for the new charges she... View More

answered on Jan 16, 2025
What you've described could support post conviction relief (PCR). It could be important whether your cousin was tricked into "consenting" to a phone search. The State would argue that no search warrant is needed for a consensual search. It might be significant how long ago these... View More

answered on Jan 14, 2025
That depends on whether he has local charges, whether the judge set an extradition bond, whether he has waived extradition, and whether Fla wants to come get him. If he doesn't have MI charges, and he can't bond out, then he could consider waiving extradition if he wants to hurry up the... View More

answered on Dec 8, 2024
You might be happy that the drug change is dropped. If there was no basis for the cop to suspect drugs were in the bag, then by all means defend the case on that basis. What makes paraphernalia illegal is its association with illegal drugs. Do keep in mind that some paraphernalia may not have come... View More
I’m also in a Completely different time zone which makes it harder to Consult these matters

answered on Nov 17, 2024
You will need a criminal defense attorney. The failing to stop might be a non-criminal citation or a criminal charge. If it is a citation, it will likely be in a different court. The flee & elude is a felony charge. Your lawyer could move to consolidate the citation with the felony. Some judges... View More

answered on Nov 4, 2024
Yours is a complex question suitable for law school. The starting point would be the status of the two states as sovereign entities under the US Constitution. Each State has the right to enforce its laws. The limit of a State’s power to prosecute is likely a product of both jurisdiction and due... View More
Me and has presently filed violations of that injunction against me that aren't true and I didn't do well they had a hearing down there and said I did commit those violations and now I have two warrants from down south for writ of bodily attachment for the violations. And 2nd off when she... View More

answered on Sep 30, 2024
You probably need an attorney or two, First off, the writ of bodily attachment is not a criminal matter: it usually indicates some kind of support issue. The writ can be resolved by paying a "purge" amount which bears some relation to the arrearage. You could get a hearing on the amount,... View More
Typo. Don’t have to have their dash cam activated

answered on Mar 22, 2024
Yes, marijuana smoke is probable cause for a car search. Usually, the odor of marijuana smoke is detected after a car stop for some other reason. A medical marijuana card does not allow consumption in a vehicle. While the odor of burnt marijuana may persist from previous use, the presence of... View More
They turned off body cameras and locked her in her garage while making her do degrading things, touching her breasts and vaginal area, making her crab walk naked in front of three male officers. They took her husbands cell phone and days later told her to reach out to possible people her husband... View More

answered on Mar 20, 2024
You are writing about someone else. It's not clear what you are asking for. If these allegations are true, your friend could file an internal affairs complaint against those officers involved. The IA investigation would require her cooperation. Most agencies do not authorize turning off body... View More
I was a victim of grand theft. The case dragged out for 3 years and was complex. A plea deal was arranged in which the defendant paid back part of the money and in return there was no probation or ongoing restitution. That was it. The defendant wanted that deal or wanted to go to trial. So D.A... View More

answered on Mar 11, 2024
Your question should first be directed to the prosecutor with whom you "decided to take the partial payment". You should find out if a civil judgment lien was entered for the higher amount you are seeking at this time. If a higher amount of restitution was not agreed to as part of the... View More
This aggravated stalking rises from a closed stalking case that I was already sentenced on in 2019, I plead out to the aggravated stalking July 2023, doesn’t this fall under double jeopardy rule…

answered on Mar 4, 2024
On the face of what you report there may be a double jeopardy problem. The big question is why the double jeopardy problem is first being considered now. At any rate you would need to look at the allegations put forth in the 2019 case and compare them to the allegations put forth in the 2023 case.... View More
Arrested in my yard, not in a vehicle, for driving with suspended license, BUT the LEO did not see me driving, he only assumed. He didn't run my tag until he pulled in my driveway and he had to wait for 2 vehicles to pass before he could pull in my driveway. I told him he's on private... View More

answered on Feb 23, 2024
Please look to Mr Blecher's answer in relation to roads and public parking lots. You say the officer didn't see you driving on a road. Maybe so, but the officer might say something different. Your claim that the officer didn't "see" you could be construed as an admission... View More
My boyfriend was arrested about 90 days ago for a charge he didn’t commit and they never fingerprinted or booked him in .

answered on Jan 8, 2024
It would be very odd to have a person taken to jail for 90 days without being booked in. His attorney must have some input as to what's going on. You could contact the attorney about this unusual situation. Your BF would go to 1st appearance after being booked in. He would then be told what... View More
I was recently arrested in Florida for two misdemeanor possession of paraphernalia charges. I have a criminal history, including a drug possession charge that led to imprisonment due to a violation of probation. Given my situation, what legal outcomes should I expect, and would it be advisable to... View More

answered on Apr 12, 2025
No one knows what legal outcomes might be because the person answering that would need to know everything about the case, your background and your personal goals and risk tolerance. I suggest that you retain a criminal defense attorney in that area. That lawyer ought to be able to give you an... View More
Can a person be convicted of aggravated battery with discharging a firearm causing great bodily harm, a lesser included offense of second-degree attempted murder with a firearm, and still receive a mandatory sentence under Florida's 10-20-Life statute, especially for a first-time offender? In... View More

answered on Feb 15, 2025
Yes, if the information made the allegations and the verdict form made the necessary findings. This is a point that should have been discussed before trial. There is no first offender exception.
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