Success Stories
First Time Domestic Battery Charge Dropped
Facts: My client is an older man who owns a nice home and is retired. His girlfriend and her daughter moved in and lived with him for about a year. The relationship was not going well and there were constant arguments. My client finally decided to break up with her and asked her to move out. She refused. About three weeks later, he woke up one morning and found that his girlfriend's daughter was having her boyfriend also stay over at night. This started a big argument. During the argument, his girlfriend claimed that he pushed her to the ground. She called the police and he was arrested for domestic battery. He was also ordered out of his own house. The Case: I did some investigation and found several prior domestic violence cases that his girlfriend was involved with. I knew that I was dealing with someone who knew the system and could be dangerous if the case was not handled properly. My client was pushing me to go nuclear and file an eviction lawsuit, but I asked him to be patient. I [...]
Eleven Felonies Expunged in Three Months
Facts: Our client came to us and was very frustrated with her previous lawyer, who had been unresponsive for months regarding her expungement. Our team got right to work on her behalf and was able to secure her an expungement of all eleven felony charges in just under three months. Our commitment to our clients begins the day you hire us and we are dedicated to working our fullest on your behalf.
Domestic Battery With Punch on Girlfriend Dropped
Facts: My client is a young man and has been dating his girlfriend for a year and a half. One evening, he was drinking and they began to argue. He punched her in the face during the argument. She was not injured. He then called the police and reported himself. When St. Petersburg PD arrived at his apartment, he told them that he made a mistake and hit her. He was arrested for misdemeanor domestic battery, taken to the Pinellas County jail and released on supervised ROR. The Case: It was the first time that he had been in trouble and he took it seriously. He felt really bad about what he had done and wanted to make it right. I had him start anger management classes. They were once a week. I also spoke to his girlfriend who confirmed that she did not want to prosecute. But, the fact that my client had called the police on himself and admitted to hitting her was a big problem. I knew that we were going to need to show that he had already been [...]
Domestic Battery by Brother on Brother Dropped
Facts: My client was at his apartment with his roommate. His brother was staying the night because they had to go to a work event in the morning. They were drinking and a fight began. During the fight, my client punched his brother in the face twice and they wrestled. My client left the apartment and his brother called the police. My client was arrested for misdemeanor domestic battery and taken to the Pinellas County jail. When he went to court the next morning, the judge released him with a CAM ankle monitor and told him that he could not go back home. The Case: The first issue that we needed to handle was the court order preventing my client from going back home. The brother did not live there, so we set a hearing and asked the judge to correct that issue. It worked and my client was allowed to go back home within a few days. There was a prior incident between the brothers, so that concerned me. My client was very apologetic and I recommended that he begin anger management. [...]
Prison Avoided for VOP Involving Multiple Drug Felonies
Facts: My client has a long history of substance abuse. He gets sober for a while but seems to always have a relapse. I started representing him in 2021 when he was stopped for DUI and the police found fentanyl, alprazolam, and paraphernalia in his car. I was able to avoid a felony conviction then and get him probation with drug counseling. The second time that I represented him was when he was arrested again in 2022 for DUI, driving on a suspended license, possession of fentanyl, and possession of paraphernalia. The new charges violated his original probation and he sat in jail until I was able to get his case resolved. We found a sober living facility that would also allow counseling. He was released to the facility and successfully completed the program. In 2023, he violated his probation again by testing positive for cocaine. He was held in the Pinellas County Jail while I handled the case. The Case: The prosecutor and the judge had had enough and wanted to send him to prison. The Judge wanted him to serve 3 [...]
30 Days of Jail Avoided for DUI With Crash
Facts: My client had a relapse with alcohol. Although she had been sober for years, she fell off the wagon. One night, she got impaired and rear-ended another car. She was arrested and refused the Intoxilyzer. She was taken to the Pinellas County Jail and released with a CAM monitor on her ankle. It was not good. She had a prior DUI from several years before, so she needed to get her life straightened out. The Case: My client was just as motivated to stay sober as she was working on the case. She got back into AA meetings. She did DUI school and did the counseling. She did the Victim Impact Panel. She reported the accident to her insurance company and cooperated with them. She did everything right. We reviewed the police reports and the video and she was clearly impaired, so this case was all about minimizing the consequences. Because this was a second DUI outside of 5 years, there was no mandatory jail time required. But, the prosecutor wanted her to do 30 days of jail as a penalty. The [...]
Domestic Violence Injunction by Girlfriend Dropped
Facts: My client and his girlfriend lived together in his home. They had been dating for a couple of years, but it was not going well. She accused him of drinking too much and he had asked her to move out. Things were not looking good. One morning, she accused him of pushing her during an argument. She filed a domestic violence injunction and he was forced to leave the home. There are more facts to this case that I won't discuss, but he was out of his home and was in a bad spot. The Case: I knew that he was going to need to get an alcohol evaluation and do anger management. He started both. At the same time, I reached out to her and asked her whether she would agree to postpone the injunction hearing for a month to see how things were going. She agreed and I filed a motion to continue the case with the judge. The Result: My client continued with his treatment and his girlfriend agreed to drop the injunction. It was a good result and [...]
Disorderly Intoxication at Beach Bar Dropped
Facts: My client was out with friends at a beach bar on St. Pete Beach. They were all drinking. Eventually, one of my client's friends got into an argument with another girl. My client got involved and the bouncers tried to break it up. The police were called. When the police responded, they found my client very upset. They arrested her for disorderly intoxication. She bonded out and hired me. The Case: My client had a minimal criminal record. I did not think this was a situation where she needed alcohol counseling. So, I submitted a request to the prosecutor to have the charges dropped. I explained the situation and told him about her background. I asked that if he was inclined to file the charge, she would get an alcohol evaluation and do any treatment. The Result: After speaking with the prosecutor, he agreed to drop the case. It took about 7 weeks from the date of her arrest, but she was very happy with the result.
Domestic Battery Slap by Wife on Husband Dropped
Facts: My client and her husband have been married for a few months. The night of the incident, they were both drinking. An argument led to my client allegedly slapping her husband in the face several times. A neighbor heard the argument and called the police. When the police arrived, the husband alleged that he had been slapped, but did not wish to prosecute. My client said that he had been aggressive and that she slapped him in self defense. She was arrested and taken to the Pinellas County Jail. When she saw the judge in the morning, she was released, but with an ankle monitor to detect for alcohol. The judge also ordered no contact between them. The Case: My client hired me very quickly and I got to work. I spoke to her husband who repeated that he never wanted her arrested and did not want the charges to be brought. I sent him a request not to prosecute, filed it with the court, and sent it to the prosecutor. I also had my client start anger management/alcohol counseling. The Result: [...]
Disorderly Intoxication in Downtown St. Pete Dismissed
Facts: My client was out with friends in downtown St. Petersburg. They all were drinking excessively. Thinking that they were going to leave to head to the next spot, my client wandered outside. When he realized that his friends did not come with him, he tried to re-enter through a side door. A bouncer saw him and got aggressive. They exchanged words and eventually got into a fight. The police responded and arrested him for disorderly intoxication. He was taken to the Pinellas County jail and bonded out. The Case: My client had no prior record and had a very good job and background. I sent all of this information to the prosecutor and followed up with a telephone call. It was clear that this was an isolated incident and he had already been punished enough by being arrested and going to jail. The Result: About three weeks after the arrest, the prosecutor dropped the charge against my client. Now, he is eligible to expunge his criminal record.
Driving While License Suspended or Revoked (DWLSR) Reduced to Citation
The Case: Our client, E.V., was cited for driving without a license under Florida Statute 322.34(2)(b). He had forgotten to pay a traffic ticket which led to his license being suspended. Unfortunately, E.V. failed to appear for his arraignment and the judge issued a warrant for his arrest. When he realized he had missed his court date, he contacted our office. Our team quickly filed a motion to withdraw the warrant and we were able to get the warrant removed without E.V. having to go into custody or pay the bond. We then assisted E.V. in obtaining a driver’s license and worked with the prosecutor to reduce his criminal charge to a civil infraction. Our client was thrilled with the outcome and we were happy to help him get back on track.
Domestic Battery by Wife on Husband Dropped in 22 Days
Facts: My client and her husband have a young child. One evening, my client found messages on her husband's phone and questioned him about them. It led to a fight. She began to throw his clothes outside and kick him out. During the incident, she tried to push him out of the door and he got scratched. When he retaliated, she got scared and called the police. When the police arrived, they saw the scratch to the husband's chest and arrested her for misdemeanor domestic battery. She was taken to the Pinellas County jail. The Case: There was no contact allowed by the judge. She was forced to take the baby and move in with her mother. The husband did not want to prosecute and signed a request to drop the case. My client had no prior arrests and a good job. I sent all of the information to the prosecutor and then followed up with a phone call. There was not much pushback on this case. The Result: 22 days after the arrest, the charge was dropped. My client is able to [...]
Battery on Neighbor Dropped to Disorderly Conduct
Facts: My client was out walking her dog with her boyfriend. Her dog went to the bathroom in her neighbor's yard. As she was picking it up, the woman neighbor came running out of her house screaming. My client yelled back at her. The neighbor began to film her. In the stress and chaos, my client knocked the phone out of her hand and left. Nothing was broken, but the neighbor called the police. When the police arrived, my client admitted to knocking the phone out of her hand, but stated that the neighbor was the aggressor. The police did not care and arrested her for misdemeanor battery and took her to the Pinellas County Jail. The Case: I was hired and I tried to get the charge dropped before it was filed. But, the woman's neighbor was insistent that my client be charged. So, the battery charge was filed and we went to court. During the case, I was able to find another neighbor who had witnessed this woman act aggressively many times in the past toward dog walkers. He stated that [...]
DUI With BAC of .365 Resolved for No Jail Time
Facts: My client has struggled with drinking for a while. He worked in the service industry and was around alcohol all the time. He clearly had a problem. One night after work, many of the workers stayed on after and kept drinking. They had a little party. My client drank way too much and drove home. On the way home, he lost control of his car, drove off the road, and smashed into a bunch of bushes. He was taken to the hospital. The Trooper from Florida Highway Patrol followed him to the hospital, but he was so out of it, there wasn't much of an investigation for a DUI. The hospital performed a blood draw on him for medical purposes. He was released from the hospital the next day. He was lucky that he was not badly injured. He was not arrested. The Case: The Trooper sent the DUI case over to the State Attorney's Office. They sent my client a notice that they were seeking his medical records. I knew that wouldn't be good, so we objected to the subpoena. We [...]
DUI With Serious Crash Reduced to Reckless Driving. No Jail or Cam Monitor.
The Accident: J.H. called after he was arrested for DUI. He lost control of his vehicle during heavy rain and hit another car on I-275. The other car had serious damage and the other driver was injured. The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) investigated the case and arrested him for driving under the influence. J.H. refused to provide a breath sample. After his arrest, he reached out seeking help. Hardship License: Because this was his first DUI, we were able to help J.H. get a hardship license right away by getting him enrolled in DUI school and helping him with the paperwork. Being able to drive was essential for J.H. to get to work. After he got his hardship, we got to work on his case. Reduction to Reckless Driving: Because the crash was serious, J.H. was not eligible for the DUI diversion program in Pinellas County ("D.R.O.P."). Yet, we still had J.H. enroll in DUI school, complete a MADD Victim Impact Panel and start on community service while we waited on the police report and DUI videos. When the video from FHP came [...]
Client Driving Without a License Gets Policy Limits. Criminal Charges Dropped.
The Accident: I had the pleasure of representing S.C. after she was t-boned by another driver. Unfortunately, S.C. was injured because of the other's driver's negligence. But, she did not have a driver's license. When police arrived, they documented her injuries, but cited her with the criminal charge of No Valid Driver's License (F.S. 322.03). S.C. had no prior record and a baby on the way so avoiding a criminal charge was extremely important to her. After the accident, S.C. called seeking help with her injury and criminal cases. The Case: Luckily, S.C.'s baby was not impacted. But, she did not want to seek invasive treatment for her injuries due to her concerns for her unborn child. I was able to convince the insurance company that our client was deserving of the policy limits in her case which covered her medical expenses, including her ambulance, emergency room visit, and chiropractic treatment. Additionally, my client received compensation for her pain and suffering. While her personal injury case was ongoing, I guided S.C. through the process to get a valid driver's license. Once she was [...]
Concealed Firearm Charge in St. Pete Dropped
Facts: My client is 20 and was out with a friend in downtown St. Petersburg. They stopped off to get some food and then were eating when they saw a homeless man bothering two girls. My client's friend decided to help the girls and walked over and got the homeless man away from them. That caused the homeless man to get aggressive and follow them. Eventually, my client's friend pushed the homeless man to the ground. During the incident, his firearm fell onto the ground. As the police approached, my client picked up the firearm and put it in his waistband. When the police arrived, they asked my client if he had anything on him and he showed them the firearm. Because he was under the age of 21, he was not allowed to have a concealed firearm. He was arrested for felony possession of a concealed firearm and taken to the Pinellas County Jail. He then bonded out and called me. The Case: I immediately thought that this case was ridiculous. My client had never been in trouble before. It wasn't even [...]
Client With Mental Health Issues Gets Charges Dropped
Facts: My client is a young man who has been struggling with mental health problems for several months. His mother has repeatedly tried to get him help, but he has refused. Instead, he began self-medicating by drinking alcohol. This only worsened the problem. His mother could not get him under control. One night, he was out drinking and got into a fight with two other men. The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office responded and arrested him for two counts of misdemeanor battery. He was highly intoxicated. While he was getting arrested, he allegedly tensed and braced and was charged with misdemeanor obstruction. He was taken to the Pinellas County Jail and then bonded out on the three misdemeanors. The Case: His mother hired me to help. We immediately set him up with a mental health counselor. Eventually, he kept getting worse and he had to be Baker Acted. The medication that he was given helped to stabilize him. I supplied this material to the prosecutor and asked for the charges to be dismissed. Fortunately, neither of the men he was in the fight against [...]
Disorderly Conduct and Obstruction Charges Dismissed
Facts: My client and her friend were at a beach bar on St. Pete Beach. The bartender started giving my client an attitude and my client made a smart-aleck remark to her. Needless to say, the comment made the bartender mad and she asked my client to leave the bar. While my client was paying the tab, the bartender called the police to have her removed. Before the police arrived, my client and her friend drove off. A deputy with the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office followed the car and stopped it. The deputy began to investigate the bartender's report from the beach bar. My client started walking away and she was tackled and arrested for disorderly conduct (from the beach bar) and resisting or obstructing an officer (for walking away). She was taken to the Pinellas County Jail and then bonded out. The Case: After I was hired, I looked into the lawfulness of the arrest by the officer. There was an argument that since he did not witness the alleged disorderly conduct, he could not arrest her. I then put together a [...]
3 Misdemeanors After Stop on Golf Cart Dropped
Facts: My client and her friends went out to dinner in downtown Dunedin. They all took a friend's golf cart since they lived so close. On the way home, the golf cart ran a stop sign. There was no one on the road and the golf cart was not doing anything dangerous. But, a deputy with the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office with nothing better to do stopped the golf cart. He started a DUI investigation on the driver. My client was a passenger on the golf cart. Everyone thought that the deputy was being ridiculous and wanted him to let their friend go. A female backup deputy arrived and began getting aggressive with the ladies standing there. My client continued protesting the investigation when the female deputy tackled her, slammed her to the ground, and handcuffed her. My client was injured in the process and was badly bruised. She was eventually arrested for three misdemeanors- Obstruction of an Officer, Disorderly Intoxication, and Assault on an Officer. She was taken to the Pinellas County jail and bonded out. The Case: My client was mortified. [...]
St. Pete Domestic Battery Dropped in 25 Days
Facts: My client went out for drinks with her live-in boyfriend. They both drank too much and began to argue. The argument continued once they got home. At one point, the argument became physical and spilled out onto the balcony. An officer with the St. Petersburg PD heard the commotion and responded to their apartment. Although he was allegedly there to protect her, she did not want the police involved and refused to speak to them. To the contrary, her boyfriend said that she scratched him during the argument. To her surprise, she was arrested for domestic battery! The officer said that he gave her a chance to speak and that she didn't, so he was required to arrest one of them. She was taken to the Pinellas County Jail and saw the judge. The judge released her on ROR and allowed contact with her boyfriend, but required her to wear a CAM ankle monitor. The Case: Her boyfriend was adamant that he was not battered and that he did not want to prosecute. I immediately interviewed him and sent him a request [...]
Burglary with Battery Investigation Closed with No Charges
Facts: My client was visiting some friends on July 4 in St. Petersburg. They were shooting off fireworks in the road when a vehicle drove right through them at a high rate of speed. The vehicle then stopped at the end of the street and the driver sat there staring at them. Eventually, he began to drive back toward the group of people with the fireworks. My client was afraid of what this person would do next. My client decided to find out what was going on. The driver of the car began to film him. My client reached into the car, grabbed the phone and tossed it. The driver got out and began spraying pepper spray at everyone. It was a real fiasco. St. Petersburg Police were called and arrested the driver for reckless driving. No further arrests were made. But, the driver made a separate complaint to the police that was taken to the state attorney. A police officer notified my client that this investigation was going on. He told my client that there was an active investigation for burglary with [...]
Felony Domestic Battery Against Own Mother Dropped
Facts: My client has struggled with alcohol abuse for the past couple of years. She has a daughter and her alcohol issues have caused a lot of problems to the point that her mother helps raise the child. Her mother is over 65 and they share expenses for the child. One night, my client was drinking excessively and began arguing with her mother about money owed to her. The argument escalated and my client pushed her mother, causing her to fall. The police were called and my client was arrested for felony domestic battery on a person 65 years or older. Her mother and I have a relationship, so she called me and we spoke about the situation. Her mother decided not to bond her out for a while in order to let her detox from the alcohol. In the meantime, her mother also decided that she did not want her prosecuted and needed her out of jail in order to help take care of the child. Eventually, my client's boyfriend bonded her out after about 2 weeks of being in jail. The [...]
Battery and Criminal Mischief Charges at Wawa Dismissed
Facts: My client and her grandson were at a Wawa in St. Petersburg getting gas. There was a dispute between her and a work pickup over a spot at the pump. While her 13 yr old grandson sat in the car, the driver of the pickup truck walked over and banged on the window. That upset my client who began yelling at the men. One man took out his cell phone and started videotaping her. This further angered her and she knocked the man's phone out of his hand, breaking it. The St. Petersburg Police Department responded to the scene. There was no video of the altercation because the pickup truck blocked the camera angle. But, since the phone was broken and my client admitted to knocking it out of his hand, she was arrested for misdemeanor battery and criminal mischief. She bonded out and waited. Eventually, she received a notice in the mail that she had been formally charged. She then called me and hired me before her Arraignment. The Case: We received the police reports on the case and reviewed them. [...]
Disordely Intoxication in Downtown St. Pete Dropped
Facts: My client is a young professional and was in town on business. He was hanging out in downtown St. Petersburg at a sidewalk bar having some drinks. A police officer suddenly came running by him on the way to another call. As the officer passed, my client made a comment to him and slapped him on the arm. He was being a wiseguy to the officer. Well, the officer didn't appreciate it, and arrested him for disorderly intoxication. He was taken to the Pinellas County Jail. The Case: My client had no prior record and was worried about how this arrest would look to his employer and whether it would affect his professional licenses. I asked him for a full description of how it might affect him and a summary of what exactly happened. Because he had never been in trouble before and it didn't sound that egregious, I did not have him get an alcohol evaluation. I then sent all of the materials to the prosecutor. I then followed up with the prosecutor and spoke to him by phone. The Result: [...]
Success Stories
First Time Domestic Battery Charge Dropped
Facts: My client is an older man who owns a nice home and is retired. His girlfriend and her daughter moved in and lived with him for about a year. The relationship was not going well and there were constant arguments. My client finally decided to break up with her and asked her to move out. She refused. About three weeks later, he woke up one morning and found that his girlfriend's daughter was having her boyfriend also stay over at night. This started a big argument. During the argument, his girlfriend claimed that he pushed her to the ground. She called the police and he was arrested for domestic battery. He was also ordered out of his own house. The Case: I did some investigation and found several prior domestic violence cases that his girlfriend was involved with. I knew that I was dealing with someone who knew the system and could be dangerous if the case was not handled properly. My client was pushing me to go nuclear and file an eviction lawsuit, but I asked him to be patient. I [...]
Eleven Felonies Expunged in Three Months
Facts: Our client came to us and was very frustrated with her previous lawyer, who had been unresponsive for months regarding her expungement. Our team got right to work on her behalf and was able to secure her an expungement of all eleven felony charges in just under three months. Our commitment to our clients begins the day you hire us and we are dedicated to working our fullest on your behalf.
Domestic Battery With Punch on Girlfriend Dropped
Facts: My client is a young man and has been dating his girlfriend for a year and a half. One evening, he was drinking and they began to argue. He punched her in the face during the argument. She was not injured. He then called the police and reported himself. When St. Petersburg PD arrived at his apartment, he told them that he made a mistake and hit her. He was arrested for misdemeanor domestic battery, taken to the Pinellas County jail and released on supervised ROR. The Case: It was the first time that he had been in trouble and he took it seriously. He felt really bad about what he had done and wanted to make it right. I had him start anger management classes. They were once a week. I also spoke to his girlfriend who confirmed that she did not want to prosecute. But, the fact that my client had called the police on himself and admitted to hitting her was a big problem. I knew that we were going to need to show that he had already been [...]
Domestic Battery by Brother on Brother Dropped
Facts: My client was at his apartment with his roommate. His brother was staying the night because they had to go to a work event in the morning. They were drinking and a fight began. During the fight, my client punched his brother in the face twice and they wrestled. My client left the apartment and his brother called the police. My client was arrested for misdemeanor domestic battery and taken to the Pinellas County jail. When he went to court the next morning, the judge released him with a CAM ankle monitor and told him that he could not go back home. The Case: The first issue that we needed to handle was the court order preventing my client from going back home. The brother did not live there, so we set a hearing and asked the judge to correct that issue. It worked and my client was allowed to go back home within a few days. There was a prior incident between the brothers, so that concerned me. My client was very apologetic and I recommended that he begin anger management. [...]
Prison Avoided for VOP Involving Multiple Drug Felonies
Facts: My client has a long history of substance abuse. He gets sober for a while but seems to always have a relapse. I started representing him in 2021 when he was stopped for DUI and the police found fentanyl, alprazolam, and paraphernalia in his car. I was able to avoid a felony conviction then and get him probation with drug counseling. The second time that I represented him was when he was arrested again in 2022 for DUI, driving on a suspended license, possession of fentanyl, and possession of paraphernalia. The new charges violated his original probation and he sat in jail until I was able to get his case resolved. We found a sober living facility that would also allow counseling. He was released to the facility and successfully completed the program. In 2023, he violated his probation again by testing positive for cocaine. He was held in the Pinellas County Jail while I handled the case. The Case: The prosecutor and the judge had had enough and wanted to send him to prison. The Judge wanted him to serve 3 [...]
30 Days of Jail Avoided for DUI With Crash
Facts: My client had a relapse with alcohol. Although she had been sober for years, she fell off the wagon. One night, she got impaired and rear-ended another car. She was arrested and refused the Intoxilyzer. She was taken to the Pinellas County Jail and released with a CAM monitor on her ankle. It was not good. She had a prior DUI from several years before, so she needed to get her life straightened out. The Case: My client was just as motivated to stay sober as she was working on the case. She got back into AA meetings. She did DUI school and did the counseling. She did the Victim Impact Panel. She reported the accident to her insurance company and cooperated with them. She did everything right. We reviewed the police reports and the video and she was clearly impaired, so this case was all about minimizing the consequences. Because this was a second DUI outside of 5 years, there was no mandatory jail time required. But, the prosecutor wanted her to do 30 days of jail as a penalty. The [...]
Domestic Violence Injunction by Girlfriend Dropped
Facts: My client and his girlfriend lived together in his home. They had been dating for a couple of years, but it was not going well. She accused him of drinking too much and he had asked her to move out. Things were not looking good. One morning, she accused him of pushing her during an argument. She filed a domestic violence injunction and he was forced to leave the home. There are more facts to this case that I won't discuss, but he was out of his home and was in a bad spot. The Case: I knew that he was going to need to get an alcohol evaluation and do anger management. He started both. At the same time, I reached out to her and asked her whether she would agree to postpone the injunction hearing for a month to see how things were going. She agreed and I filed a motion to continue the case with the judge. The Result: My client continued with his treatment and his girlfriend agreed to drop the injunction. It was a good result and [...]
Disorderly Intoxication at Beach Bar Dropped
Facts: My client was out with friends at a beach bar on St. Pete Beach. They were all drinking. Eventually, one of my client's friends got into an argument with another girl. My client got involved and the bouncers tried to break it up. The police were called. When the police responded, they found my client very upset. They arrested her for disorderly intoxication. She bonded out and hired me. The Case: My client had a minimal criminal record. I did not think this was a situation where she needed alcohol counseling. So, I submitted a request to the prosecutor to have the charges dropped. I explained the situation and told him about her background. I asked that if he was inclined to file the charge, she would get an alcohol evaluation and do any treatment. The Result: After speaking with the prosecutor, he agreed to drop the case. It took about 7 weeks from the date of her arrest, but she was very happy with the result.
Domestic Battery Slap by Wife on Husband Dropped
Facts: My client and her husband have been married for a few months. The night of the incident, they were both drinking. An argument led to my client allegedly slapping her husband in the face several times. A neighbor heard the argument and called the police. When the police arrived, the husband alleged that he had been slapped, but did not wish to prosecute. My client said that he had been aggressive and that she slapped him in self defense. She was arrested and taken to the Pinellas County Jail. When she saw the judge in the morning, she was released, but with an ankle monitor to detect for alcohol. The judge also ordered no contact between them. The Case: My client hired me very quickly and I got to work. I spoke to her husband who repeated that he never wanted her arrested and did not want the charges to be brought. I sent him a request not to prosecute, filed it with the court, and sent it to the prosecutor. I also had my client start anger management/alcohol counseling. The Result: [...]
Disorderly Intoxication in Downtown St. Pete Dismissed
Facts: My client was out with friends in downtown St. Petersburg. They all were drinking excessively. Thinking that they were going to leave to head to the next spot, my client wandered outside. When he realized that his friends did not come with him, he tried to re-enter through a side door. A bouncer saw him and got aggressive. They exchanged words and eventually got into a fight. The police responded and arrested him for disorderly intoxication. He was taken to the Pinellas County jail and bonded out. The Case: My client had no prior record and had a very good job and background. I sent all of this information to the prosecutor and followed up with a telephone call. It was clear that this was an isolated incident and he had already been punished enough by being arrested and going to jail. The Result: About three weeks after the arrest, the prosecutor dropped the charge against my client. Now, he is eligible to expunge his criminal record.
Driving While License Suspended or Revoked (DWLSR) Reduced to Citation
The Case: Our client, E.V., was cited for driving without a license under Florida Statute 322.34(2)(b). He had forgotten to pay a traffic ticket which led to his license being suspended. Unfortunately, E.V. failed to appear for his arraignment and the judge issued a warrant for his arrest. When he realized he had missed his court date, he contacted our office. Our team quickly filed a motion to withdraw the warrant and we were able to get the warrant removed without E.V. having to go into custody or pay the bond. We then assisted E.V. in obtaining a driver’s license and worked with the prosecutor to reduce his criminal charge to a civil infraction. Our client was thrilled with the outcome and we were happy to help him get back on track.
Domestic Battery by Wife on Husband Dropped in 22 Days
Facts: My client and her husband have a young child. One evening, my client found messages on her husband's phone and questioned him about them. It led to a fight. She began to throw his clothes outside and kick him out. During the incident, she tried to push him out of the door and he got scratched. When he retaliated, she got scared and called the police. When the police arrived, they saw the scratch to the husband's chest and arrested her for misdemeanor domestic battery. She was taken to the Pinellas County jail. The Case: There was no contact allowed by the judge. She was forced to take the baby and move in with her mother. The husband did not want to prosecute and signed a request to drop the case. My client had no prior arrests and a good job. I sent all of the information to the prosecutor and then followed up with a phone call. There was not much pushback on this case. The Result: 22 days after the arrest, the charge was dropped. My client is able to [...]
Battery on Neighbor Dropped to Disorderly Conduct
Facts: My client was out walking her dog with her boyfriend. Her dog went to the bathroom in her neighbor's yard. As she was picking it up, the woman neighbor came running out of her house screaming. My client yelled back at her. The neighbor began to film her. In the stress and chaos, my client knocked the phone out of her hand and left. Nothing was broken, but the neighbor called the police. When the police arrived, my client admitted to knocking the phone out of her hand, but stated that the neighbor was the aggressor. The police did not care and arrested her for misdemeanor battery and took her to the Pinellas County Jail. The Case: I was hired and I tried to get the charge dropped before it was filed. But, the woman's neighbor was insistent that my client be charged. So, the battery charge was filed and we went to court. During the case, I was able to find another neighbor who had witnessed this woman act aggressively many times in the past toward dog walkers. He stated that [...]
DUI With BAC of .365 Resolved for No Jail Time
Facts: My client has struggled with drinking for a while. He worked in the service industry and was around alcohol all the time. He clearly had a problem. One night after work, many of the workers stayed on after and kept drinking. They had a little party. My client drank way too much and drove home. On the way home, he lost control of his car, drove off the road, and smashed into a bunch of bushes. He was taken to the hospital. The Trooper from Florida Highway Patrol followed him to the hospital, but he was so out of it, there wasn't much of an investigation for a DUI. The hospital performed a blood draw on him for medical purposes. He was released from the hospital the next day. He was lucky that he was not badly injured. He was not arrested. The Case: The Trooper sent the DUI case over to the State Attorney's Office. They sent my client a notice that they were seeking his medical records. I knew that wouldn't be good, so we objected to the subpoena. We [...]
DUI With Serious Crash Reduced to Reckless Driving. No Jail or Cam Monitor.
The Accident: J.H. called after he was arrested for DUI. He lost control of his vehicle during heavy rain and hit another car on I-275. The other car had serious damage and the other driver was injured. The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) investigated the case and arrested him for driving under the influence. J.H. refused to provide a breath sample. After his arrest, he reached out seeking help. Hardship License: Because this was his first DUI, we were able to help J.H. get a hardship license right away by getting him enrolled in DUI school and helping him with the paperwork. Being able to drive was essential for J.H. to get to work. After he got his hardship, we got to work on his case. Reduction to Reckless Driving: Because the crash was serious, J.H. was not eligible for the DUI diversion program in Pinellas County ("D.R.O.P."). Yet, we still had J.H. enroll in DUI school, complete a MADD Victim Impact Panel and start on community service while we waited on the police report and DUI videos. When the video from FHP came [...]
Client Driving Without a License Gets Policy Limits. Criminal Charges Dropped.
The Accident: I had the pleasure of representing S.C. after she was t-boned by another driver. Unfortunately, S.C. was injured because of the other's driver's negligence. But, she did not have a driver's license. When police arrived, they documented her injuries, but cited her with the criminal charge of No Valid Driver's License (F.S. 322.03). S.C. had no prior record and a baby on the way so avoiding a criminal charge was extremely important to her. After the accident, S.C. called seeking help with her injury and criminal cases. The Case: Luckily, S.C.'s baby was not impacted. But, she did not want to seek invasive treatment for her injuries due to her concerns for her unborn child. I was able to convince the insurance company that our client was deserving of the policy limits in her case which covered her medical expenses, including her ambulance, emergency room visit, and chiropractic treatment. Additionally, my client received compensation for her pain and suffering. While her personal injury case was ongoing, I guided S.C. through the process to get a valid driver's license. Once she was [...]
Concealed Firearm Charge in St. Pete Dropped
Facts: My client is 20 and was out with a friend in downtown St. Petersburg. They stopped off to get some food and then were eating when they saw a homeless man bothering two girls. My client's friend decided to help the girls and walked over and got the homeless man away from them. That caused the homeless man to get aggressive and follow them. Eventually, my client's friend pushed the homeless man to the ground. During the incident, his firearm fell onto the ground. As the police approached, my client picked up the firearm and put it in his waistband. When the police arrived, they asked my client if he had anything on him and he showed them the firearm. Because he was under the age of 21, he was not allowed to have a concealed firearm. He was arrested for felony possession of a concealed firearm and taken to the Pinellas County Jail. He then bonded out and called me. The Case: I immediately thought that this case was ridiculous. My client had never been in trouble before. It wasn't even [...]
Client With Mental Health Issues Gets Charges Dropped
Facts: My client is a young man who has been struggling with mental health problems for several months. His mother has repeatedly tried to get him help, but he has refused. Instead, he began self-medicating by drinking alcohol. This only worsened the problem. His mother could not get him under control. One night, he was out drinking and got into a fight with two other men. The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office responded and arrested him for two counts of misdemeanor battery. He was highly intoxicated. While he was getting arrested, he allegedly tensed and braced and was charged with misdemeanor obstruction. He was taken to the Pinellas County Jail and then bonded out on the three misdemeanors. The Case: His mother hired me to help. We immediately set him up with a mental health counselor. Eventually, he kept getting worse and he had to be Baker Acted. The medication that he was given helped to stabilize him. I supplied this material to the prosecutor and asked for the charges to be dismissed. Fortunately, neither of the men he was in the fight against [...]
Disorderly Conduct and Obstruction Charges Dismissed
Facts: My client and her friend were at a beach bar on St. Pete Beach. The bartender started giving my client an attitude and my client made a smart-aleck remark to her. Needless to say, the comment made the bartender mad and she asked my client to leave the bar. While my client was paying the tab, the bartender called the police to have her removed. Before the police arrived, my client and her friend drove off. A deputy with the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office followed the car and stopped it. The deputy began to investigate the bartender's report from the beach bar. My client started walking away and she was tackled and arrested for disorderly conduct (from the beach bar) and resisting or obstructing an officer (for walking away). She was taken to the Pinellas County Jail and then bonded out. The Case: After I was hired, I looked into the lawfulness of the arrest by the officer. There was an argument that since he did not witness the alleged disorderly conduct, he could not arrest her. I then put together a [...]
3 Misdemeanors After Stop on Golf Cart Dropped
Facts: My client and her friends went out to dinner in downtown Dunedin. They all took a friend's golf cart since they lived so close. On the way home, the golf cart ran a stop sign. There was no one on the road and the golf cart was not doing anything dangerous. But, a deputy with the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office with nothing better to do stopped the golf cart. He started a DUI investigation on the driver. My client was a passenger on the golf cart. Everyone thought that the deputy was being ridiculous and wanted him to let their friend go. A female backup deputy arrived and began getting aggressive with the ladies standing there. My client continued protesting the investigation when the female deputy tackled her, slammed her to the ground, and handcuffed her. My client was injured in the process and was badly bruised. She was eventually arrested for three misdemeanors- Obstruction of an Officer, Disorderly Intoxication, and Assault on an Officer. She was taken to the Pinellas County jail and bonded out. The Case: My client was mortified. [...]
St. Pete Domestic Battery Dropped in 25 Days
Facts: My client went out for drinks with her live-in boyfriend. They both drank too much and began to argue. The argument continued once they got home. At one point, the argument became physical and spilled out onto the balcony. An officer with the St. Petersburg PD heard the commotion and responded to their apartment. Although he was allegedly there to protect her, she did not want the police involved and refused to speak to them. To the contrary, her boyfriend said that she scratched him during the argument. To her surprise, she was arrested for domestic battery! The officer said that he gave her a chance to speak and that she didn't, so he was required to arrest one of them. She was taken to the Pinellas County Jail and saw the judge. The judge released her on ROR and allowed contact with her boyfriend, but required her to wear a CAM ankle monitor. The Case: Her boyfriend was adamant that he was not battered and that he did not want to prosecute. I immediately interviewed him and sent him a request [...]
Burglary with Battery Investigation Closed with No Charges
Facts: My client was visiting some friends on July 4 in St. Petersburg. They were shooting off fireworks in the road when a vehicle drove right through them at a high rate of speed. The vehicle then stopped at the end of the street and the driver sat there staring at them. Eventually, he began to drive back toward the group of people with the fireworks. My client was afraid of what this person would do next. My client decided to find out what was going on. The driver of the car began to film him. My client reached into the car, grabbed the phone and tossed it. The driver got out and began spraying pepper spray at everyone. It was a real fiasco. St. Petersburg Police were called and arrested the driver for reckless driving. No further arrests were made. But, the driver made a separate complaint to the police that was taken to the state attorney. A police officer notified my client that this investigation was going on. He told my client that there was an active investigation for burglary with [...]
Felony Domestic Battery Against Own Mother Dropped
Facts: My client has struggled with alcohol abuse for the past couple of years. She has a daughter and her alcohol issues have caused a lot of problems to the point that her mother helps raise the child. Her mother is over 65 and they share expenses for the child. One night, my client was drinking excessively and began arguing with her mother about money owed to her. The argument escalated and my client pushed her mother, causing her to fall. The police were called and my client was arrested for felony domestic battery on a person 65 years or older. Her mother and I have a relationship, so she called me and we spoke about the situation. Her mother decided not to bond her out for a while in order to let her detox from the alcohol. In the meantime, her mother also decided that she did not want her prosecuted and needed her out of jail in order to help take care of the child. Eventually, my client's boyfriend bonded her out after about 2 weeks of being in jail. The [...]
Battery and Criminal Mischief Charges at Wawa Dismissed
Facts: My client and her grandson were at a Wawa in St. Petersburg getting gas. There was a dispute between her and a work pickup over a spot at the pump. While her 13 yr old grandson sat in the car, the driver of the pickup truck walked over and banged on the window. That upset my client who began yelling at the men. One man took out his cell phone and started videotaping her. This further angered her and she knocked the man's phone out of his hand, breaking it. The St. Petersburg Police Department responded to the scene. There was no video of the altercation because the pickup truck blocked the camera angle. But, since the phone was broken and my client admitted to knocking it out of his hand, she was arrested for misdemeanor battery and criminal mischief. She bonded out and waited. Eventually, she received a notice in the mail that she had been formally charged. She then called me and hired me before her Arraignment. The Case: We received the police reports on the case and reviewed them. [...]
Disordely Intoxication in Downtown St. Pete Dropped
Facts: My client is a young professional and was in town on business. He was hanging out in downtown St. Petersburg at a sidewalk bar having some drinks. A police officer suddenly came running by him on the way to another call. As the officer passed, my client made a comment to him and slapped him on the arm. He was being a wiseguy to the officer. Well, the officer didn't appreciate it, and arrested him for disorderly intoxication. He was taken to the Pinellas County Jail. The Case: My client had no prior record and was worried about how this arrest would look to his employer and whether it would affect his professional licenses. I asked him for a full description of how it might affect him and a summary of what exactly happened. Because he had never been in trouble before and it didn't sound that egregious, I did not have him get an alcohol evaluation. I then sent all of the materials to the prosecutor. I then followed up with the prosecutor and spoke to him by phone. The Result: [...]
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