George Zimmerman is the man most prominently known to America as the neighborhood watch leader who fatally shot unarmed black teen Trayvon Martin in Central Florida in 2012. Although he was acquitted of murder in the case, the 31-year-old hasn’t stayed out of trouble, mostly with regard to violent ends…
A defendant in a DUI manslaughter case was five months pregnant with her fourth child when she received a sentence of 15 years for killing a pregnant woman outside a hotel in Fort Lauderdale three years ago. Family members of the decedent, who was seven months pregnant with a son…
Police officers swear the eyes never lie, at least when it comes to the horizontal gaze nystagmus exam. The test is routinely used by police officers who suspect a driver is drunk as part of the field sobriety exam. It involves having a suspect follow a small object, such as…
There is a popular, viral meme that states something to the effect: “A good friend will bail you out of jail. A best friend will be sitting next to you in the cell.” It’s intended to elicit a chuckle, but the reality is, helping a friend or family member commit…
DUI checkpoints occur nearly every day across the country, and up to several times a week in Florida. While some states refuse to allow them, sobriety checkpoints have been deemed constitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court and the Florida Supreme Court. Still, they continue to raise the ire of some…
A teen driver who confessed to police he had consumed marijuana just prior to a fatal crash that claimed the life of a 65-year-old motorcyclist two years ago will not go to jail, according to a new report by the Sun Sentinel. This is an interesting case because F.S. 316.193…
A man previously convicted of drug dealing has been given another trial, after Florida’s First District Court of Appeal ruled certain testimony from a law enforcement officer was improperly admitted. According to court records in Smith v. Florida, an officer, over the objection of defense counsel, detailed the “typical” drug…
Prosecution in a number of DUI-related deaths in Fort Lauderdale has recently made headlines, with authorities seeking harsh penalties for convicted defendants. Courts in Florida are given broad discretion in terms of sentencing in a DUI manslaughter case, thought there is a minimum mandatory sentence of four years in prison,…
As we look to a new year, some may wish to explore the possibility of a clean slate. That is, to have their criminal record expunged so it no longer hinders their ability to secure a job, student loans or other opportunities. You may have heard recently of celebrity Mark…
Tis the season for giving – and also for taking. Theft in its various forms inevitably spikes during the holidays, when more opportunities present themselves. From retail theft to package theft to identify theft – there is always more of it in December and January. Law enforcement agencies have responded…