Articles Posted in Sex Crimes

Most people view domestic violence as a kind of misdemeanor crime that can fairly easily be overcome in court, as the accusations are largely he-said-she-said.

Sometimes, this is true. And it’s also true that a lot of allegations get overblown as a result of statements made in the intensity and heat of an emotional argument. However, it’s also true that certain domestic violence cases in Florida can result in felony convictions accompanied by decades-long prison sentences.

In the recent case of a former Broward County bailiff, reports say he narrowly escaped a life sentence for a conviction on charges that he kidnapped and raped his wife on the day she asked for a divorce.
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For a long time, the stigma of prostitution primarily stung those arrested for selling their bodies. However, there is a growing awareness that in many of those cases, those individuals may not have had a choice in the matter.

Because of this, and the fact that a prostitution conviction can have a negative effect on so many aspects of one’s future and opportunities, the state of Florida, among others, offers an avenue of relief for some. It’s a little-known remedy known as a “vacatur of conviction.” Essentially, it allows victims of human trafficking to have their convictions vacated entirely.

It’s different from having one’s record expunged or pardoned.
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It’s inevitable that everyone carries their own personal feelings, attitudes and beliefs which color their perceptions of the world around them.

Jurors are no different. It is expected that attorneys and judges, though the voire dire process, will be able to identify some of those biases and determine as best as possible whether that person can still objectively evaluate the evidence.

But not all prejudice is internal. As the recent case of Long v. Florida reveals, external factors occurring at or during trial could improperly influence a juror’s decision.
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Charles Edward Floyd, 40, could not hold back his tears today as he was sentenced to 30 years in Florida State Prison for raping a prisoner he was transporting while working as a Broward Sheriff’s Corrections Deputy on June 13, 2007. His wife was gripped with emotion as she watched her husband being taken away to serve his 30 year prison sentence. Baby, I’m sorry, I gotta go. Don’t cry for me,” he sobbed. “Mom, I love you.” This was too much for his wife as she began throwing up and crying intensely.
Floyd was charged with one count of kidnapping and two counts of sexual battery by a person in a position of control or authority. These charges stem from an incident in which Floyd was working for the Broward Sheriff’s Office. It was during this time which Floyd was transporting three female inmates. After dropping off two of the three inmates the Broward Sheriff Deputy drove to a remote location where he ordered the female inmate to perform oral sex on him. It was at this time that Floyd had sexual intercourse with the inmate. According to Broward County State Attorney Prosecutors, Floyd’s DNA was found in the womans cervix.
His attorney, Bob Nichols, argued that the “victim did not appear traumatized after the event.” He said the judge should “weigh a lifetime of service to the community versus one day.”
All sexual batteries are violent,” Judge Lazarus responded. Even when “a good person commits an evil deed, nonetheless, he commits an evil deed.”

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