Fort Lauderdale Criminal Attorney Blog

October 9, 2015

Attempted Murder Charge for Florida Stabbing Suspect

By The Law Offices of Richard Ansara, P.A.

A Florida woman has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly stabbing her husband seven times in their West Palm Beach home.

West Palm Beach police reported 39-year-old Christina Balazi was arrested after her husband of 10 years was transported to a local hospital with knife wounds, which were not believed to be life-threatening. The alleged victim reportedly told investigators while at the hospital that his wife suffers from bipolar disorder, and that the stabbing occurred while the pair were being intimate in their home.

Our South Florida criminal defense attorneys understand that as funding for mental health services has been slashed drastically in recent years, what used to be treated at localized treatment centers has now been shifted to emergency rooms, the Department of Children and Families and the criminal justice system. In the event there are allegations or evidence of violence, persons who suffer from mental health issues don’t end up receiving care that could address the underlying issues – they end up in jail.
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October 5, 2015

Man Faces Homicide Charges in Double Fatal Crash

By The Law Offices of Richard Ansara, P.A.

Admerson Cleber Eugenio Vicente was not supposed to be behind the wheel of a car. In fact, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, the 24-year-old man from Jupiter was legally barred from doing so until 2020 because authorities had slapped a “habitual traffic offender” label on his record.

And yet, he was behind the wheel, according to troopers with the Florida State Patrol. Investigators say he was driving a vehicle the wrong direction down I-95. In so doing, he collided with another vehicle, in which two sisters – a 23-year-old violinist and a 24-year-old Air Force staff sergeant – were on their mother’s home in Pompano Beach, following a trip to Disney World.

They never made it. The two died almost instantly in the violent, fiery crash. By the time first responders got to the scene, it was too late to save them.

As for Vicente, he is now in serious trouble. At this point, it’s early in the investigation. No criminal charges have been filed. But assuming he survives, he almost certainly will face charges, and it’s likely he could find himself in prison for decades.
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October 1, 2015

Pompano Beach Neck Stabbing Suspect Sought

By The Law Offices of Richard Ansara, P.A.

An argument between two Pompano Beach roommates resulted in a violent act that left one man in critical condition with multiple stab wounds to the neck and another facing charges of attempted murder.

Police haven’t indicated what the source of the conflict was between alleged victim Mark Gougeon, 57, and alleged assailant, Brandon Wilson, 25. Both men were identified per a Broward County Sheriff’s report released to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

According to news reports of the incident, deputies responded to a call regarding a Pompano Beach stabbing on Sept. 29th. Near the 400 block of NW 10th Avenue, authorities found a man on an outside bench, suffering from a major loss of blood from his neck. The victim was reportedly still conscious and breathing, and well enough to inform investigators that Wilson, his roommate, grabbed him from behind and attempted to cut his throat.
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September 29, 2015

Florida Manslaughter Arrest for Fatal Shove

By The Law Offices of Richard Ansara, P.A.

A single shove outside a Florida tire shop ended one man’s life and forever altered another.

Casey Fletcher, 28, is facing a charge of manslaughter, following an altercation outside the store on Prospect Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. The fact pattern in this case has been described as “unique” for the fact defendant did not intend to cause harm to the alleged victim. Rather, he was coming to the aid of his girlfriend, and he didn’t try to use or even have possession of a weapon.

However, that single push resulted in the 66-year-old falling on the concrete, striking his head hard on the ground. His brain injuries were serious. His brother recently spoke with a reporter about the decision to take him off life support. He described his “shock” and called the whole incident “a shame.”
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September 25, 2015

Ex-Spa Owner Guilty of Prostitution, Money Laundering, Avoids Long Prison Term

By The Law Offices of Richard Ansara, P.A.

One might say the outcome of Xiaoqin Li’s criminal case was a “happy ending” of sorts.

On the one hand, the former massage parlor owner did plead guilty to three criminal charges, including two for running a house of prostitution and another for money laundering. For that, she’ll have to serve at least nine months in jail, followed by 10 years of probation, with the first year of that on house arrest with an ankle monitor. She also has to agree to forfeit nearly $200,000 in funds seized from the business.

On the other hand, she avoided a lengthy prison sentence. Had she been convicted at trial of all the charges against her, she faxed a minimum term of four years, or a maximum term of 35 years.

The 52-year-old defendant and her two employees were arrested after a long police investigation sparked by complaints from neighboring businesses that the women were providing more than massages. Specifically, Li and her employees were accused of performing sex acts for money after massages at the business, which catered almost exclusively to male clientele.
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September 18, 2015

Florida Doctor Acquitted of Pill Mill Murder, Guilty of Drug Sale

By The Law Offices of Richard Ansara, P.A.

A former pediatric surgeon who was later in retirement worked part-time for a pain clinic in Palm Beach County has been acquitted of murder charges related to the fatal overdose of a 24-year-old patient on Oxycodone. However, the 81-year-old physician was convicted of “selling” (over-prescribing) high quantities of Xanax to a patient – coincidentally a former chef for Donal Trump, no a U.S. Republican presidential candidate – who was undergoing treatment for substance abuse addiction.

The patient did not die, but the charge is still a third-degree felony, for which the doctor could face up to five years in prison. However, there is no minimum mandatory, so it will be up to the jurors and judge to decide the sentencing. The case was connected to a one-time “pill mill empire,” which involved a $40 million operation with clinics in both Palm Beach and Broward Counties.

The two twin brothers who owned the operation – now serving 15- and 20-year prison sentences – testified against the doctor. He faced 11 charges, including second-degree murder, drug conspiracy and drug trafficking.
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September 17, 2015

Boca Raton Mom Arrested for DUI, Leaving Child Alone

By The Law Offices of Richard Ansara, P.A.

It was bad when the West Boca Raton woman in Coral Springs crashed her car around midnight. What made it worse was that police ascertained she was drunk at the time.

But worse than that? She had left her 3-year-old child alone at home.

Deputies with the Palm Beach County sheriff’s office arrived at the house, but no one answered and they couldn’t gain entry. Finally, the woman’s husband arrived at the household and unlocked the door. There, they found the girl inside, sleeping on a bed.

The husband was reportedly just coming home from work and was surprised to see a deputy at his door. He had no idea his wife had left their daughter alone at home or that she’d been arrested for a DUI accident.

Now, the woman faces charges of DUI and child neglect.
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September 14, 2015

Felony Stalking Conviction in Florida Requires Credible Threat

By The Law Offices of Richard Ansara, P.A.

It was a neighborhood dispute turned ugly. Even the defense attorney for one of those involved would concede his actions were criminal. But he insisted the more than five dozen phone calls, containing “disgusting and vile messages,” were misdemeanor rather than felony offenses.

A Palm Beach County jury agreed.

Now, rather than face up to five years in prison under F.S. 784.048 (3), felony stalking, he was convicted of a misdemeanor and sentenced to the maximum 60 days in jail – minus credit for three days already served.

The primary difference between felony stalking and misdemeanor stalking is the idea of a “credible threat.” Even the defendant’s attorney called him “jerk” and the content of the calls “disgusting.” But he chalked it up to the man’s “odd sense of humor.”
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September 9, 2015

U.S. v. Martinez – Florida Threat Conviction Overturned

By The Law Offices of Richard Ansara, P.A.

The federal conviction of a South Florida woman for violation of 18 U.S.C. 875(c), making threatening communication, has been overturned in light of the June U.S. Supreme Court decision in Elonis v. U.S..

Essentially, what the court said in Elonis was that it is not enough in a criminal case to prove the defendant’s actions were negligent. That is, it’s improper to use the standard of what a reasonable person would do or believe under the same circumstances. Rather, in order to convict a person of this criminal charge, there must be a finding that the wrongdoing must be conscious to the criminal. In essence, “What the defendant think does matter.”

This was an important ruling for the fact that to hold a personal criminally accountable for mere negligence is borderline unconstitutional. This is not to say individuals can’t be criminally charged for negligent acts, but under this particular statute, courts are required to prove subjective intent in order to secure a conviction.
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September 6, 2015

Wright v. Florida – Felony Firearm Conviction Challenged

By The Law Offices of Richard Ansara, P.A.

Florida is fairly permissive with regard to firearm purchase and possession, but there is a major exception: Felons. In the state of Florida, it is illegal for those convicted of felonies to possess firearms and/or ammunition.

There are two general exceptions to this. The first is when a convicted felon has his or her civil rights restored AND firearm authority restored through the state Clemency Board. It’s not enough that one receives a general restoration of rights. In order to restore firearm authority, an application has to be filed, and there is a waiting period of at least eight years from the date the sentence expired. The second allowance is when the firearm qualifies as an antique gun per F.S. 790.001(1).

The definitions of “possession” and “antique” were central in the case of Wright v. Florida, in which a man convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition appealed that conviction in Florida’s 4th District Court of Appeal.
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