Author Archives: Jay Butchko
What Turns Florida Drug Possession Into Trafficking?
Drug trafficking is considered one of the most serious offenses in Florida law, given the amounts of money involved and the degree of harm it can do to society in general. However, for every hardened cartel member charged with trafficking, an average Floridian faces similar charges after an unpleasant surprise. It is important to… Read More »
Can Anyone File Domestic Violence Charges In Florida?
According to the movies and TV, only spouses can file domestic violence charges against each other – but in real life, the list is much longer, including ex-spouses, unmarried co-parents, and anyone living together ‘as a family.’ That said, there is a specific list of people who may act as the victim in domestic… Read More »
Inadmissibility Of Evidence In Florida Drug Cases
Florida prosecutes drug offenses very aggressively, viewing drug-related crimes as offenses against society. However, in their zeal, it is unfortunately not uncommon for state law enforcement to make mistakes in evidence collection, potentially both infringing upon your rights and jeopardizing their case. The right attorney can help protect your rights and call out any… Read More »
Broward County Democrat Seeks To Change Injunction Law
The most recent available data from Florida authorities estimates that around 106,500 crimes of domestic violence were reported to law enforcement, with untold numbers more not being reported at all due to fears of future violence. In an effort to protect victims of such crimes, State Senator Sharief filed a bill in September 2025… Read More »
Actual vs Constructive Drug Possession In Florida
Drug possession is a very common crime in Florida, but not all possession cases are prosecuted the same way. There are certain criteria that a prosecution must meet in order for a defendant to be found guilty, and one of them is whether or not the defendant had possession, whether actual or constructive, of… Read More »
Appeals Court Decision May Have Consequences For Domestic Violence Survivors
The right to carry a firearm is one that many Floridians prize. In early September, a three-judge panel of the 1st District Court of Appeals struck down the state’s ’decades-old’ ban on open carry, referring to it as the “default mode of bearing arms.” While proponents of open carry argue that it reinforces the… Read More »
New Ruling May Affect Cannabis Cases
In late September 2025, Florida’s 2nd District Court of Appeals reversed a long-standing state law, holding that the mere smell of cannabis is not sufficient grounds to stop and search a vehicle. In addition, the court certified the question to the state Supreme Court, essentially providing the grounds on which it could decide the… Read More »
Domestic Violence Charges … Against Roommates?
The average person generally believes that one can only commit domestic violence against a spouse or partner. In reality, many U.S. states (Florida included) have rewritten their domestic violence statutes to include crimes against many different people – including some with whom you may have no romantic relationship at all. If you have been… Read More »
Explaining Chain Of Custody In Florida Drug Cases
In a criminal case, evidence is handled in a way so as to preserve its integrity and ensure it is not tampered with or altered. This is known as the chain of custody, and it is crucial to most criminal prosecutions, particularly drug cases – after all, a defendant should not be convicted based… Read More »
Cyberstalking & Domestic Violence
In Florida, ‘domestic violence’ is a wide umbrella term, with many offenses falling under that purview if they meet certain criteria. Stalking and cyberstalking are two of the crimes that may qualify as domestic violence offenses, but this can be a shock to someone whose intent is not to cause any kind of emotional… Read More »