Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Homestead Police Officer Charged After Fight With Wife
While we all like to think that we would never be placed in a position where domestic abuse can happen – either as victim or perpetrator – sometimes things can simply get out of hand. In late February 2024, a Homestead police officer was arrested for domestic violence after an argument with his wife… Read More »
Florida Drug Courts Can Help Defendants Get A Second Chance
Normally, when a person has to go to court, the experience is intimidating and adversarial, particularly if they are on trial for a criminal offense. However, Florida has played a major role in developing a new kind of court, designed to arrive at solutions in a slightly different way. Now under the larger umbrella… Read More »
I Swear I’m Innocent!
Being charged with a crime of domestic violence, particularly if you have never been in trouble with the law before, can be a terrifying and shameful event even if you know you are guilty – but if you are truly innocent, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by the system. Florida law defines… Read More »
Actual vs Constructive Possession In Florida Drug Cases
Possession of drugs is a fairly straightforward crime in most respects; one might figure that either a person possessed drugs, or they did not. In reality, the law allows for more variation and nuance in the definition of “possession.” One of the most common issues in this respect is the concept of actual versus… Read More »
Legal & Practical Consequences Of A Domestic Violence Conviction
Domestic violence is a serious crime that is treated as appropriately serious by Florida authorities. The state does not have one specific cause of action referred to as ‘domestic violence;’ rather, it is treated as an umbrella under which several crimes fit. If a person is convicted of a crime of domestic violence, there… Read More »
Florida Drug-Free Zones Help Protect Children
The concept of the drug-free zone has been present in U.S. jurisprudence since the 1970s, with many of them centered on schools and places of worship. The intent of such a policy is obvious – to protect children from being exposed to drug-related activity in the places they might congregate. On its face, this… Read More »
“Greyson’s Law” Takes Effect In Florida
In the middle of 2023, Florida’s governor signed “Greyson’s Law” into law, planning for it to take effect in July of that year. The law was named for a young child killed by his father in a 2021 murder-suicide, and its intent is to strengthen the law’s ability to protect children at risk of… Read More »
Federal Agency Officially Recommends Rescheduling Cannabis
Both U.S. federal law and the law of the states categorize drugs into schedules, with Schedule I substances having high potential for addiction or abuse and no accepted medical usage. As of this writing, cannabis is a Schedule I drug, treated as highly addictive and dangerous. However, attitudes on its medical uses are changing,… Read More »
When Women Commit Domestic Violence
Statistics from the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) estimate that roughly 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have experienced “some form of physical violence” perpetrated by an intimate partner (currently, there is not enough data to report on trends involving people of other genders). While women are the more frequently… Read More »
Polk County Traffic Stop Turns Into Drug Arrest
A routine traffic stop in Polk County in January 2024 resulted in a sudden arrest on drug charges for one Haines City man. The man was pulled over because his tailgate was allegedly obscuring his license plate, and after law enforcement asked for his license and registration, the man handed them over. However, he… Read More »