Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Can My Social Media Harm My Domestic Violence Defense?
It is all too common nowadays for a person who has been involved in a domestic dispute to vent about it on social media. Very often, that is the end of it – but if this happens in a moment where someone has been charged with an actual crime of domestic violence, that moment… Read More »
Frequently Asked Questions About Medical Cannabis In Florida
Medical cannabis has been legal in Florida since 2014, but access is still strictly regulated, with many different requirements that potential cardholders must meet in order to qualify for the program. If you are a person with a medical condition that benefits from cannabis use, it is important that you understand the proverbial hoops… Read More »
Is A Domestic Violence Injunction Worth It?
The conventional wisdom often given to a victim of domestic violence is to obtain a domestic violence injunction (DVI, also called a restraining order) if possible, given that it ostensibly provides protection in the event that an alleged abuser tries to harm them further. While this is often true, it does not address the… Read More »
Drug Crimes & Habitual Offender Status In Florida
If a person is convicted of a drug crime in the state of Florida, and they have a past history of drug use or distribution, it is sometimes within a judge’s purview to impose stricter penalties on them. One of these penalties is known as habitual offender, or habitual felony offender, status. Being tagged… Read More »
Miranda Rights & Drug Charges In Florida
A 2022 survey from the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania reported that less than half of U.S. citizens could name all three branches of their government, while only 40 percent knew that undocumented immigrants have rights under the U.S. Constitution. This unfortunate lack of civic literacy often applies when being… Read More »
Have You Been Charged With A Florida Domestic Violence Crime?
Domestic violence in Florida is defined as any criminal offense resulting in “physical injury or death” to a victim who shares a particular type of relationship with the alleged perpetrator – for example, a spouse, ex-spouse, or unmarried co-parent, among others. If you have been charged with this type of crime, it is crucial… Read More »
Can You ‘Stand Your Ground’ During A Domestic Dispute?
Florida’s ‘stand your ground’ law has had a somewhat controversial past, being used to justify killings some saw as unlawful, or even used as a metaphorical stick with which to beat defendants. However, if you have been a victim of domestic violence, knowing the intricacies of the ‘stand your ground’ law can help you… Read More »
Accused Of Conspiracy To Commit A Drug Offense?
Most of the time, a person must commit a specific act in order to be charged with a crime. However, there is a specific category of offenses known as ‘incomplete’ or ‘inchoate’ crimes where that is not the case. The most commonly known are solicitation and attempt, but conspiracy is another of that type…. Read More »
Florida’s Domestic Violence Definition
Unlike in other states, which create a specific cause of action for ‘domestic violence’ or ‘intimate partner violence’ (IPV), Florida law does not recognize a criminal offense as one of domestic violence immediately – rather, a crime is specified as a domestic violence offense either at charging or sentencing. This can be a bit… Read More »
Being Charged With Federal Drug Crimes
Normally, if a person is charged with a drug-related crime in Florida, their case will be handled by state authorities. However, if the alleged offense satisfies certain criteria, it may wind up being tried at the federal level. There are some significant differences between being tried in state court versus federal court, and if… Read More »