Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Potential Defenses To A Florida Domestic Violence Charge
Being charged with a crime of domestic violence can be a terrifying event, particularly if you are in fact innocent. The machinery of Florida’s legal system tends to move fast, and it can feel overwhelming to try and mount a defense. In reality there are several different defenses one can mount in response to… Read More »
Federal Drug Charges In Florida
Being charged with a drug offense under Florida law is an intimidating prospect for most; the consequences can stem from a misdemeanor to a capital felony, with issues that can continue even after one has served any jail sentence they would receive. Being convicted of a drug-related offense under U.S. federal law can lead… Read More »
Dating Violence vs Domestic Violence
Legally, Florida distinguishes between dating violence and domestic violence, primarily because dating relationships are assumed to be easier to flee. While sometimes this is not the case, the state nonetheless chooses to have two separate categories for these types of offenses. One might not think it matters, but the law treats domestic violence very… Read More »
The Use Of Flock Cameras & ALPRs In Drug Prosecutions
Florida law sees drug offenses like possession or sale as some of the most serious nonviolent offenses that a person can commit. They are seen as crimes against society, and the sentences handed down to those convicted are among the harshest in the United States. Recently, Florida law enforcement has started to use two… Read More »
Stalking Is A Form Of Domestic Violence
Most of the time, people think that crimes of domestic violence must be overtly and immediately violent, such as battery, sexual assault, or even homicide. In reality, many domestic violence crimes do not necessarily inflict major physical harm. Stalking is a prime example of an offense that usually does not result in physical injury… Read More »
“Prior Bad Acts” Evidence In Drug Trafficking Cases
When a person faces trial for drug trafficking in Florida, they can generally assume that only the facts in their current case will be used in the trial. While this is usually true under state law, there are provisions in federal law that allow past bad acts to be admissible as evidence. If you… Read More »
Don’t Just Plead Guilty To Domestic Violence Charges
It is not uncommon, particularly for those who have never been in trouble with the law before, to react emotionally when involved in a domestic violence case. Being charged with a crime of domestic violence can feel overwhelming, and in some, cause feelings of deep shame and regret. These feelings lead some people to… Read More »
Warrantless Searches & Florida Drug Arrests
The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution governs what is known as search and seizure law. It states that the people should be free from illegal searches and seizures, and establishes the requirement of a warrant, which can only be granted if probable cause for a search exists. However, there are exceptions in both… Read More »
Violations Of Domestic Violence Injunctions Are Taken Seriously
In matters of domestic violence, domestic violence injunctions (DVIs, also called restraining orders) are granted when the petitioner (the alleged victim) can show that they have been the past victim, or fear they will be the imminent future victim, of domestic violence. They are not granted in every domestic violence proceeding, and this means… Read More »
Cannabis Concentrates Are Against The Law
As of this writing, the state of Florida only allows legal cannabis consumption by those with a medical card, and only in certain forms. Cannabis can be ingested in many different ways, including via smoking or edibles, but another popular method is by ‘dabbing,’ meaning using a type of wax or concentrate. While items… Read More »