Author Archives: Jay Butchko
“Gabby Petito Act” Took Effect July 1
In 2021, the 22-year old Gabrielle “Gabby” Petito was tragically killed by her then-fiancé during a cross-country van trip the two were taking. Before her death, the two were spotted arguing by police in Utah. After her body was found, her parents filed a civil lawsuit against the police department, alleging that they negligently… Read More »
What Is Florida “Doctor Shopping?”
Florida has very strict laws surrounding the possession, sale, and trafficking of drugs, seeing these crimes as dangerous not only to specific individuals, but to society at large. Generally, this does not apply to those who have legitimate prescriptions for controlled substances – for example, a person diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)… Read More »
How Can Domestic Violence Affect Divorce?
Divorce is never easy, but when domestic violence is a factor, things can get infinitely more complex. Discussions of child visitation and custody are immediately made minefields if a parent has been convicted of a crime of domestic violence, and it can cause major problems for that parent in terms of establishing that they… Read More »
Possession With Intent To Sell/Distribute Drugs In Florida
Possession of drugs is a fairly straightforward offense in Florida, prosecuted strictly because of the state’s history as a cartel playground. However, Florida law distinguishes simple possession from possession with intent to sell or distribute drugs, and for many, it is easy to become confused, particularly if they have never been in trouble with… Read More »
Are Plea Bargains Possible In Domestic Violence Cases?
The plea-bargain is a tool in an attorney’s arsenal, used in cases where a prosecuting attorney is unsure they will get the outcome they wish for at trial, or where a defense attorney is unsure they will be able to successfully establish a person’s innocence. They are far more common than the average person… Read More »
Felony Drug Offenses In Florida
Committing a drug-related crime in Florida can open a person up to a long jail sentence, given the harshness of the state’s drug laws. Florida’s legislature considers possession and distribution of drugs to be crimes against society, rather than simply against those who use drugs, and state’s attorneys tend to charge these offenses aggressively…. Read More »
Can A Florida Domestic Violence Conviction Be Expunged?
In Florida, there is no specific crime of domestic violence. Rather, the presence of domestic violence in a criminal offense is used as a sentencing enhancement of sorts. This means that domestic violence crimes are not in a category by themselves; rather, they are treated the same way as any other offenses when the… Read More »
Civil Asset Forfeiture After A Florida Drug Crime
Asset forfeiture is a legal process by which property that is believed to be connected to an offense – or was obtained via proceeds from that offense – can be seized by law enforcement. In terms of what may be seized and why, Florida’s law is broad, potentially permitting law enforcement to retain the… Read More »
Domestic Violence Cases Can Be Dangerous For All Involved
In May 2024, a senior airman from Hurlburt Air Force Base was shot and killed by an Okaloosa County deputy. The deputy was responding to an alleged domestic dispute call, having spoken to a woman who had apparently heard an argument. He stopped at the airman’s door, and according to body camera footage, the… Read More »
Alleged ‘Drug Mule’ For Hip-Hop Star Accepts Plea Deal
The hip-hop mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has faced significant legal trouble in recent months, with accusations of sex trafficking and rape being brought against him. In addition to Combs’ own legal issues, Brendan Paul, a man described as Combs’ alleged “drug mule,” accepted a plea deal in May 2024 to avoid jail time on… Read More »