Author Archives: Jay Butchko
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 »
Why Does Florida Domestic Abuse Often Go Unreported?
It is common in celebrity gossip to see an allegedly abused spouse stay with their partner, provoking confusion or even anger. The average person may wonder why one spouse stays in the relationship after allegedly being abused. In reality, people remain in abusive relationships, and often do not even report alleged abuse, for several… Read More »
Defending Against Drug Paraphernalia Charges
When a person is arrested for drug possession, another common charge that they may face at the same time is possession of drug paraphernalia. In Florida, the definition of ‘drug paraphernalia’ is very wide, meaning that in some cases, a person may face legal issues for possessing things they had no idea might be… Read More »
Can A Domestic Violence Crime Be Expunged In Florida?
It is not uncommon for a person who has been convicted of domestic violence to wonder about the possibility of expungement. Expungement is the process by which a criminal offense is removed from a person’s record, and while it is generally worth it to inquire, the answer depends on certain specific factors required by… Read More »
My Child Has Been Charged With A Drug Crime, What Do I Do?
The most recent Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey (FYSAS) shows a marked downturn in drug and alcohol use among students in the state. However, minors still get caught with illicit substances at roughly the same frequency, and just like with adults, they tend to be prosecuted harshly. Florida handles drug-related cases extremely aggressively, and… Read More »
Bipartisan Domestic Violence Bill Seeks To Close Gun Enforcement Gap
In February 2025, a tragic triple homicide occurred in Tamarac, in Broward County, with a husband murdering his wife, her father, and a neighbor before being subdued by police. While the husband has pleaded not guilty, the immediate story in the days directly after the homicide was how hard the deceased wife had tried… Read More »
Sentencing Enhancements In Florida Drug Cases
In U.S. criminal law, a sentencing enhancement is a factor that increases the potential prison sentence for an offense based on who committed it, against whom it was committed, and how it was committed. Sentencing enhancements exist because certain crimes involve greater threats to society or greater evidence of moral guilt is manifested by… Read More »