Author Archives: Jay Butchko
2 People Charged After Attempted Sale Of Cocaine In North Miami Beach
In early June 2023, North Miami Beach police (NMBPD) arrested a Bahamian national and a resident of New Jersey after they were stopped “attempting a drug transaction.” The transaction allegedly involved over 100 kilograms of cocaine, transported in bales. The two individuals will likely face felony charges of trafficking in cocaine, which can carry… Read More »
Can Teenagers Face Domestic Violence Charges?
At least in theory, anyone is capable of committing domestic violence. However, the average person tends to think only of adults when discussing these topics. In reality, teenagers can be respondents in domestic violence cases as well, though the cases are usually prosecuted in a different manner. If you or your child have been… Read More »
Man Charged With Drug Offenses After Stopping To Charge His Phone
In June 2023, a man was arrested after breaking into a Hernando County home, ostensibly to charge his phone. He claimed he had thought the house belonged to his girlfriend, but did not know the address. While being searched, police found both heroin and methamphetamine on the man’s person and in his backpack. The… Read More »
Does Stalking Count As Domestic Violence?
Domestic violence is an ‘umbrella’ of sorts in Florida, encompassing any crime that causes physical injury or death to a “family or household member” of the alleged perpetrator. Stalking is a crime that is normally charged as a first-degree misdemeanor, but aggravating factors can bump it up to a third-degree felony, and can place… Read More »
Is The Evidence In Your Drug Case Admissible?
If you are caught with drugs in your possession or control, it may be in your best interests to simply plead guilty and accept your sentence. However, there are some cases in which you may be able to show that your rights were violated, or that the evidence against you was obtained improperly. If… Read More »
Florida’s LGBTQ+ Community & Domestic Violence
As of this writing, Florida is a difficult place to be a member of the LGBTQ+ community. In early April 2023, the advocacy group Equality Florida took the step of issuing a travel warning for LGBTQ+ people, citing the current administration’s legislative direction and a general lack of protection for members of those communities…. Read More »
26 Arrests Made In SW Florida Drug Ring Bust
A regional scheme coordinated in the 20th Judicial Circuit of Florida has yielded 26 arrests, plus confiscation of approximately $250,000, drugs, and multiple weapons. The Narcotics Enforcement Task Force (NETF) was established in 2019, aimed at reducing organized crime presence in Charlotte, Collier, Lee, Hendry, and Glades Counties. The arrests in April 2023 see… Read More »
What Is – And Is Not – Domestic Violence In Florida
The definition of domestic violence in Florida is necessarily wide-ranging, as several types of criminal offenses may fall under that proverbial umbrella. The legislature intended to extend that umbrella as far as possible, so that more victims could seek justice – but sometimes, domestic violence may not actually be the right charge for someone… Read More »
Suppressing Evidence In Drug Possession Cases
If you have been charged with drug possession in Florida, the strength of the state’s evidence against you will determine your ultimate fate. There are specific criteria that must be established by the state in order to establish a person’s guilt, and those criteria must have evidence to back them up. However, it is… Read More »
The “Reasonable Person” Standard in Florida Domestic Violence Cases
Domestic violence is seen as a serious crime in Florida, but not every allegation will lead to a protection order and charges. The average person may think that the victim’s testimony is enough to obtain a domestic violence injunction against their alleged abuser, but Florida (and most other jurisdictions) observe what is known as… Read More »