Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Defenses To Charges Of Domestic Violence
When one is charged with domestic violence, they can suffer real damage to their reputation and their livelihood, even if they are in fact innocent of the charges against them or the situation is more complex than meets the eye. It can be easy to feel like giving up – but you have the… Read More »
Drug Overdoses In Florida May (Or May Not) Lead To Charges
Florida is a state with an unfortunate history when it comes to drugs. Due to relative ease of access and a lacking social safety net, drug use and abuse remains high in the state. Florida’s Department of Health reports that drug overdoses have steadily risen in recent years, reaching a peak of over 2,000… Read More »
Consequences For Domestic Violence In Florida
If a person is convicted of domestic violence, the legal consequences are significant – at the very least, jail time and fines await them. However, there are additional consequences that can affect a person who has a domestic violence conviction (or even an arrest, in some cases!) on their criminal record. If you have… Read More »
“Simple” Drug Possession In Florida
Under Florida law, if a person is charged with simple drug possession, it means that they were found with an illegal controlled substance, but showed no intent to sell or otherwise distribute the drug. This is an important distinction in Florida, because the state has some of the harshest drug laws in the United… Read More »
Domestic Violence In The LGBTQ+ Community Often Goes Unreported
Domestic violence is a crime that can affect everyone, regardless of gender or sexuality. Yet despite statistics showing that the LGBTQ+ community is just as susceptible to domestic violence, a pattern of failing to report has been charted over years and even decades. There are a variety of reasons for this, but if you… Read More »
Pinellas County Doctor Charged With Selling Fake Prescriptions
In late July 2022, a Clearwater doctor was charged with a total of six counts of drug trafficking – three each for codeine and oxycodone – after being arrested when an undercover police officer attempted to buy a prescription. The doctor had allegedly been selling prescriptions for promethazine codeine syrup – essentially a cough… Read More »
What Is The Victim’s Role In A Florida Domestic Violence Case?
If you have been arrested and charged with any crime of domestic violence, you may think that if your alleged victim refuses to cooperate, you will simply be released and the charges will be dropped. Unfortunately, this is not how this type of offense is prosecuted in Florida. While it may seem counterintuitive at… Read More »
Defenses To Drug Charges In Florida
If you have been charged with a drug offense in Florida, it can feel entirely overwhelming, especially if this is your first run-in with the law. However, you are entitled to your day in court, and a chance to explain your side of the story. There are several potentially mitigating circumstances you can introduce… Read More »
Influencer Faces Second-Degree Murder Charges In Domestic Violence Incident
In August 2022, social media model and influencer Courtney Clenney was arrested in Hawaii and extradited back to Florida to face charges of second-degree murder with a deadly weapon. Her boyfriend, Christian Obumseli, was killed in April after an incident in which Clenney allegedly stabbed him with a long knife. While in general, women… Read More »
Felony Drug Offender Probation In Florida
If you are charged with felony drug possession in Florida, you are generally facing significant and serious charges. However, depending on the specific facts of your situation, you may wind up sentenced to what is known as felony drug offender probation. This may be a blessing in your case, but it should not be… Read More »