Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Immigration Consequences Of Domestic Violence
Domestic violence is generally seen as a crime against society, which is why it is prosecuted so aggressively in most states (Florida included). It can profoundly affect the lives of both the alleged abuser and the victim, both in and out of the criminal courtroom. One of the major ways this may be so… Read More »
Federal Drug Charges Vs. State Drug Charges
When someone is charged with drug offenses, they are almost always violating both state and federal law by what they are doing – however, if the stakes are high enough, a drug case will be tried in federal court because the penalties are demonstrably stiffer. If you have been charged with a drug-related crime,… Read More »
Children Can Be Victims Of Domestic Violence
In early 2022, a judge in the Federal District of Maryland sentenced an Orlando woman to 16 years in federal prison for committing ‘interstate domestic violence’ against a minor. The woman confessed to kidnapping a 17-year old female at gunpoint, as well as duct taping the hands of the teenager’s grandmother and threatening and… Read More »
Juvenile Drug Charges In Florida
The National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics (NCDAS) reports that minors in Florida are actually somewhat less likely to have used drugs than the average U.S. teenager, but that drug use is still more common than the average parent might like, not least of all because of the potential legal consequences. If a minor… Read More »
FSU Professor Sentenced In Domestic Violence Case
In February 2022, a professor from Florida State University (FSU) was sentenced to 90 days in Leon County’s jail, plus three years’ probation, after a 2020 incident in which he chased his wife with a butcher’s knife and threatened her. He pleaded no contest to the charges, which also included violating his pretrial release… Read More »
Busting Myths About Drug Trafficking In Florida
Drug trafficking is an offense that carries potentially severe sentences as well as social stigma. However, the crime itself is not well understood, at least not in Florida; too much misinformation is out there, and it can lead someone to make potentially poor decisions if they are charged with trafficking themselves. It is crucial… Read More »
Breaking Down Florida’s Domestic Violence Definition
When asked to define domestic violence, the average person usually thinks of a husband who initiates a violent altercation with his wife, and is later arrested and charged (or ignored, depending on the severity of the incident). In Florida and many other states, however, the law defines crimes of domestic violence in a much… Read More »
Palm Beach Man Pleads Guilty To Prescription Drug-Related Fraud
In late January 2022, a Palm Beach man pleaded guilty to one count of healthcare fraud for fraudulently billing Tricare and other Veterans’ Affairs healthcare programs, charging for compound medications that were not “medically necessary.” His is only one sentence in a far-reaching conspiracy that eventually saw several people charged with fraud. While it… Read More »
Legislature Considering Bill To Speed Up Processing Of Protective Orders
In early February 2022, the Florida legislature began considering a bill that would greatly increase the processing speed for domestic violence injunctions and other types of protective orders, potentially allowing them to go into effect faster and protect victims still at risk. The bill has bipartisan support, and is fairly comprehensive in terms of… Read More »
Key Largo Woman Accused Of Drug Offenses Involving Minor Children
In late January 2022, a Key Largo woman and her friend were arrested on multiple drug charges, including possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and possession of drug paraphernalia. Only the woman, however, was charged with child abuse and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, after allegations that she not only… Read More »