Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Federal Court vs. State Court
In the United States, there is a federal court system, and a state court system, as designed in the early years of the country’s existence. Those who may never have been in trouble with the law are often unaware of this, but if they are charged with a crime, this can cause real trouble,… Read More »
Can Drug Dealers Be Charged With Murder?
Florida has a reputation as a state with strict laws and tough sentences for anyone convicted of a crime. Drug dealers in particular face stiff penalties and long sentences. However, a debate has cropped up in recent months and years surrounding the responsibility of drug dealers when their buyers die. If you have been… Read More »
Gunfire On I-95 Leads To Injuries
In the early morning of July 28, a sedan driver and his passenger were headed north on I-95 when their vehicle was struck by gunfire from another passing car. Both people in the vehicle sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries from multiple bullet wounds. While as of this writing, the shooter or shooters have not… Read More »
Immigrant Smuggling In America
With all the discussion on the practices of the current federal administration with regard to immigration law, it is understandable to become somewhat confused about the criminal ramifications of some immigration acts. While the right to seek asylum is a legal right under both U.S. and international law, there are other acts related to… Read More »
Driver Sought In Deadly Hit-And-Run
In the early morning hours of August 3, a hit-and-run driver struck and killed Wilson Vasquez Hernandez as he walked near the intersection of Lake Avenue and Hampton Road in West Palm Beach. The driver then fled the scene without stopping to render aid, potentially opening themselves to charges stemming from leaving the scene… Read More »
Not-Guilty Verdict In Palm Beach County Rape Case
On May 1, a six-person jury found a Boca Raton man not guilty of sexual assault in a case from 2017. The jury found that there was insufficient evidence to support the State Attorney’s arguments that the defendant was incapable of consent. While the defendant in this case was cleared of wrongdoing, it is… Read More »
No Tolerance For Drug Crimes
Florida is one of the states that sees the highest influx of illegal drugs, and as such, law enforcement has adopted a very tough stance on possession and distribution crimes. Even though some drugs like marijuana and ketamine are being found to have medical uses, they are still illegal for now, and being caught… Read More »
Florida White Collar Crime
The term white collar crime was allegedly coined in the late 1930s to apply to organized crime activity, but in this day and age, it is used to cover the gamut of crimes committed by business and/or government professionals. White collar crimes are almost always financial in nature, and are usually nonviolent. There are… Read More »
Attempted Felony Murder Charge For Young Mother
A tragic case in Palm Beach County has led to charges of attempted felony murder for a young woman. Rafaelle Carbalho Sousa was taken into custody after confessing to detectives that she gave birth to a baby girl and then abandoned her in a dumpster. She was charged with attempted felony murder, which carries… Read More »
Woman Accused Of Embezzling From Contractor
A City Point woman has been charged with 41 different counts of cashing or depositing a check with intent to defraud, as well as grand theft and organized fraud, after stealing approximately $128,000 from a Cocoa Beach contractor she worked for. All of these charges fall under the umbrella of embezzlement, which is an… Read More »