Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Can I Fight A Florida Domestic Violence Injunction?
If you have been involved in a domestic dispute in Florida, your alleged victim may feel it appropriate to obtain a restraining order (known in Florida as a domestic violence injunction, or DVI) against you. While a temporary or ex parte order can be obtained without your knowledge or consent, a permanent order cannot… Read More »
Stopped For Drugs At The Airport
Airports are places where safety is understandably paramount. Very often, being charged with a crime that happened to take place in an airport means that the defendant may face additional charges because of the location of the alleged offense. One of the most common scenarios when this occurs is when a person is stopped… Read More »
Domestic Violence Is Not A Single Crime In Florida
A common misconception around domestic violence law in Florida is that one can be charged with domestic violence as its own offense. In reality, the way Florida law is structured means that a person who has (allegedly) committed a crime of domestic violence is charged with the underlying offense; the presence of domestic violence… Read More »
Is ‘Drug Court’ An Option For Me?
For a variety of reasons, Florida’s drug laws are among the harshest in the United States. If a person is arrested and charged with a drug-related crime in the state, the odds are high that they will face a strict penalty. However, there are options for nonviolent defendants, particularly those who have never been… Read More »
Domestic Violence Against A Pregnant Person Carries Stiffer Penalties
Crimes of domestic violence are taken seriously in Florida, regardless of who the alleged victim may be. However, there are certain particular classes of victims against whom domestic violence is seen as particularly egregious. Pregnant people are at the top of this list; their biological and medical status – particularly during a difficult pregnancy… Read More »
Father Charged With Aggravated Manslaughter After 1 Year Old’s Overdose
In June 2024, a Jacksonville father was charged with aggravated manslaughter after his 1-year old died of a cocaine overdose while in his care. The father and a female companion had “fallen asleep” in the car along with the child, and when the adults awoke, they saw the child was not responsive. This is… Read More »
“No Contest” Pleas In Domestic Violence Cases
When a person is charged with a crime of domestic violence, they will be asked how they wish to plead. What many do not realize is that while not every plea is appropriate for every case, there are more plea options besides guilty and not guilty. One of the options available in many cases… Read More »
Florida Man Looking For Turtle Nests Finds Bricks Of Cocaine On Beach
In mid-June 2024, a man searching a Nassau County beach for sea turtle nests stumbled upon something very different: a bunch of cocaine bricks with an estimated street value of around $4 million. While drug smuggling is common in the waters surrounding Florida, it is much rarer to find contraband so far north. Regardless,… Read More »
“Gabby Petito Act” Took Effect July 1
In 2021, the 22-year old Gabrielle “Gabby” Petito was tragically killed by her then-fiancé during a cross-country van trip the two were taking. Before her death, the two were spotted arguing by police in Utah. After her body was found, her parents filed a civil lawsuit against the police department, alleging that they negligently… Read More »
What Is Florida “Doctor Shopping?”
Florida has very strict laws surrounding the possession, sale, and trafficking of drugs, seeing these crimes as dangerous not only to specific individuals, but to society at large. Generally, this does not apply to those who have legitimate prescriptions for controlled substances – for example, a person diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)… Read More »