Category Archives: Criminal Defense
“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 »
“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 »
How Can Domestic Violence Affect Divorce?
Divorce is never easy, but when domestic violence is a factor, things can get infinitely more complex. Discussions of child visitation and custody are immediately made minefields if a parent has been convicted of a crime of domestic violence, and it can cause major problems for that parent in terms of establishing that they… Read More »
Are Plea Bargains Possible In Domestic Violence Cases?
The plea-bargain is a tool in an attorney’s arsenal, used in cases where a prosecuting attorney is unsure they will get the outcome they wish for at trial, or where a defense attorney is unsure they will be able to successfully establish a person’s innocence. They are far more common than the average person… Read More »
Can A Florida Domestic Violence Conviction Be Expunged?
In Florida, there is no specific crime of domestic violence. Rather, the presence of domestic violence in a criminal offense is used as a sentencing enhancement of sorts. This means that domestic violence crimes are not in a category by themselves; rather, they are treated the same way as any other offenses when the… Read More »
Domestic Violence Cases Can Be Dangerous For All Involved
In May 2024, a senior airman from Hurlburt Air Force Base was shot and killed by an Okaloosa County deputy. The deputy was responding to an alleged domestic dispute call, having spoken to a woman who had apparently heard an argument. He stopped at the airman’s door, and according to body camera footage, the… Read More »
Is Self-Defense In Domestic Violence Situations A Good Idea?
No one ever anticipates that they will find themselves in a domestic violence situation, but it sadly happens to many. If you are in a situation where you find yourself at risk, the option of self-defense may present itself, but it is important to keep in mind that you must be able to show… Read More »
There Is A Domestic Violence Injunction Against Me – Now What?
When a domestic dispute happens in the state of Florida, the alleged victim has the right to seek what is known as a domestic violence injunction (DVI) – essentially a specialized restraining order. They can do so very quickly – a temporary or ex parte injunction can be awarded even without hearing your side… Read More »
Domestic Violence & False Imprisonment In Florida
Florida’s definition of domestic violence includes any criminal offense that results in “physical injury or death” to a victim that shares a certain relationship with the alleged perpetrator. The statute lists specific offenses as examples, and one of those listed is the crime of false imprisonment. Too often, this occurs in volatile domestic situations,… Read More »
Former Detroit Lion Enters Pretrial Diversion Program After Domestic Battery
In mid-April 2024, former NFL player Cameron Sutton was accepted into a batterers’ intervention program in Hillsborough County with the intent of resolving the misdemeanor battery case against him. Sutton had been wanted in Florida after allegedly battering a woman in early March. Domestic battery is a serious offense in Florida, but in some… Read More »