Criminal Defense Blog
Posted on Feb 22, 2012 By Eric Matheny
There is a crossroads between mental health and criminal defense. It exists on many levels, but most notably, with the issue of competence. You must be competent to proceed to trial. To be legally ...
Continue reading "What It Means To Be Declared "Incompetent"" »
Posted on Feb 21, 2012 By Eric Matheny
A Broward County man charged with shooting and killing a Memorial Hospital Miramar employee in his car in the facility's parking lot was sentenced to 30 years behind bars Tuesday. According to NBC ...
Continue reading "Broward Man Accepts 30 Years For Murder Charge In Plea Deal" »
Posted on Feb 20, 2012 By Eric Matheny
A Miramar police officer found guilty in December of official misconduct will not have a felony conviction on his record if he stays out of trouble for the next two years. The officer was convicted of ...
Continue reading "Broward Judge Sentences Cop to Probation" »
Posted on Feb 19, 2012 By Eric Matheny
I get calls from people all the time who say the same thing: I'm not happy with my attorney. The attorney-client relationship is exactly that. A relationship. Like all relationships, not every one ...
Continue reading "Hiring A New Attorney" »
Posted on Feb 18, 2012 By Eric Matheny
Most criminal cases will result in pleas. In fact, I think for state court it's over 90%. That makes sense considering that when you are charged with a crime, especially serious crimes, the risks ...
Continue reading "Diversion Programs, Pleas, And Admissions of Guilt" »
Posted on Feb 17, 2012 By Eric Matheny
A Florida International University student will have to stand trial for fatally stabbing a school football player after a judge on Thursday refused to dismiss the case under Florida's ...
Continue reading "Miami-Dade Judge Denies "Stand Your Ground" Motion To Dismiss" »
Posted on Feb 16, 2012 By Eric Matheny
One of two cyclists injured in a hit-and-run crash on the Rickenbacker Causeway on Wednesday morning has died, Miami police said. According to investigators, the hit-and-run suspect turned himself in ...
Continue reading "Charges To Increase For Causeway LSA Suspect" »
Posted on Feb 15, 2012 By Eric Matheny
In a story that made headlines worldwide back in 2009, two of the three young men accused of setting fire to their classmate in Deerfield Beach have apparently pleaded guilty to charges of attempted ...
Continue reading "Suspects Accused of Setting Fire to Classmate Plead Guilty" »
Posted on Feb 14, 2012 By Eric Matheny
A woman supposedly placed a $6,500 Rolex inside a bin at a terminal at Fort Lauderdale Airport. Thirty minutes later, she realized she left the watch at the checkpoint. When she got back to security, ...
Continue reading "Man Wanted For Alleged Watch Theft At Fort Lauderdale Airport" »
Posted on Feb 13, 2012 By Eric Matheny
Police have arrested three suspects who reportedly drove past Miami Northwestern Senior High School and flashed a gun. Police arrested the three men at around 2:20 in the afternoon. They had ...
Continue reading "Three Arrested For Allegedly Flashing Gun In Front Of School" »
Posted on Feb 12, 2012 By Eric Matheny
Reports indicate that the Florida Highway Patrol will be "cracking down" on aggressive drivers. Whenever a police agency announces that it will be "cracking down" on something, it ...
Continue reading "FHP Cracking Down on "Aggressive Drivers"" »
Posted on Feb 11, 2012 By Eric Matheny
A common misconception about a DUI is that the accused must be under the influence of alcohol in order to be arrested and charged with this crime. That misconception often leads to people getting DUIs ...
Continue reading "DUI: Driving Under The Influence of Drugs (Not Alcohol)" »
Posted on Feb 10, 2012 By Eric Matheny
A 30-year-old West Palm Beach man was sentenced to life in prison on Thursday for stealing $29. The accused was convicted on February 2 of armed robbery with a firearm for allegedly robbing two ...
Continue reading "Palm Beach Man Sentenced To Life Under PRRP (Prison Releasee Reoffender) Statute" »
Posted on Feb 9, 2012 By Eric Matheny
According to the Palm Beach Post , Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) will brief reporters Thursday on the agency's strategy for fighting the state's prescription-drug epidemic for ...
Continue reading "FDLE To Discuss 2012 "Pill Mill" Strategy" »
Posted on Feb 8, 2012 By Eric Matheny
Many people believe that misdemeanors are no big deal. Many people also believe that the earth is flat. What do these people have in common? They're all wrong. Misdemeanors, while not as serious ...
Continue reading "12 Things You Didn't Know About Pleading Guilty To A Misdemeanor" »
Posted on Feb 7, 2012 By Eric Matheny
According to the Miami Herald , thousands of narcotic pills, including oxycodone and hydrocodone were stolen and unaccounted for at the Broward County Office of the Medical Examiner and Trauma ...
Continue reading "Oxycodone and Hydrocodone Pills Missing From Broward ME's Office" »
Posted on Feb 6, 2012 By Eric Matheny
A man accused of beating his wife in a judge's chambers during a divorce proceeding last year has entered an open plea to the court , hoping a judge will show mercy during a sentencing hearing ...
Continue reading "Broward Man Charged In Aggravated Battery To Plead No Contest" »
Posted on Feb 5, 2012 By Eric Matheny
A man previously convicted of aggravated stalking is accused of plotting to kidnap his former girlfriend whom he was accused of stalking several years ago. A Broward Sheriff's Office investigation ...
Continue reading "Accused Stalker Charged In Kidnapping Plot" »
Posted on Feb 4, 2012 By Eric Matheny
A combination of tough new laws and a high-profile crackdown is chipping away at Florida's dubious distinction as the nation's leading illicit source of powerful prescription painkillers for ...
Continue reading "DEA Reports That Florida's Oxycodone Purchases Have Fallen" »
Posted on Feb 3, 2012 By Eric Matheny
When you or a loved one is charged with a crime, life can come to a grinding halt. Even if the charge is not terribly serious (such as a misdemeanor ) it could still carry substantial penalties. It ...
Continue reading "Criteria For Hiring A Criminal Defense Attorney" »
Posted on Feb 2, 2012 By Eric Matheny
Hollywood Police say they've arrested a suspect in the home invasion robbery and attack on a 91-year-old man last month. The 54-year old suspect was arrested Wednesday night and charged with ...
Continue reading "Suspect Arrested In Hollywood Home-Invasion Robbery" »
Posted on Feb 1, 2012 By Eric Matheny
A 7-year veteran of the Broward Sheriff's Office is facing serious felony charges after an alleged road rage incident that took place last year. The deputy is accused of pulling a Plantation woman ...
Continue reading "Broward Officer Charged In Road Rage Incident" »
Posted on Jan 31, 2012 By Eric Matheny
A bond is a contract between the defendant, the court, and the surety agent (bondsman). The contract states that the surety will put up a certain amount of money to guarantee the defendant's ...
Continue reading "When Can The State Seek To Increase Your Bond" »
Posted on Jan 30, 2012 By Eric Matheny
A mother and father faced a bond court judge after their child was allegedly found running in the street naked and malnourished. According to police, they found the 9-year-old child wandering near his ...
Continue reading "North Miami Parents Arrested On Suspicion of Child Abuse" »
Posted on Jan 29, 2012 By Eric Matheny
The reason people choose to seal or expunge their arrest records is because they want to be able to legally deny their arrest when they apply for a job. In a bad economy when there are more applicants ...
Continue reading "Sealing Or Expunging Your Record: Tips For Job Applications And Interviews" »