Criminal Defense Blog

Coronavirus and South Florida Courts

With the recent Coronavirus pandemic, Courts in South Florida are closing. Broward County Courthouses (main courthouse and the three satellite courthouses) will be closed beginning March 16, 2020, for a period of two weeks. Emergency and special exceptions apply and can be viewed on the Broward Courts Website . Miami-Dade Courts will also be closed beginning March 17, 2020, for about ten days. ...

The Decision To Plea Or Take Your Case To Trial

If you are in the unfortunate position of having been charged with a crime, you will likely be faced with a serious question: Do I accept a plea deal, or do I take my case to trial? This is not a decision that should be reached lightly nor should it be based on pride. Many times, people charged with crimes feel like the police and prosecutors have treated them unfairly. Or perhaps they feel that ...

A Hit & Run Letter From The City of Miami Police

If you are suspected of committing a hit & run in the City of Miami, you will likely receive a letter in the mail from the City of Miami Police Department advising that your vehicle is suspected of being involved in such a crash. Even if you were not driving the car or do not recall getting into a crash (it could be minor), the registered owner of the vehicle will be notified since this ...

Superbowl In Miami

The 2020 Superbowl is coming to Miami-Dade County. This is great for local football fans and the scores of tourists who will be traveling to South Florida for the big game. But it is a time where we will see a massive presence of law enforcement. Alcohol related offenses, such as DUI and disorderly intoxication, will be the top priority of police, who will be charged with the task of maintaining a ...

2020 Florida Sealing & Expungement Update

If you submitted an application to seal or expunge your Florida criminal record in July of 2019, your application is currently being processed. FDLE (Florida Department of Law Enforcement) is presently operating with about a six-month backlog. This is not uncommon, but will certainly increase the usual time-frame in which a sealing or expungement application is processed. If you are looking to ...

New Years Arrests

If you were arrested in South Florida on New Years Eve or New Years Day, contact me . If you are from out of state, you may not need to return to Florida to appear in Court provided you have an attorney. There are many charges wherein your physical presence can be waived.

Broward County: Change of Charge

In Broward County, when you are arrested for a felony and any felony charge is going to be changed at arraignment, there will be a mandatory bond status in which you, the accused, must appear with your attorney, as well as an affidavit from your bondsman agreeing to remain liable on the bond. That's because when you post your bond, you and the bondsman (the surety agent) are entering into a ...

What Can Be Done And What Cannot Be Done When Sealing Or Expunging Your Criminal Record

Unfortunately, there is no process by which the sealing or expunging of your Florida criminal record can be expedited. You cannot pay for expedited processing time (although I wish you could, and so do many of my clients). You cannot ask the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) for a precise time in which the processing of your application will be completed. Sealing or expunging a record ...

Sealing And Expungement Process In Florida Taking Longer And Longer

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is currently processing sealing and expungement applications that were submitted in April 2019. That means that FDLE is backed up at least six months. When considering all other aspects of the process, from start to finish, it could easily take 9-12 months for your record to be successfully sealed or expunged. Don't wait any longer than you have to! ...

What Do You Do When The Cards Are Stacked Against You?

Getting arrested and charged with a crime is never a good thing. Granted, there are situations that are better than others. The offense isn't violent, you're a first-time offender, the State Attorney's Office is not looking to put you in jail. While simply having a case - even not a terribly serious one - hanging over your head can be daunting, for many there is a way out. Diversion programs, ...

Contracting Without A License During a Declared State of Emergency

With the approach of Hurricane Dorian, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has already declared a State of Emergency. Under Florida law, the offense of contracting without a license - normally a misdemeanor - automatically becomes a felony if it is committed during a declared State of Emergency. The rationale behind this escalation in penalty (from maximum one year in jail up to five years in prison) is ...

Attorney Eric Matheny Recently Seals Clients' Records Without FDLE Certificates

In the past month, Attorney Eric Matheny was able to successfully seal two clients' records WITHOUT FDLE having issued a Certificate of Eligibility. Florida State law requires that FDLE issue a Certificate of Eligibility in order to seal or expunge non-judicial records. Non-judicial records would include records beyond the court file. This would include police records, FDLE records, prosecutor's ...

Criminal Cases In The Florida Keys

The Law Offices of Eric M. Matheny accepts cases in the Florida Keys. From Plantation Key to Marathon to Key West, if you are facing misdemeanor or felony charges in Monroe County (Florida Keys) contact The Law Offices of Eric M. Matheny for representation. Whether a DUI, a Florida Fish & Wildlife Violation (Possession of Undersized Lobster, Boating Violation, etc) or a serious felony, call to ...

Jeffrey Epstein Charged With Sex Trafficking: Now What?

Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein has found himself in legal trouble once again. Known for getting a veritable slap on the wrist back in the early 2000s for similar charges, the federal government is apparently ready to drop the hammer on this notorious sex predator. The Southern District of New York is expected to indict Epstein on one count of sex trafficking of minors and one count of conspiracy to ...

Can You Petition To Seal A Record When FDLE Denies You A Certificate?

The short answer is yes. Under the Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure, you may ask a Court to seal - not expunge - a record even if FDLE denies you a Certificate of Eligibility. A Certificate of Eligibility is required for a non-judicial (records beyond the court file) by Florida statute. The criminal rules, however, do not require a Certificate of Eligibility to seal a judicial record (court ...

FDLE Processing November 2018 Applications For Sealing/Expungement Applicants

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is just now beginning to process sealing and expungement applications submitted in November of 2018. While the backlog is slowly clearing up, I would estimate that from start to finish, it will take 9-12 months to complete a sealing or expungement of a record in the State of Florida. Eric Matheny is an attorney sealing and expunging criminal records ...

Bond Out Or Remain In Custody?

When a court imposes a high bond for a serious crime, the family of the accused normally has a very serious question to answer. Should they bond their loved one out, or should they have them remain in custody? A bond is the money put up, normally by a surety agent (bondsman) to guarantee the accused's appearance in court. If the family has the resources, they may opt for a cash bond (all the ...

The Felony PTI Process in Broward County

Pretrial Intervention for felony offenses in Broward County requires the assistance of an experienced criminal defense attorney familiar with the process. Unlike Pretrial Intervention (PTI) in other counties, PTI in Broward County requires a lengthy application and screening process. If you are a true first-time offender (no prior arrests) and you are charged with a non-violent third-degree ...

FDLE Processing September 2018 Applications

It is not unusual for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) to take a considerable amount of time processing applications to seal or expunge your Florida criminal record . However, as of today, FDLE is only processing applications submitted in September of 2018. This means that FDLE is experiencing an 8-9 month backlog of applications. I am estimating that the total time it takes to ...

FDLE Processing Times Only Getting Longer

Unfortunately for Florida sealing or expungement applicants, the processing time has increased largely due to staff shortages with FDLE (Florida Department of Law Enforcement). I encourage all applicants to being their sealing or expungement of their Florida arrest record sooner rather than later as FDLE processing times do not look like they will be improving any time soon. Eric Matheny seals or ...

When Is Aggravated Battery an Attempted Murder?

Aggravated Battery charges can be elevated to Attempted Murder when a prosecutor wants some serious leverage in plea negotiations. In some instances, Attempted Murder does not necessarily carry more prison time than Aggravated Battery, but the stigma of the charge and the bottom of the guidelines score per the Florida Criminal Punishment Code could give the prosecutor the upper hand. Aggravated ...

Eric M. Matheny Interviewed by The Boston Globe on Robert Kraft Case

Our Miami-Dade criminal defense attorney Eric M. Matheny was recently quoted in several articles published in The Boston Globe on the Robert Kraft case, where he was interviewed for his experience in similar criminal proceedings. Florida prosecutors offered Kraft and 25 other men a plea deal, in which prostitution and solicitaiton charges would have been dropped against the New England Patriots ...

Deciding To Reject A Pretrial Diversion/Pretrial Intervention Offer

If facing a felony or misdemeanor charge, you are a first-time offender, and the circumstances of your case warrant a Pretrial Diversion (misdemeanor) or Pretrial Intervention (felony) offer from the State Attorney, you are in a position to have your charges dismissed. However, you and your attorney must decide whether a diversion program is in your best interest. In nearly all cases, it will be ...

Attorney Eric Matheny Talks Robert Kraft Case Details with The New York Times

Recent news headlines have been abuzz with stories of Robert Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots, being charged with soliciting prostitution . To try to shut down a prosecution backed by social pressures to secure a conviction, the football mogul has recruited William Burck, the same lawyer who served under George W. Bush in the White House. With such a bold defensive move being made by ...

Verdict Likely In Manslaughter Case of Former Palm Beach Gardens Police Officer

A former Palm Beach Gardens Police officer will likely find out today if he is going home or to prison should the jury in Palm Beach County reach a verdict sometime today. Former Palm Beach Gardens Police Officer Nouman Raja is charged with manslaughter while armed, as well as several other serious felony charges, related to the shooting death of Corey Jones. In 2015, Mr. Jones was parked ...

FDLE Processing June 2018 Applications

If you submitted an application to seal or expunge your Florida criminal record in June of 2018, it is just now being processed. Eric Matheny seals and expunges Florida criminal records statewide.

What is Domestic Violence And What Isn't?

Domestic violence isn't just a term of art. It is a legal designation for certain types of cases. Your case can either qualify as domestic violence, or it will not. Florida law defines "domestic violence" as: “...any assault, aggravated assault, battery, aggravated battery, sexual assault, sexual battery, stalking, aggravated stalking, kidnapping, false imprisonment, or any criminal offense ...

Broward County May Administratively Dismiss Old Misdemeanor Warrants

In recent years, Broward County Courts have begun administratively (without a hearing or without notice to the defendant) dismissing bench warrants for misdemeanor crimes that are considerably old; like 20, 30 years old. If you were arrested in the Fort Lauderdale area - even if you were just issued a Notice to Appear - in the 80s or 90s and you never appeared in Court, check the Clerk of Court's ...

Out of State Convictions And Sealing or Expunging A Florida Criminal Record

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement WILL NOT issue a Certificate of Eligibility to seal or expunge your Florida arrest record if you have ever been convicted (adjudicated guilty) of any criminal offense, even if that conviction occurred outside of the State of Florida. When you submit an application to seal or expunge your Florida criminal record, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement ...

Know When To Hold 'Em, Know When To Fold 'Em: When Is It Time To Change Attorneys

Whether misdemeanor or felony, being charged with a crime is likely one of the most stressful events you will ever experience. I sincerely hope that you never have to endure this experience, but oftentimes, these matters are beyond our control. Wrong place, wrong time. Two glasses of wine, a burnt-out tail light and a state trooper right behind you. Riding as a passenger in your friend's car where ...