Blog Posts in March, 2015

6 People Shot In One Day in Miami

Within one 24-hour period, Miami has seen numerous shootings that have resulted in injuries to 6 people. Just yesterday afternoon, three people were shot at an apartment complex located at 3600 SW 17th Terrace. Yesteday evening, a man was shot near Southwest 16th Street. Later on in the evening, a young man was shot near Northwest 19th Terrace. Early this morning, a man was shot near Southwest ...

Car Involved In Coral Gables Hit-And-Run Death Found

A Nissan Altima believed to have been the car that struck and killed a Coral Gables bicyclist during a hit-and-run this week has been located. The car, which sustained severe front-end and windshield damage, was found hidden behind a fence at a home near Coral Gables. The driver of the car has not yet been identified. As a criminal defense attorney who represents clients in hit-and-run cases, I ...

Broward Public Defender Seeks Review of Cases Involving Racist Fort Lauderdale Cops

In recent days, four Fort Lauderdale Police officers have been fired for allegedly sending racist texts and emails to each other, as well as making a parody video mocking African-Americans. In light of the officers’ firing, the Broward Public Defender, Howard Finkelstein, is seeking review of over 100 cases involving these disgraced officers. Any signs of racism exhibited by police officers who ...

Smell of Marijuana Leads to Miami Grow House Bust

Over 75 marijuana plants were discovered at a Miami-Dade home after officers driving by the home detected the smell of marijuana coming from the property. When the officers noticed the smell, they knocked on the door of the house. Police alleged that the homeowner provided written consent allowing the officers to search the property. The weight of the marijuana does not amount to trafficking in ...

Types of Fraud Ineligible For Sealing

As you know, you can expunge any charge - even murder - so long as the charge was dismissed and you have no prior convictions of any kind on your record. However, you can only seal eligible offenses for which you received a withhold of adjudication. There are many crimes that have been designated as ineligible offenses. One of those offense categories are fraud-related charges, specifically under ...

Two Men Face Felony Charges For Tri-County Chase

Two men are facing serious felony charges after leading police on a chase that began in Miami-Dade County and ended in Boynton Beach, where the driver crashed into a retaining wall and tried to escape on foot. The driver is being held on a $25,000 bond for charges including: aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer (2 counts); aggravated fleeing and eluding (high rate of speed) ; resisting ...

Broward Sheriff's Deputy To Be Charged In Off-Duty Shooting

A veteran BSO (Broward Sheriff’s Office) deputy will likely face charges of aggravated battery with a firearm for a shooting that occurred last year inside of a Hollywood, Florida home. The deputy, who was in uniform though off-duty, is accused of shooting a man, was apparently drinking beers with the girlfriend of the victim. When the victim came home and discovered the deputy with his ...

Historic Verdict In Broward County Marijuana Cultivation Case

A Broward County jury made history this past week by acquitting a man charged with cultivation of marijuana on the grounds that the man needed to grow marijuana for medically necessary reasons. Cultivation of marijuana is a third-degree felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison. The man was a long-suffering anorexic who had been using marijuana for many years to help stimulate his appetite. The ...