More and more states are legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes. Of course, some states are also legalizing marijuana for recreational purposes. It seems likely that marijuana will eventually become legal recreationally and medicinally everywhere, but it is going to be a long process. In the meantime, people with medical problems…
Most DUI cases result from a police officer alleging that he/she observed the driver commit some traffic violation after which a traffic stop is conducted and a DUI investigation follows. If the police officer believes the driver is impaired from alcohol, the officer will arrest the driver and take him/her…
When a person is arrested for a new criminal charge in Florida, that person is entitled to a hearing to have a reasonable bond set for the case. Not everyone will get a bond. For instance, some charges are so serious that a judge might set no bond for a…
In Florida, many criminal cases involving drugs and guns result from traffic stops. A police officer will conduct a traffic stop and become suspicious or allegedly discover evidence of illegal activity and search the vehicle. A search of the vehicle can be based on consent, which the driver or occupant…
In Florida, the DUI (driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs) laws come with minimum mandatory penalties for a conviction. These penalties increase for each successive DUI a person gets. One benefit of a criminal defense lawyer getting the state to amend a DUI charge to a reckless driving…
A 20 year old student at the University of North Florida was recently the victim of a man who created fake social media accounts using her name and likeness. Her Facebook photos were used to create fake social media accounts on Instagram and Tinder. The fake accounts requested money…
We at Lasnetski Gihon Law do not handle much in the way of family law matters, but we came across a case that illustrates a possible connection between an order that is common in divorce cases and a potential criminal violation in Florida courts. In divorce cases where a minor…
On July 6th, 2016, Corrine Brown, along with Elias Simmons, was indicted on a twenty four (24) count federal indictment. You heard me right, folks. 24 counts. The charges all stem from her relationship with a organization called the One Door for Education – Amy Anderson Scholarship Fund. The basic…
When the police are investigating a crime in Florida and seize property that they believe is proceeds of criminal activity or used to facilitate criminal activity, a forfeiture case might result. A forfeiture case is a separate case where the state attempts to assume ownership of property that they seize…
The prior post discussed the difference between a consensual encounter with the police in Florida and something more involved. The police in Florida are free to engage people in consensual encounters to ask questions or make observations, and people are free to refuse to answer questions or otherwise cooperate. Once…