Category Archives: Criminal Law
Criminal Defense of White-Collar Crimes
Investigations of white-collar crimes can be lengthy and very much under the radar. Without warning, you may find yourself accused of criminal wrongdoing. Often, such allegations are based on bookkeeping mistakes, errors in accounting, or other simple misunderstandings. Nonetheless, your life is in the crosshairs, and you’re not sure where to turn. Now, more… Read More »
How a “No-Contest” Plea Can Come Back to Haunt You
Although the federal government and the State of Florida maintain separate criminal justice systems, what happens to a defendant in one can affect their rights in the other. For example, under a federal criminal statute known as the Armed Career Criminal Act, a defendant faces additional penalties at sentencing if they have three or… Read More »
Is Workplace Sexual Harassment the Same Thing as “Stalking”?
If someone feels threatened by you, they may ask a judge to issue an injunction “for protection against stalking.” In this context, “stalking” means that a person “willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly follows, harasses, or cyberstalks” another person. If the court determines that stalking has occurred within these parameters, the judge can issue a temporary… Read More »
When Does Sexual Harassment Become a Crime in Florida?
The #MeToo movement, which gained prominence following a series of media reports last year about sexual harassment and misconduct in several high-profile workplaces, notably the entertainment industry, has created a clamor for new criminal laws to protect women and other victims from future abuses. Recently, Florida senators considered a proposal to criminalize sexual harassment… Read More »
Florida Bill Would Protect Domestic Violence Victims from Repeat Offenders
If merely breaking the law was a sufficient deterrent for offenders, then victims of domestic violence would be much safer. As it is, some offenders are not deterred by the misdemeanor offenses that currently safeguard victims from the threat of a violation of a protective order. To bridge the gap, Florida lawmakers have proposed… Read More »
Child Abuse Hotline Takes No Action, Child Dies
Earlier this February in Tampa Bay, a 5-year-old girl was thrown off a bridge and killed. The child’s followed not one, but two calls to the Department of Children and Families– neither of which resulted in an investigation. If you notice the warning signs of a child in danger of physical abuse, you should… Read More »