Orlando Criminal Defense Blog

Drunk driving wrecks lead to many legal complications

On behalf of Lindsey & Ferry, P.A. posted in Drunk Driving Charges on Friday, October 18, 2019.

When a person is too impaired to drive, they are going to make poor decisions. These might not have an immediate impact on the driver. There is always a chance that one wrong move will lead to a crash. This is a situation that can lead to some very serious complications, including criminal charges in some cases. The circumstances of the crash and your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) percentage can have an effect on how things are handled in the case.

There are a few things that you have to think about if you are in this position. One of them is that you are going to be asked to take a chemical test to determine whether alcohol was involved. Being in the accident automatically means that the officer's requirement of reasonable suspicion is met. They do have the right to detain you and investigate what happened to cause the crash.

Tax return extension deadline is near, avoid tax evasion

On behalf of Lindsey & Ferry, P.A. posted in White Collar Crimes on Friday, October 11, 2019.

As the date for some extensions on income tax returns draws near, it is imperative that anyone who needs to file understands an important point about filing. You must have your income tax form in the mail by October 15. Failing to file a tax return could lead to some serious problems for you.

If you are required to fill out an income tax return and don't do it, you can face tax evasion charges. The IRS might not pursue a criminal case against you if you didn't file because you can't pay; however, that isn't a chance worth taking.

What you should know about implied consent in Florida

On behalf of Lindsey & Ferry, P.A. posted in Drunk Driving Charges on Friday, October 4, 2019.

A police officer who has reason to think that you are driving while intoxicated might initiate a traffic stop. Once they speak to you, they might ask that you take a breath test to determine your blood alcohol content (BAC). This might be a challenging request for you to handle because you want to cooperate, but you don't want to provide the sample. This is understandable.

It is best to know what might happen in these cases. If you do opt to take the breath test, the officer might still be able to arrest you even if it shows you aren't legally intoxicated. This is because they might go off other signs of impairment that were present. Of course, there is also the chance that they will let you go free if you don't show any other signs, and the test shows in your favor.

Restitution is part of some white collar crime sentences

On behalf of Lindsey & Ferry, P.A. posted in White Collar Crimes on Friday, September 27, 2019.

White collar crimes usually involve felony charges that can come with severe consequences. Many involve the potential for paying fines and/or spending time in prison. Some people who are convicted of this type of crime might have to repay the victims for the damages of the crime. This is known as restitution.

The court will only order restitution if the victim of the crime suffered a monetary loss. This doesn't take the place of other penalties. For example, you might be ordered to spend time in prison, pay fines and do community service as well as paying restitution.

How do you know you are getting a fair trial?

On behalf of Lindsey & Ferry, P.A. on Monday, September 23, 2019.

Facing charges for while collar crimes, such as fraud or embezzlement, can be intimidating and confusing. A bad outcome may mean long lasting negative consequences for you, your business and your family. You may be hearing many terms you do not understand and wondering how you ended up in this situation. Your focus at this time should be ensuring that no one violates your civil rights and that you obtain a fair trial.

However, many in your circumstances are not certain what a fair trial looks like. In fact, many who face charges of white-collar crimes have little experience inside a courtroom, and their only knowledge of criminal proceedings is the fictional representation of the justice system on TV. You may understand that the U.S. Constitution guarantees a fair trial to anyone accused of a crime, but what does that mean for you?

Alcohol concentration determination comes in many forms

On behalf of Lindsey & Ferry, P.A. posted in Drunk Driving Charges on Thursday, September 19, 2019.

One thing that a person who is facing accusations of drunk driving will go through is testing to determine what's going on. There are a few options that officers have in these cases, so you need to understand them all.

Most people are familiar with field sobriety tests, but not all of these are the same. There are only three tests that are considered accurate enough to be used in court. These are the horizontal gaze nystagmus, the one-leg stand and the walk-and-turn. Other tests aren't as reliable, so they might be used but won't be considered in court.

Weapons laws cover more than just guns and knives

On behalf of Lindsey & Ferry, P.A. posted in Weapons Crimes on Sunday, September 8, 2019.

Floridians are expected to follow all laws in the state, including those regarding carrying weapons. Contrary to popular belief, knives and guns aren't the only weapons covered by state statutes. The rules are very specific, and you can face criminal charges for not abiding by them.

Title XLVI, Chapter 790 of the Florida Statutes has information about the various types of weapons and the applicable laws. Some of these include metallic "knuckles," electric weapons, swords, clubs and dirks. In all instances, it's illegal to brandish one of the above weapons. By definition, "brandishing" means to show it to at least one person in an angry, threatening, rude or careless manner.

Take accusations of copyright infringement seriously

On behalf of Lindsey & Ferry, P.A. posted in White Collar Crimes on Thursday, September 5, 2019.

Many people don't realize that you can't just copy things that are already written. It is easy to do this, even inadvertently, so it is necessary to be very careful when you are doing any type of writing. This includes slogans for marketing campaigns and similar business matters.

If you don't have the permission of the original author of the work, you might face copyright infringement accusations. These can be challenging because the author does have specific rights that you can't violate.

Start your drunk driving defense right away

On behalf of Lindsey & Ferry, P.A. posted in Drunk Driving Charges on Friday, August 30, 2019.

Drunk driving charges are hard because you have to think about two different processes when you are charged with this crime. The criminal side has to do with the punishments you will face if you are convicted. The administrative process deals with the loss of your driver's license since you were accused of driving while you were impaired.

For most people, having to address the administrative process is going to an immediate concern because there are short time limits that impact your options. It is imperative that you read all the paperwork that you are given that is related to your charge because these deadlines will be included somewhere. Because of these firm deadlines, we need to get started on your defense quickly after you are arrested. This gives us time to handle these pressing matters.

Having a loved one addicted to meth is not easy

On behalf of Lindsey & Ferry, P.A. on Saturday, August 24, 2019.

Many people become unexpectedly hooked on drugs. The ways in which this happens can vary, and it is common for people to wonder how their lives spiraled so out of control. Unfortunately, an addictive substance can easily take over a person's life, and you may have a loved one in this type of situation.

Though you never used the substance yourself, you understand the dangers of drugs like methamphetamine in a broad sense. You likely even witnessed some of the effects in your sibling or even your child. Because you love the person whom the drug has so negatively affected, you want to help.