Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Nelson Hearings And Florida Criminal Cases
The Sixth Amendment right to a fair trial includes the right to representation by a criminal defense lawyer. Since the drafting of the Bill of Rights, the courts have further interpreted the responsibilities of attorneys representing defendants in criminal cases. For example, the Gideon v. Wainwright decision set the precedent that, when defendants cannot… Read More »
The Florida Youthful Offender Act Is for Young Adults, Too
If you are in your mid-twenties or older, there are probably incidents from your youth that you are embarrassed even to think about, and there are probably also incidents that you are relieved did not lead to worse consequences than the ones that occurred. The attributes of youth do not instantly disappear as soon… Read More »
How Much Immunity Do You Get By Being An Informant?
Some people out there will tell you that anyone who takes a plea deal is a chump, but most of them have never faced criminal charges punishable by imprisonment. You might even have seen billboards or late-night TV ads for criminal defense firms that promise to get you acquitted. Yes, you have the Constitutional… Read More »
Ineffective Assistance Of Counsel And Your Florida Criminal Defense Case
When you hire a criminal defense lawyer, it is because you are counting on him or her to get you out of trouble, or at least to get you into less trouble than you are currently in. If you are being unfairly accused of a crime, your lawyer’s job is to show the jury… Read More »
Kentucky Man Arrested For Assaulting Police Officer During Visit To Florida
News stories about what happens after lottery winners receive their prize money are a potent reminder that you should be careful what you wish for. If you win a few hundred bucks because you guessed three out of six numbers correctly, you might be able to make a dent in the outstanding balance of… Read More »
What’s Next, Now That The State Admitted That You Were Innocent All Along?
Finding out that the court has exonerated you of a crime you did not commit can feel like waking up from a nightmare. The difference is that, when you wake up from a nightmare, the bad things you dreamed about never happened except in your dream. If you get exonerated after spending six years… Read More »
Criminal Charges For Leaving Children Unattended
Parenting is a struggle, especially in the summer. Not taking care of your children simply because you do not feel like it is not an option, even when the desire to go into standby mode and scroll aimlessly through your phone. The inability to afford childcare weighs heavily on the parents of many young… Read More »
Veterinary Sedatives As Drug Adulterants
When you make eye contact with your pet dog or cat, you probably wonder what he is thinking. You imagine that your pet’s thoughts are simpler than yours. Your pet does not have to stress about money and can rely on you for a steady stream of food and cuddles. Even though your pet… Read More »
Is Hearsay Evidence Admissible In Court?
We have all heard the saying that you should believe half of what you say and none of what you hear. When the prosecution presents a photograph as evidence at trial, the defense can often raise doubts about whether the image shows what the prosecution says it shows. Yes, that is clearly a picture… Read More »
Credit Card Fraud By Retail Employees
Media stereotypes about theft by employees tend to evoke images of men in suits working late hours and embezzling funds from their companies’ accounts into their own personal accounts. They can only accomplish this if they have the trust of corporate leadership, if they are alone on the tenth floor of an office building… Read More »