Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Can A Person Be Charged For Attempting A Crime In Tampa?
Two friends from high school decided it would be funny to break into their alma mater, vandalize the cafeteria and steal school records. They draw a map of the school grounds, determine when the building would be empty, and decide on who will drive the getaway car. On the day of the planned burglary,… Read More »
Tampa Flight To Atlanta Ends In Federal Assault Charges
Last week on board a flight from Tampa to Atlanta, a woman was arrested for federal assault charges. The defendant Cornwall refused to wear a mask on board the flight despite instructions from flight attendants. Cornwall then refused to take a seat when a beverage cart went past her and said, “What am I,… Read More »
What Is Justifiable Homicide, And Is It A Valid Defense In Florida?
A battered wife who shot her husband to death in Tampa after years of physical and emotional abuse was initially charged with second degree murder. Now, three years later, her defense attorney argues that the defendant acted in self-defense and is immune from criminal charges based on the Florida Stand Your Ground Law. What… Read More »
What Is Perjury, And Is It Illegal In Florida?
A former lawyer for George Zimmerman was arrested recently on charges of solicitation to commit perjury in an unrelated criminal case. The lawyer has also been charged with harassing a witness victim. Initial reports indicate that Mr. Hal Ulhrig attempted to badger a victim of child rape and her father into lying under oath… Read More »
What Is Disaster Relief Fraud?
A Jacksonville resident was recently sentenced to two years in federal prison for conviction of disaster relief fraud. The convicted defendant falsified an application for disaster relief funds stemming from Hurricane Irma. In his initial application for benefits, the defendant alleged he suffered flood damage and sustained losses requiring him to vacate his home…. Read More »
Know Your Rights In A Tampa Traffic Stop
Recently an 18 year old social media star was apprehended and arrested by Pasco County police after leading them on a high speed chase, at times exceeding 100 mph in residential zones. After being detained, the defendant indicated that he made a lot of money, and thought he could get away without apprehension if… Read More »
St. Petersburg Man Strikes And Kills Elderly Bicyclist In Tampa
A 22-year-old defendant was charged with manslaughter after authorities state he struck an elderly bicyclist with his electric scooter. The victim, a 77-year-old woman biking to the grocery store, is believed to have stopped to let the scooter rider pass, but he told authorities he did not try to avoid her, and he struck… Read More »
What Is Criminal Identity Theft?
Identity theft and cybercrimes are on the rise throughout the country and internationally. Just last week, Colonial Pipeline, a national gas and oil outfit that provides fuel to more than 45 percent of consumers on the East Coast, paid a 4.5 million dollar ransom to hackers who launched a ransomware attack on the company’s… Read More »
Falsifying A Florida COVID-19 Vaccination Card Is Illegal
Police arrested a Miami couple vacationing in Hawaii with their children this past month, after identifying their fake COVID-19 vaccination cards. The couple also allegedly forged COVID-19 vaccination cards for their minor children who remain ineligible for the vaccine because they are under 12 years old. Now both parents are facing federal charges for… Read More »
In Tampa, Florida, A Disgruntled Former Employee Faces 15 Years In Prison
Last week, a Tampa woman was indicted by a federal grand jury for recklessly damaging an employer computer and intentionally damaging a protected computer. If convicted, the woman faces 10 years in prison for intentional damage and an additional five years for reckless damage. The former employee allegedly deleted thousands of recruiting files, resumes,… Read More »