Author Archives: Jay Butchko
The Lack Of Criminal Intent Defense
When it is obvious that no one will believe you that you didn’t do it, can you talk your way out of trouble by saying, “I didn’t do it on purpose?” It depends on the context. Your grandparents will probably still be mad that you knocked over the ceramic lamp, even though it was… Read More »
Be Careful With That Alibi
The alibi defense is only one of many defenses that defendants can use in criminal court. It is a factual defense, which means that you are saying, “I didn’t do X.” In other words, it is not an affirmative defense, where you say, “I did X, but the X that I did doesn’t fit… Read More »
Is It Good Or Bad If Your Criminal Case Ends In A Mistrial?
If you go to a sufficiently populated place in Florida, such as a beach, theme park, or shopping mall, there is a good chance that someone there has been convicted of a crime. Maybe someone is currently on probation or will never complain about overpriced mall food court food since it is such an… Read More »
What’s All the Fuss About Pink Cocaine?
You don’t have to have a degree in marketing to know that an eye-catching visual appearance can be an excellent marketing tactic. When you think about it, Everlasting Gobstoppers, Sweet Tarts, and Skittles don’t taste like much, but they sure are colorful. Of course, if all you want is something that looks and tastes… Read More »
Affirmative Defenses And Florida Criminal Law
Proving that you did not commit a crime is a tall order, indeed. This is why courts do not require defendants to prove their innocence in order to secure a verdict of not guilty in a criminal case. Instead, they must only show that there is reasonable doubt about the veracity of the accusations… Read More »
What Does It Mean If You Get A Federal Target Letter?
When a piece of official correspondence arrives in the mail unexpectedly, it is usually not a pleasant surprise. For every pandemic stimulus check, there are piles of red light camera tickets, property tax bills, and notices from the IRS saying that you owe more taxes than what you already paid. The most worrisome notices… Read More »
Jury Acquits Doctor Accused Of Sexually Abusing Patient
In most cases, the extent to which you believe someone depends on the context and on your pre-existing relationship, if any, with the speaker. You trust your closest friends enough that you believe everything they tell you, even when it is upsetting or surprising; if something does not add up, you ask for more… Read More »
Does The Entrapment Defense Really Work?
To be acquitted of a crime, you do not always have to prove that you didn’t do it. In fact, you never have to prove this. All you have to do is show that the jury cannot be sure whether you committed the crime. Of course, even when there is little room for doubt… Read More »
Who’s Afraid Of MDPV?
Even if you majored in chemistry, it is hard to keep track of all the drugs that are known by their initials and have slight chemical differences from other drugs. At least MDMA has some catchy nicknames, such as ecstasy and molly. Reciting the full name of foxy can pass the time on a… Read More »
Domestic Violence Charges Are Much More Serious When A Weapon Is Involved
Ask any police officer or 911 operator, and they will tell you that domestic violence calls are all in a day’s work. It is nothing out of the ordinary when a couple gets into an argument, tempers flare, fists fly, and someone calls the police. Most domestic violence cases blow over quickly, at least… Read More »