Criminal Defense
Since 1993
Since 1993
Articles
- The “$5,000 Hooker Tax”: Why Asking for Sex Costs More Than Beating Your Wife
- “No Bond” for Missing Court? Why Judges Must Forgive Before They Lock You Up
- “Things That Make You Go Hmmm!”: When Judges Call Out Bogus Police Stories
- “I Think It’s Him”: Why a Police Officer’s Opinion is Not Evidence
- The Administrative Expunction: Chasing a Unicorn in a Field of Donkeys
- “I Know the Kama Sutra”: Can Being a “Naive” Predator Save You from Prison?
- How Target Knows You’re Pregnant (And How the Police Know You’re Guilty)
- “Friends with Weed” (and Meth): Why Waiting for a Line is Not the Same as Possessing It
- “I Was Just Helping a Friend Move”: When Helping Someone Unload a Car Gets You 15 Years
- “Know the Judge”: When a Rule Waiver Can Still Get You Arrested
- “Walking While Armed”: When Legal Gun Shopping Becomes a Police Target
- “Too Lazy to Get a License”: How the Worst Drivers Avoid Prison
- “What Are My Chances?”: Why You Should Never Trust the Odds (Or the Experts)
- “Entirely a Matter of Grace”: Why Early Termination of Probation is Up to the Judge (and How to Get It)
- “Early DOC Entry Program”: Why an Arrest Report is Not Enough to Violate Your Probation
- “I’m Screwed”: Why a New Arrest Does Not Automatically Violate Your Probation
- “Just Words”: Why Asking for Illegal Sex Isn’t Always an “Attempt”
- “You Can’t Charge Me Twice”: How a Misdemeanor Plea Can Kill a Felony Robbery Case
- “Disturbing the Peace” vs. “Committing a Crime”: Why You Can Walk Away from a Vague 911 Call
- “It’s Not Mine!”: How a Few Pieces of Paper Can Turn a Traffic Stop into 20 Years
- “Red Means Cocaine”: How the Supreme Court Turned Probation Officers into Chemists
- “You Must Obey All Laws”: Can a Speeding Ticket Send You to Prison?
- “Prison for a Traffic Ticket?”: When the Judge Ignores the “Under 22 Points” Rule
- The “Drug Sandwich”: Why Jury Instructions Matter When Police Raid Your Home
- “I Took Care of It”: How One Helpful Bailiff and One Honest Prosecutor Overturned a Conviction
- “Just Hiding From the Cops”: Why Being Suspicious (or Skipping School) Is Not a Crime
- “Excess Ain’t Rebellion”: Why a $5,000 Fine for Consensual Sex “Shocks the Conscience”
- “I Don’t Believe You”: Why a Judge’s Power to Reject Police Testimony is Bulletproof
- The “Gaping Loophole”: How the Worst Drivers in Florida Avoid Felony Charges
- “Shoot First, Ask Questions Later”: Why Police Arrest You for Your Own Medicine
- “She Didn’t Have Pockets”: How Being a Gentleman Can Get You Charged with Trafficking
- Another VOP Based Upon Dirty Urine Is Thrown Out of Court
- The “Unholy Alliance”: Why the Government Wants to Replace Live Witnesses with Paperwork
- “Open Up!”: Can the Police Kick Down Your Door Without a Warrant?
- The “Zip Code” Exception: Why It’s Legal to Run from the Police… But Only in a Rich Neighborhood
- “Mission Impossible” in Real Life: When Does High-Tech Snooping Become an Illegal Search?
- “You Have to Believe Everyone Is a Liar”: Why Prosecutors Can’t Force You to Disprove Their Case
- “The Rental Car Trap”: Why Driving Like a Jerk With a Trunk Full of Weed Is a Bad Idea
- “You Can’t Say That!”: When Prosecutors Cross the Line and Shift the Burden
- “Buyer’s Remorse” in Prison: Why Withdrawing Your Plea Can Ruin Your Life
- “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (and Hemp): Why the Odor of Weed Is No Longer Automatic Probable Cause
- “I Have to Go Home”: Why Walking (or Pedaling) Away from the Police Can Get You Arrested
- Misdemeanor or Felony? The Difference Between “Exposing” Yourself and “Exhibiting” Yourself
- “Just Because You’re Paranoid…”: Why You Must Shut the Bleep Up in the Back of a Police Car
- “Get Me Out of Here”: A Step-by-Step Guide to Bonding Out of Jail
- “Just Chillin'”: Why Being Nervous and “Looking Suspicious” Is Not a Crime
- “White Light” & Broken Tail Lights: Why the Police Can’t Pull You Over for Every Little Crack
- “It Fell Off a Truck”: Why Buying Stolen Goods Isn’t Always “Dealing” in Stolen Property
- Can a Broomstick Be a Deadly Weapon? (Spoiler: Not Usually)
- The Chinese Room: Why Your Computer Will Never Truly Be Alive
- “Hooooowwwww Convenient”: Why the Courts Ignore Victims Who Say “I Wasn’t Scared”
- “My Bunk Mate Got a Better Deal”: When the Comparison Game Turns into a 35-Year Prison Sentence
- “Just Trust the Machine”: Why the Constitution Demands a Human Witness, Not Just a Piece of Paper
- Accidentally on Purpose: Why Breaking Stuff Isn’t Always “Criminal Mischief”
- “It’s Too Watery”: Why a “Dilute” Urine Sample Is Not Enough to Revoke Your Probation
- “Found Footage” & The Fantasy Defense: Why a Confession Is Not Enough to Convict
- “You Can’t Fire Me, I Quit!”: Why Judges Won’t Let You Switch Lawyers on the Eve of Trial
- “It’s Not Mine, I was Just the Driver”: Why Knowing About the Drugs Isn’t Enough to Convict
- “Innocent Until Proven Guilty”? Not in Pretrial Diversion.
- The “30-Day” Trap: Why You Can Get a DUI for Weed You Smoked Last Month
- “The Drunk Bum Decoy”: When the Police Break the Law to Catch You
- “Police! Open Up!”: How Long Must They Wait Before Breaking Down Your Door?
- The Speed Trap of the Constitution: Why You Can’t Flee an Illegal Traffic Stop
- “I Don’t Remember”: Can a Judge Send You to Jail for Having a Bad Memory?
- “Burglarizing” Your Own Home? How the State Wasted Taxpayer Money to Prosecute a Roommate Dispute
- “Legal” Medicine, Illegal Job? Why Your Boss Can Fire You for Prescribed Pot
- “Ghost Prosecutions”: Can the State Convict You of Battery if the Victim Never Shows Up?
- The “Three Stooges” Rule: Why 7% of Prosecutors Try to Prove Battery Without a Victim
- “I Didn’t Know!”: Why the State Often Fails to Prove You Knew Your License Was Suspended
- “Is That a Gun in Your Pocket?”: Why You Can Conceal Carry in Your Own Home (Even Without a Permit)
- “The Magic Distance”: Why Standing Outside Your Car Might Save You from a Gun Charge
- “Cash Was King”: Why Having Money in Your Pocket Can Hurt Your Drug Case
- “People of Walmart” & The Fifth Amendment: Can the Police Force You to Unlock Your Phone?
- “It’s Just a Container”: Why the Police Want to Search Your Phone (And Why They Can’t Anymore)
- “God Gave the Easy Problems to the Physicists”: Why I Don’t Do Math (And Why Your License Depends on It)
- “You Can’t Prove a Negative”: Why an Empty House Doesn’t Mean You Moved
- “That’s Not Against the Law”: When Police Invent Traffic Rules to Search Your Car
- “The Lazy Prosecutor’s Loophole”: Why Moving Out of State Might Ruin Your Statute of Limitations Defense
- “Guilt by Association”: Why Hanging Out With a Drug Dealer Isn’t (Technically) a Conspiracy
- “It’s Not a Crime to Be a Bad Businessman”: Why Your Contractor “Friend” Might Get Away With It
- “Who Are You Going to Believe?”: When the State Calls a Witness Just to Call Them a Liar
- “I Thought the Camera Was Off”: When Police get Caught Manufacturing a Search
- “Blinded by the Light”: When a Cop Car’s Spotlight Turns a Conversation into an Illegal Seizure
- The Black Swan Theory: Why “I Have Permission” Is Not Enough in Court
- “It’s Just a Container”: Why the Police Want to Search Your Phone (And Why They Can’t anymore)
- Why Cops Hate Cameras: The Dash Cam Mystery and Your Right to Record
- Jail Etiquette 101: A Doctor’s Guide to Surviving Orange County
- “Gentlemen, This is Football”: Why You Can Go to Prison for Driving Suspended (Even If You Didn’t Know)
- “It’s For My Safety”: Why the Back of a Police Car is Not an Automatic Search Zone
- The Case of the Flying Crack Rock: A True Courtroom War Story
- 4 Guns, 1 Crime: Why Possessing an Arsenal Isn’t Always Multiple Felonies
- “Debtors’ Prison”: Why You Can’t Be Jailed Just for Being Broke (Del Valle v. State)
- “I’d Take a Pay Cut”: Why a Criminal Defense Lawyer Wants Legal Weed
- “We Had a Deal!”: When the Prosecutor Breaks a Promise (And Why Fixing It Can Be Dangerous)
- “It’s Dishonest, But Is It a Crime?”: Why Stealing an Opportunity isn’t Always Theft
- “Trust Me, It’s Blue”: Why Probation Officers Can Now Play Chemist in Court
- “I Was Just Picking It Up for Mom”: Why Holding Someone Else’s Oxycodone Can Be Legal (State v. Latona)
- The DNA “Match” Myth: Why Your DNA on a Gun Doesn’t Mean You Are Guilty
- “I Forgot It”: Can the Police Force You to Reveal Your iPhone Password?
- “DOC Math”: How to Make the Department of Corrections Count Every Single Day
- “Valid” Fraud? Why Doctor Shopping Doesn’t Kill Your Prescription Defense
- “Shelton” and the Trafficking Loophole: Does the “Unconstitutional” Ruling Save Traffickers?
- “Dogs Are People Too?” Why the Law Says “No” (And Why That Matters for Your Sentence)
- “No Good Deed Goes Unpunished”: Why Throwing Away Your Roommate’s Drugs Can Get You Arrested
- “Just Don’t Open It”: How Answering the Door Can Save a Search Warrant (Even an Illegal One)
- Under the Bridge and Out of Money: Can You Be Arrested for Being Too Poor to Register?
- Don’t Like Red Light Cameras? Neither Does the Post Office
- Science vs. Law: Why the “Never Had a License” Defense Exposes the Truth
- “F” is for Fido: Why Drug Dogs Get Passing Grades for Failing Performance
- “I Got 99 Problems”: When the Drug Dog is Only 29% Accurate
- “The Mailman is a Cop”: How Heavily Taped Packages Lead to SWAT Raids
- The Boiling Frog: How “Plain View” Testimony is Turning America into a Police State
- “Schadenfreude” and the Magic Pill Bottle: How to Beat a Constructive Possession Charge
- “It Was Just Sitting There”: Why Being Close to Drugs Doesn’t Mean You Own Them
- “The Cop Smuggled It, Not Me”: How to Beat an Introduction of Contraband Charge
- “It’s Not Mine, It’s Ours”: Why Drugs on the Center Console Are Hard to Pin on the Driver
- “It Wasn’t Me”: Can You Be Charged for Drugs Found in the Back of the Cop Car?
- The “5/25 Rule”: Why Doing Nothing Can Keep You Out of Prison
- “It’s Not Mine, It’s The Passenger’s”: Why Being in a Car with Drugs Isn’t Always a Crime
- “Whatever Happened to Detective Work?”: Why Being Near Drugs in a Hotel Room Isn’t Enough
- “Don’t Just Stand There, Do Nothing”: Why Blowing Into a Breathalyzer Might Be Self-Incrimination
- “Beat Your Wife, Get a Dismissal. Sleep in Your Car, Get Convicted”: Why DUI Diversion Finally Fixes the Glitch
- Read Before You Sign: The Fine Print of a DUI Diversion Contract
- FOR ATTORNEYS ONLY: The Missing Witness & The Art of the Recantation
- “Human Sacrifices, Dogs and Cats Living Together!”: A Rare Act of Mercy in the Florida Prison System
- “A Deal’s a Deal”: Why the Days of Endless Probation Are Finally Over
- “Bam, That Fast”: The Danger of the Quick Plea in a Probation Violation
- The Digital Wallet: Can the Police Force You to Decrypt Your Phone?
- “Sisters Looking for a Hot Night”: When the Police Create the Crime (The Opossum Case)
- “Confess or Everyone Goes to Jail”: Why The Police Ultimatum is Often Illegal
- “Doing Nothing” vs. “Doing Too Much”: When the Government Stacks Multiple DUIs for One Crash
- Explain This
- The Phantom Witness: Can You Go to Prison Without Confronting Your Accuser?
- “I Have Screenshots”: Why Courts Are Letting Fake Digital Evidence Send People to Prison
- Skin and Bones: When Skipping Meals Becomes a Felony
- The “Forever” Registry: How a 3-Day Vacation Can Put You on Florida’s Sex Offender List for Life
- “The Whole Pill”: Why Florida Weighs the Tylenol, Not Just the Narcotic
- The “Never Had a License” Defense: How to Beat a Felony DWLS Charge
- Finally! An Answer to the Big HTO Question
- “All Knowledge Degenerates into Probability”: Why Fingerprint “Matches” Are Opinions, Not Facts
- “The One and Only”: Why a Judge Banned the Word “Match” from the Courtroom
- “The Prosecutor’s Gleam”: Why Fingerprints Are Not the Slam Dunk They Claim to Be
- “It Wasn’t Mine”: Why Touching Drugs Doesn’t Always Mean You Possess Them (And Why Sometimes It Does)
- How to Fix a Suspended License (Without Making It Worse)
- “Pull Over Immediately”: Why Hesitation Can Cost You Your Freedom (and Your BMW)
- “Category 5 Hurricane”: Miami Judge Declares Drug Law Unconstitutional and Dismisses 39 Cases
- The “Mailman” Scenario: Why a Federal Judge Finally Declared Florida’s Drug Law Unconstitutional
- Welcome to 1984: Why Silence in Your Doctor’s Office Is Now a Felony
- The “Shawshank” Lottery: Can You Keep Your Freedom if the Prison Lets You Go by Mistake?
- “Guilty Mind” No More: Florida Supreme Court Declares Strict Liability Drug Law Constitutional
- “No, I Won’t Do It”: When the DMV Overrules a Judge’s Order
- “Ice Cream Trucks vs. Boom Boxes”: How We Beat the Noise Statute (For a While)
- “Less is More”: What Dr. Dre Could Teach the Florida Legislature About Justice
- “Do As I Say”: When Disobeying a Cop Becomes a Crime (and When It Doesn’t)
- “Just Crazy Talk”: When Does a Conversation Become a Criminal Conspiracy?
- Free Will, Determinism, and the Criminal Justice System
- “Day-for-Day” vs. “85%”: Will You Get Gain Time on a Mandatory Sentence?
- “The Underwear Drawer”: Why Police Warrants Must Be Fresh, Not Stale
- Cops Can Be Bullies Too: How to Fight “Sentence Manipulation”
- God vs. Science
- “I Thought I Was Allowed To”: How Good Faith Can Defeat a Grand Theft Charge
- “Absurd”: When a Judge Uses Common Sense to Defeat a Mandatory Sentence
- Murder, Mortality, and the “Prison Myth”: What the Stats Really Say
- “She Wasn’t Real”: When Police Lies Go Too Far (and When They Don’t)
- Bad Contractor or Criminal Thief? When a Broken Promise Becomes Grand Theft
- The “Price Tag” Trap: How an Estimate Can Turn Shoplifting into a Felony
- “Guilty By Marriage”: Why Driving the Getaway Car Isn’t Always a Crime
- “Holding It For a Friend”: Why Touching Drugs Isn’t Always Possession
- Do You Need Psychic Powers to Survive Probation? (The “Association” Trap)
- “Hard Time” vs. “Hardship”: How to Keep Driving After a DUI Arrest
- “Hey, It’s Sam”: Why Annoying Phone Calls Aren’t Always a Crime
- “Cold-Hearted” Justice: Why Prosecutors Fight Rehab for Single Moms
- “You’re So Vain”: When a Federal Judge Quotes Carly Simon to Deny a Solar Eclipse Vacation
- “The Devil Made Me Do It”: Why the Duress Defense is Harder Than You Think
- Performance Enhancement or DUI? Why Science Says You Might Drive Better High (But the Law Disagrees)
- When the “Blue Wall” Crumbles: Why Honest Cops Are Your Best Defense
- “It Was Just a Prank, Bro”: How an April Fool’s Joke Can Be a Felony
- “Was It Over When the Germans Bombed Pearl Harbor?”: Why Your Plea Deal Might Not Be Final
- 14 Years in Prison for Shopping at Publix? The Impossible Burden of the Homeless Sex Offender
- “It’s Coming Right For Us!”: How Police Perform for the Body Cam
- The $5,000 Burger: Why a Misdemeanor Now Costs More Than a Felony
- “If There Was Any More, I Would Have Smoked It”: Can You Be Convicted for Drug Dust?
- “You’re Not the Boss of Me”: How the Florida Legislature Wrote an Unconstitutional Drug Law
- The 44-Point Trap: How to Avoid Mandatory Prison Even If You “Score” It
- The Teddy Bear Factory: Why It Takes 6 Months to Expunge Your Record
- “The Waiting is the Hardest Part”: Why Delaying Your Defense Can Kill Your Case
- The “Oops” Moment: Why a Cop Must Walk Away If He Made a Mistake
- The Paradox of Consensus: Why 9 Agreeing Witnesses Might Be Dead Wrong
- The “Invisible” Felony: How .01 Grams of Dust Can Ruin Your Life
- From Shoplifting to Life in Prison: Why “The Force” Awakens the Prosecutor
- The $500 Tie: Why “Fair Market Value” Isn’t What You Paid For It
- SpaghettiOs or Meth? Why Police “Training and Experience” Can Ruin Your Life
- The “Personal Use” Defense: Why Buying Stolen Goods Isn’t Always “Dealing”
- “Buyer’s Remorse”: Undoing a Plea Deal When Deportation is on the Line
- The “Top Gun” Defense: Why Agility Beats “Perfection” in Drug Cases
- Science Can Explain Everything (Except Why You Should Go to Prison)
- “Park It Like It’s Hot”: How to Beat a Fleeing Charge When You weren’t Even Speeding
- When “Righteous” Cops Get It Wrong: Why 8 Rocks of Cocaine Isn’t Drug Dealing
- “Mind Reading” vs. Evidence: Why Having a Walkie-Talkie (or a Cell Phone) Isn’t a Felony
- The “Digital Life Sentence”: What to Do When You Can’t Expunge Your Record
- “It Was Right There!”: When a Judge Can Dismiss Your Concealed Weapon Charge
- Bruce Lee, MacGyver, and the “Wrong Charge” Defense
- TurboTax, Robots, and How to Get Your License Back for (Almost) Free
- The “Get Out of Jail Free” Card: How to Frame an Innocent Person (and How We Catch Them)
- Blockbuster, Netflix, and Why Drug Court is the “Innovation” of Criminal Justice
- How to Preserve Error at Trial in Florida: An Appellate Lawyer’s Practice Tips (PART 1)
- How to Preserve Error at Trial – An Appellate Lawyer’s Viewpoint — PART 2
- The Billionaire at Dairy Queen: Why “Average” Numbers Are Often Meaningless in Court
- “Teflon Warrants”: Why You Can’t Know Who Sent the SWAT Team to Your House
- “Ben Stiller Science”: Why the Lab Can’t Just Mix Your Baggies Together
- “It Looks Like Cocaine”: Why Visual Guesses Don’t Count in Court
- Location, Location, Location: Why Finding Drugs in Your Room Isn’t Enough to Convict
- Federal Judge Says Florida Drug Laws are Illegal. Florida Courts Say: “So What?”
- “Magic Words”: Why Your Confession Might Stick Even If the Police Threatened Your Wife
- “If It Was Illegal, You Wouldn’t Hear It”: The Lie That Overturns Convictions
- “Dr. Officer” Will See You Now: Why Prescription Meds Can Get You Arrested
- The “Good Samaritan” Trap: Why Turning in Drugs Can Get You Arrested
- When “Yes” Actually Means “I Have No Choice” (The 7-Cop Problem)
- “I Know My Rights!” (When the Smart-Mouthed Kid Was Actually Right)
- “I Can’t Tell You Why”: The Judge Lottery on Probation Violations
- “Yeah, But I Can Save This One”: Why I Fight for the Individual
- The “I Know It All” Judge: Why Blanket Policies Violate the Law
- “You Can’t Do That!” Why Judges Can’t Add Rules Just Because They Feel Like It
- “Just Sign Here”: Why a Consent Form is Worthless After an Illegal Entry
- The Digital Dark Age vs. The DMV: Why Your Driving Record Lives Forever
- Science, Faith, and the Black Box: Why the “Breathalyzer” Isn’t Always Right
- “He Must Be Guilty, He Pled”: The Biggest Myth in the Justice System
- 50 Rocks of Crack: Are You a Dealer or Just a Heavy User?
- “Wake and Bake”: When 18 Baggies of Weed is Just Breakfast, Not a Felony
- Is It a Crime to Go Out of Business? (The “Bust Out” Myth)
- The “Road House” Defense: Why Breaking the Bar During a Fight Isn’t Always a Crime
- The “Digital Juror”: Why a Smartphone Can Overturn a Verdict
- Pass the Dutchie? (Is “Sharing” Drugs Actually a Crime?)
- The Rental Car Trap: When Missing an Initial Can (or Can’t) Save You From Prison
- Is It a Crime or Just a Bad Business Deal? (Civil vs. Criminal Theft)
- “It Wasn’t Me”: Why the State Must Prove YOU Were the One
- The Pawn Shop Trap: When Being Poor Becomes a Crime
- Why Is a Lawyer So Expensive? (The Legend of Ed Leinster)
- The Annual Warning: The Jail Phone Will Convict You
- “Did You Get Rid of the ‘Books’?” (Why Talking in Code on a Jail Phone Never Works)
- The Missing Witness: Why We Have to “Arrest” Them Before We Can Strike Them
- The “Invisible Audience”: How Judges Ignore the Law to Preserve Convictions
- “I Never Said You Could Search!” (When Judges Rubber Stamp Police Lies)
- Can a Florida Judge Prohibit Early Termination of Probation? The Answer is No.
- Can You Fire Your Judge? (When the Referee Picks a Side)
- Judge Waves His Magic Wand (But Cannot Deny a Seal and Expunge)
- Life After the Verdict: Why “Not Guilty” Isn’t Enough
- “I Don’t Do Boot Camp”: When a Judge’s Personal Policy Breaks the Law
- Can the Judge Cut You a Deal? (The Rules of Plea Bargaining)
- Junk in the Trunk: Why “It’s My Car” Doesn’t Mean “It’s My Drugs”
- Judges Say the Craziest Things (And Why They Can’t Order You to Fix Your Life)
- “I’ll Just Appeal It Later”: The Myth of the Safety Net
- “Magic Words”: Why You Can Go to Prison Just Because Your Lawyer Missed a Sentence
- Science or “Gotcha”? Why a Piece of Paper Can’t Send You to Prison
- The Most Unethical Lawyers in Florida History? (The DUI Setup)
- If It Looks Like a Pipe, Is It Always Illegal? (The “Plain View” Trap)
- If It’s in Plain View, Is It Yours? (Why “Seeing” Isn’t “Possessing”)
- Don’t Just Do Something, Stand There (And Save Your Driver’s License)
- The “Truth Trap”: When Mandatory Counseling Forces You to Lie (Or Go to Jail)
- The Scarlet Letter: Can You Get a Job With a Felony Record?
- The Nightmare That Never Ends: Why “Time Served” Isn’t Enough
- “Walking While Suspicious”: Why the Police Can’t Arrest You for Loitering
- “Who Are You Going to Believe?” Proof vs. Police Testimony
- When the Government Refuses to Erase Your Past (FDLE vs. You)
- Is It Illegal to Lie to the Police? (The Answer May Surprise You)
- Freedom to Lie? When Giving a Fake Name to the Police is Legal
- The “Fletch” Defense: Why Proximity Isn’t Proof
- Can You Be Arrested for Cursing at a Mall Cop? (The Rules of Trespass)
- Medical Marijuana: The Constitutional Showdown (State vs. Feds)
- The “Throw Down” Defense: Why Standing Next to Drugs Isn’t a Crime
- “Do You Work for Free?” (And How to Get a Discount on Your Prison Sentence)
- The “Sinking Feeling”: What Happens When You Miss Your Sentencing Date?
- Is Being 20 Minutes Late Worth 7 Years in Prison?
- Accidental Crimes? Why You Don’t Always Need “Intent” to Be Guilty
- Money for Nothing (and Your Chicks for Free): When Cops Break the Law
- 25 Years for a Touch? When Mandatory Minimums Tie the Judge’s Hands
- Helicopter Chases for a Sip of Four Loko? The High Cost of Bad Police Work
- Is Your Trash Really Private? (The Government Doesn’t Think So)
- Can They Arrest You 11 Years Later? (The Statute of Limitations Defense)
- Felony or Misdemeanor? The $1,000 Difference in “Keying” a Car
- Is It “Intent to Sell” or Just Buying in Bulk? (Why 60 Grams Isn’t Always Dealing)
- Arrested for Getting Out of Your Car? When a Traffic Stop Becomes a Power Trip
- The “Lazy Judge” Trap: Why a State’s Rebuttal Shouldn’t Kill Your Case
- “Under Oath” vs. “Notarized”: When a Signature is Enough to Fight the Power
- What Happens If I Don’t Show Up for Court? (The Truth About Subpoenas)
- No News is Good News? Finally, Some Happy Legal Updates for Orlando.
- New DUI Laws: Why the Disabled Are Left Behind
- Is Your Phone Snitching on You to the DMV?
- Probation Violations: The “New” Law That Wants You to Waive Your Lawyer
- The Ex, The Closet, and The Burglary Charge
- Freedom of Speech (and Volume): The Day the Noise Law Died
- Drugs in the Center Console: When the “Passenger Defense” Actually Works
- Scored Under 22 Points? Why the Judge Can’t Send You to Prison
- Denied Entry for a 30-Year-Old Joint? The Story of the Super Bowl Ban
- Drugs on the Table, But Not in Your Hand? The “Constructive Possession” Defense
- Tears of Rocking Joy: Frank Turner & Gogol Bordello
- Caught on Video? Police Still Might Not Be Able to Arrest You.
- Arrested Out of County? Don’t Lose Your “Credit for Time Served”
- Is the “Loud Music” Law Finally Dead in Orlando?
- Are Red Light Cameras Legal in Orlando? (The Saga Continues)
- Can an Out-of-State “Habitual” Status Haunt You in Florida?
- The “Crime Machine”: Why We Have Too Many Laws
- Driving While Suspended: Can the State Charge You Twice for One Trip?
- Waiting for the “Package”: When Intent to Use Isn’t Possession
- Should You Write a Letter to the Judge? (Spoiler: No)
- Why “Getting It In Writing” Can Be a Trap in Criminal Defense
- Does a High Fence & Electronic Gate Mean You’re a Drug Dealer?
- How Far Can the Police Go During a Pat-Down?
- If the Cop Can See It, Is It Really “Concealed”?
- When Cops Play Lawyer: Opinions on Self-Defense
- Positive Drug Test? That Might Not Be Enough to Revoke Your Probation.
- 18 Baggies of Weed: Does That Make You a Drug Dealer?
- Driving Mom’s Car with Her Pills? Conviction Overturned.
- Can You Be Charged for the Gun AND the Bullets?
- Arrested for Holding Your Spouse’s Pills? The “Prescription Defense” Explained
- Is $200 of Crack Worth 10 Years in Prison?
- What Does a Pretrial Diversion Agreement Actually Look Like?
- Early Release Mistake? Does Your “Free Time” Count?
- Can the Judge Reinstate Your Probation After a Violation?
- Is Being a Passenger in a Stolen Car a Crime?
- Can a Victim Sue the Prosecutor for Dropping Your Case?
- The “One Phone Call” Trap: Don’t Get Tricked into Unlocking Your Phone
- Don’t Punch Your Lawyer (And Other Courtroom Tips)
- Is it “Punishment” if the Judge Just Doesn’t Say It Out Loud?
- “Only in America”: From 50 Cent to Exoneration
- The “Mind-Reading Machine”: Inside the Florida Legislature
- “Alcohol + Anger = Arrest”: The Legal Mess of Domestic Violence Recantations
- Can the Jury Hear You Discussing a Plea Deal?
- Are Your Jail Calls Public Records for the Media to Hear?
- Are Robots Writing Your Traffic Tickets?
- Confessions of a Defense Attorney: Why I Lost and Why It Matters
- Can a Judge Use Religion to Justify a Maximum Sentence?
- Renting a Car Fits Drug Trafficker Profile?
- Resisting Arrest Charges? New Program Offers a “Free Pass”
- The “Lottery” of Restitution: Fighting Internet Hearsay
- Can the Government Take Your Guns Without Charging You with a Crime?
- Can the Police Stop a Teenager Just Because It’s a School Day?
- Scientific Data Demonstrating All Swans Are White (Fooled by Randomness, Part 2)
- Can You Seal a Speeding Ticket to Hide Your Personal Info?
- Can the Police Search Your Phone or Car Just Because You Were Arrested?
- Orange County vs. Seminole County: The Tale of Two DUI Programs
- Finally: Sanity Comes to Florida’s Drug Trafficking Laws
- Can a City Force You to Move When the State Says You’re Fine?
- Is Government Red Tape a Trap for Sex Offenders?
- Is It Constitutional to Force You to Pay Registration Fees Forever?
- Can Sex Offenders Watch Adult Porn While on Probation?
- Is Technology Creating “Serial Shoplifters”?
- Mercy, Malice, and the “Business Record” Trap
- “Should I Stay or Should I Go?” – A Passenger’s Rights During a Traffic Stop
- Can a Judge Reject Your Plea Deal After You Help the Police?
- Does the Smell of Marijuana Still Justify a Police Search?
- Should Your Lawyer Tell You If You’re Going to Lose?
- Is Yelling at a Cop Considered “Disorderly Conduct” in Florida?
- Can You Be Violated for Carrying a Pocketknife on Probation?
- Is the Smell of Marijuana Enough to Search You?
- Is It “Concealed” If the Cop Actually Saw It?
- Can the Jail Cheat You Out of “Time Served”?
- Can You Always Get a Plea Deal in Orlando?
- Can You “Steal” Back Your Own Stolen Property?
- Do You Need a Private Lawyer? My Apology to My 1993 Clients
- Can the State Drop and Refile Charges Just to Buy More Time?
- Does “Adjudication Withheld” Mean You Are Safe from Federal Charges?
- Can Hearsay Evidence Send You to Prison for a VOP?
- Why “Silence is Golden” in Criminal Defense: Fighting the Felony Upgrade
- Is Your Car Stereo Illegal? The Battle Over Florida’s Noise Law
- Do Jail Calls Count as Evidence? (Spoiler: Yes, and They Can Ruin You)
- Can a Substitute Witness Convict You Using Someone Else’s Lab Report?
- Can You Be Convicted of Paraphernalia if the “Drugs” Weren’t Illegal?
- Can You Tell a Cop to “Lower His Voice” and Get Away With It?
- Is “Touching” the Same as “Possessing” in a Drug Case?
- Can You Bring Your Medical Marijuana to Florida?
- Is “High Crime Area” Testimony Just Police Doublespeak?
- Can You Be Convicted of Credit Card Fraud If You Signed Your Own Name?
- Is It Entrapment If the Police Send You a Fake Photo?
- The Best Marketing Strategy Ever
- Is Your Police Report Reality or Just a “Label”? (A Lesson from Quantum Physics)
- The Crusade Against Child Pornography Marches On
- The iPad “Gotcha”: Why Your Privacy Interest Must Be Proven in Court
- The “Knock and Talk” Trap: Why Your Barbed-Wire Fence Matters in Orlando
- Big Brother’s Pharmacy Peeking: The Privacy Trap in 2025
- Falling Through the Ceiling: The “I’m Just a Burglar” Defense
- The Gap in Justice: Wall Street Bilks Billions, While “Little People” Go to Prison
- The “My Cousin Vinny” Defense: When Cops Misinterpret the Truth in Orlando
- Fingerprint Fables: When “Experts” Claim a Match in Orlando
- Sealing and Expunging: Because the Internet is Forever (and Nosy)
- The Search for Truth
- The Two Big Questions
- The “Digital Witch Hunt”: How Internet Tips Are Shredding Your Privacy in Orlando
- Wrong Place, Wrong Time: Why “Mere Presence” Isn’t a Crime in Orlando
- Ring Doorbell Wars and the “Privacy Interception” Trap in Orlando
- The Ego Trip and the “Unstoppable” Charge That Isn’t
- The “Throw Down” Trap: Why Proximity to Marijuana Isn’t Always a Crime in Orlando
- The Race Against Time: Technical Violations and the Death of the Probation Loophole
- Timing is Everything: The “Recently Stolen” Inference Trap
- Naked in the Garden of Eden? Only If You’re in a Private Club
- Can the Cops Pull You Over in Your Own Apartment Parking Lot?
- The “Seinfeld” Rule: Why the Fine Print in Your Charges Matters
- The “Translation” of a Police Report: Understanding BOLO Stops in Orlando
- The Prescription Trap: When Your Medicine Becomes a “Trafficking” Charge
- Lab Rats and 15-Year Mandatory Minimums: The High Cost of Commingling
- The “Witch Hunt” of Child Pornography Charges: Understanding Transmission in the Age of the Cloud
- Don’t Let the Police “Take Out the Trash” in Orlando
- Can the Government Ban You from a Public Park in Orlando?
- Can a Drug Dog Peek Inside Your Home? The “Unknowable” Logic of the Fourth Amendment
- When a $10,000 Fine is the Difference Between Freedom and Registration
- Big Ag, Big Pharma, and the “Demon Baby” of Corporate Law
- When “Working from Home” Becomes a Felony in Orlando
- When “Standing By” Becomes an Illegal Detention in Orlando
- When Does a “Fair Trial” Become an “Anything Goes” Prosecution in Orlando?
- The “Rearview” Mirage: Can One Fingerprint Steal a Car in Orlando?
- Does My Zoom Plea Count? The Truth About Virtual Court in Orlando
- Can You Drive to Burger King on a “Business Purposes Only” License in Orlando?
- Can You Go to Prison for Failing a Probation Instruction That Doesn’t Exist?
- Can the Government Send You to Prison for Being Homeless in Orlando?
- Is it a Crime to be Broke? Fighting VOPs for “Inability to Pay” in Orlando
- Can a “He Said, She Said” Conversation Put You in Jail? The Hearsay Trap in VOPs
- 13 Years for Being 30 Minutes Late? The “Insane” Reality of VOP in Orlando
- Can You Be Convicted of Retail Theft if You Walk Out Empty-Handed?
- Can the Police Stop You for Simply “Walking While Suspicious” in Orlando?
- Can a Toddler Feel “Well-Founded Fear”? The Case of the 18-Month-Old Victim
- We Don’t Know What We Don’t Know
- Why Does the Justice System “Lie” to Florida Juries?
- Is the “Smell of Weed” Still Enough for an Arrest in Orlando?
- Red Light Cameras and the Toll Trap: A Due Process Nightmare
- Can a “Match” Really Put You in Prison? The Fingerprint Trap in Florida
- What Happens If I Lose My Trial? The “Hurricane Path” of Sentencing
- The Elevator Trap: What Happens When You’re Late to Court in Orlando?
- Can a Detective “Identify” You from a Masked Video in Orlando?
- When Your Wallet Becomes a Crime Scene: The Truth About “Paraphernalia” in Orlando
- How to Get Your Bond Reduced in Florida: The Financial Factor
- Can the Police Bring a Drug Dog to My Front Door in Orlando?
- Why “Shutting Up” is the Only Legal Advice You’ll Ever Need in Orlando
- My Sentence is Too Harsh. Can I Challenge It in Florida?
- Is a BB Gun a “Deadly Weapon” in Florida? A Defense Attorney Explains
- How 120 Frames Per Second Can Lead to a 100-Year Prison Sentence in Florida
- Can I Withdraw an Old Plea to Stop Deportation in Orlando?
- Can a Prosecutor’s “Blabbing” Actually Win You a New Trial in Florida?
- When Does a Bruise Become a Felony? “Great Bodily Harm” in Orlando
- What Counts as a Request for a Lawyer in Florida? A Defense Attorney Explains
- Do I Get Credit for Time Served in Another Jail in Florida?
- Do You Have to Obey an Officer’s “Bossy” Command in Orlando?
- Beyond the 175-Day Rule: Your Constitutional Right to a Speedy Trial in Florida
- Police “Bullshit” and the Florida DUI Typical Script
- Is Your Driving a “Mistake” or a “Crime”? The Reckless vs. Careless Truth in Orlando
- When is a Rock a “Deadly Weapon?” Fighting Aggravated Assault Charges in Florida
- Hit a Parked Car in Orlando? What Florida Law Really Requires
- How a Prosecutor’s Mistake Can Beat a Felony Battery Charge
- Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire? Not in a Florida Courtroom.
- Where Will Red Light Camera Tickets Go From Here?
- Who Are You?
- Why Do I Love My iPhone & iPad So Much???
- Entrapment in Orlando: How Cops Use Untrained “Snitches” to Manufacture Drug Cases
- Can a Courtroom Full of Police Officers Intimidate Your Jury?
- Do Prosecutors Have to Prove You KNEW It Was Drugs in Florida? The Answer is Finally Yes.
- Why Is There Something, Rather Than Nothing?
- Florida’s New DUI Refusal Law & The Constitutional Flaw in the Old One
- Why Won’t God Heal the Amputees?
- Arrested at a House Party with Drugs in Orlando? The “Mere Proximity” Defense
- A Warning for Visitors & New Residents: Does Florida Honor Out-of-State Medical Cards?
- Wisdom From Tim Kreider’s Book “We Learn Nothing”
- The “Necessity Defense” in Florida: Can You Break the Law to Save a Dying Cat?
- Can You Commit a Crime While Asleep? A Florida Lawyer on Criminal Intent
- A Defense Attorney’s Dilemma: My Client Has the Right to Make the “Wrong” Decision
- Police Seizing Cell Phones After Car Accidents in Orlando: Here’s Why
- Your Constitutional Rights vs. The Pandemic
- Careless vs. Reckless Driving in Florida: When is Your Driving So Bad, It’s a Crime?
- When Florida Judges Won’t Do Their Job: Plea Deals & Judicial Vindictiveness
- How to Beat a Drug Trafficking Charge: The “Constructive Possession” Defense
- Your Right to Confront Your Accuser in a Florida Criminal Trial
Client Reviews
If you need legal help your in the right place John Guidry is efficient professional and gets the job done. There’s no games or gimmicks. John will always be highly recommended by me . Thank you John for all of...
Straightforward and will go the extra mile for you. If the unfortunate need ever arises, John would always be my first call. Honesty and integrity are the words that come to mind in reference to his impeccable...
If you need an excellent lawyer I would recommend the Law Firm of John Guidry 100%. He took the time to hear me out and helped me with my case. Thank you so much John.
Thank you once again John for helping out with Cameron. I truly appreciate your generosity on his last case and hoping and praying that will be the end of his shenanigans. You are the best! Just a small token...
I would highly recommend this firm! Living out of state I was at ease knowing that Mr. John was taking care of it all! He kept me in the loop of all parties involved and handled it very professionally! I’m very...
I have had the privilege of having John Guidry as my lawyer. By far the most Professional and caring Lawyer I have ever had help me with resolving any of my legal concerns. I assure you no one will fight harder...
Attorney Guidry is THE REAL DEAL. His communication is impeccable and the results are undeniable. If ever I was not able to get a hold of him, he contacted me in a timely manner. I would recommended him on any...
Live in Illinois, and hired John to remove a file for me in Florida and had an amazing experience. Mr Guidry and all of his office staff was kind and professional and held my hand the whole way. I highly...
Home Client Reviews Client Reviews Testimonial of a Mother Who Hired Us to Help With Her Son’s Battery CaseTestimonial of a Mother Who Hired Us to Help With Her Son’s Battery Case DUI Client Testimonial DUI...
John really took ownership of my case and got it resolved very quickly. He kept me up to date with everything and he himself spoke to me and didn’t send an assistant to call like other people. I really...
John, I can’t begin to thank you for all that you’ve done for Andrew. You’ve given me a peace of mind, and that is a priceless gift to a mom! Thank you for your professionalism, patience, and for being such an...
Dear John, Mary Lou and I wanted to end the year with a note of appreciation to you, Chelsey and your staff. We are grateful for the efforts you have made on behalf of our son, Chad, and we remain hopeful yet...
Excellent service was able to hep me with my case so easily and gave me the best outcome and wonderful and really professional. Quick to respond
He will always contact you directly to answer any questions in your case. Excellent customer support from his staff. Case by case they offer prompt answers and good results.
Contact Us
- 1 Free Consultation
- 2 Available 24/7
- 3 Over 28 Years of Experience