A recent Polk County case involved what happens in the not unusual scenario in which a law enforcement officer engaged in a warrantless search, and the state and the defense then contested whether or not the officer’s actions triggered a constitutional violation. Sometimes, the difference between success and an unsuccessful…
In a criminal case, there are many details that both the prosecution and the defense must manage. The law imposes many requirements, both large and small, on the state regarding how it carries out a prosecution in order to ensure compliance with the Constitution and to make certain that justice…
What Are Punishments For Drug Paraphernalia In Florida? Drug paraphernalia is a first-degree misdemeanor, and it would technically include anything that was used or that could be used to inject an elicit substance. It could be anything like a pipe from a smoke shop, or even an apple the person…
In part two of the four-part series “Drug charges in Florida”, we talk about “doctor shopping” and “pill mills” and their rapid growth in Florida. Have Drugs Crimes Become An Issue Recently? While drugs offenses have always carried serious penalties, the “war on drugs” starting in the ‘70s and ‘80s…
Facing Drug Charges In Florida? Part one of four… Useful Information That May Be Helpful In Your Case Blake & Dorsten, P.A. Copyright © 2016 by Blake & Dorsten, P.A. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission…
The Smoking Gun website has a brief blurb about a wheelchair-bound lady who was one of the main heroin dealers for a Florida gang! Sweet 74-year-old Ruth Perez-Lopez was the largest heroin dealer for a local drug ring known for selling cocaine, prescription pills and marijuana. According to the police,…
A guest post from Maria Stefanski, who is part of a nonprofit. The link has several interesting articles on heroin and drug abuse. If you or someone you love is facing addiction, please get the help that is needed! Over the past few decades, politicians, corporations, and community leaders have…
A quick blurb from the Miami Herald about the federal government stepping up their efforts to curb synthetic marijuana. Also known as “spice”, this drug is potentially deadly. What makes it so dangerous is the unknown chemical mixtures that are added, sometimes at random. As there is no purity and…
From the Tampa Bay Times, a wanted fugitive finds out the hard way not to mess with the Pinellas Park K9 unit… 25-year-old John Hagin was a wanted fugitive out of Georgia. According to the Pinellas Park police, he had a warrant for possession of meth. Police were called out…
This past Tuesday, America went to the polls. In Pinellas County and throughout Florida, amendment two was on the ballot. This allowed for the legalization of medical marijuana. Supporters claimed it was compassionate and the right thing to do. Opponents said it was full of loopholes and was a backdoor…