In Florida, an assault is an intentional verbal or physical threat to commit violence upon another person in such a way that it is apparent that the person making the threat has the ability to carry it out and the victim reasonably fears that the violence is imminent. An assault…
In Florida a battery is normally committed when a person forcefully touches another in an unauthorized manner. A first time battery will likely be charged as a misdemeanor crime. The charge becomes domestic battery if the victim is a relative or shares another specified relationship with the suspect. A battery…
Most people are familiar with the word hearsay as they have heard the term on TV shows and other places. The evidentiary rules regarding hearsay are often misunderstood, not just by the general public, but also by lawyers. Basically, hearsay is a statement by a person not in court that…
In Florida, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services regulates licenses to carry concealed weapons or firearms. That department issues concealed weapons or firearms permits, and they also revoke them for various reasons. If a person has been convicted of a felony in Florida or any other state, that person…
In Florida, a battery where no weapon is used is normally a misdemeanor crime, which means the maximum penalty is one year in jail. A battery against someone not related to the defendant is a serious charge but not normally as serious as a domestic battery charge and certainly not…
In Florida, there are different types of battery crimes that have different ramifications for people charged with those crimes. A battery charge in Florida can be a misdemeanor, punishable by no more than one year in jail, or a felony, punishable by more than a year in prison, depending on…
In Florida, there are separate crimes for theft, robbery and robbery by sudden snatching. Under the Florida criminal laws, a theft occurs when someone takes the property of another without permission either permanently or temporarily. This crime does not involve taking the property by force or threat. For instance, if…
In Florida, a battery crime is defined as intentionally striking, or even touching, another person against his/her will. This is obviously a very broad definition of criminal activity that can include a lot of conduct, and even harmless conduct. Slightly pushing someone with no injury whatsoever can come under the…
Traditionally, cocaine, crack and marijuana cases were the majority of drug cases that appeared in criminal courts in Florida. Over the last several years methamphetamine and pill cases have become much more common. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, prescription painkillers have caused more fatal overdoses than…
The crime of aggravated battery is a very serious felony crime in Florida that often results in a person receiving a prison sentence if convicted. In Florida, aggravated battery is defined as committing a battery (unauthorized contact with another person) with the use of a deadly weapon. As you can…