Fort Myers Florida Criminal Defense Law Blog

Florida 2019 marijuana law review

On behalf of Brown, Suarez, Rios & Weinberg, P.A. posted in marijuana crimes on Thursday, November 14, 2019.

These days there are so many bills and laws containing marijuana legislation that it is sometimes hard to keep up. The state of Florida is largely known for its tourism. People who visit from states where medical or recreational marijuana are already legalized, may not realize that only medical is currently legal in Florida.

Let's review the current offenses and penalties. There are several, all with varying degrees of sentencing guidelines. First, we will look at possession charges. In the state of Florida, possession of 20 grams or less of marijuana is considered a misdemeanor charge, and can result in up to one year incarceration and up to a $1,000 fine. Possession of more than 20 grams but less than 25 pounds is a felony. It carries a sentence of up to five years of incarceration and a maximum $5,000 fine. The wide gap of more than 25 pounds but less than 2000 pounds are all considered felony charges. Sentencing for these amounts of marijuana can range from three to 15 years in prison, as well as carry a $5,000 to $25,000 fine. Possessing marijuana plants in any number will carry a felony charge and fines of $5,000 to $50,000.

DUI in Florida brings criminal and administrative consequences

On behalf of Brown, Suarez, Rios & Weinberg, P.A. on Wednesday, November 13, 2019.

Florida is one of the strictest states when it comes to drunk driving laws. If police recently arrested you for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, you may have a long, complicated time ahead of you.

With each year, it seems that states pass new and tougher laws to keep drunk drivers off the road. However, no matter the circumstances that got you in this position, you still have rights. You can exercise those rights firstly by learning as much as you can about the criminal and administrative processes you are about to face.

How can you know if you have a medical malpractice claim?

On behalf of Brown, Suarez, Rios & Weinberg, P.A. on Thursday, October 31, 2019.

When you go to the doctor, you assume that he or she will provide you with appropriate care. You trust that Florida medical professionals have your best interests in mind and will do everything they can to get you the right diagnosis and treatment plan. Unfortunately, this does not always happen.

If you went to the doctor and ended up getting even more sick than you already were or suffered harm from a bad medical procedure, you may not be sure what to do next. After all, you did not go to medical school, so how can you prove that what you suffered was the result of malpractice and not just an unfortunate bad outcome? Malpractice claims are complex, which is why victims find it beneficial to work with an experienced ally from the very beginning of this process.

Two arrested for homicide in Ft. Myers drug deal

On behalf of Brown, Suarez, Rios & Weinberg, P.A. posted in drug crimes on Thursday, October 31, 2019.

Two suspects have been arrested in a fatal shooting that took place on September 22nd in Fort Myers. Both males, one 19-years-old and the other 21-years-old, are from another state. They are charged with second degree homicide and robbery after fatally shooting a 23-year-old Fort Myers man in what is now known to be a drug deal gone bad. The suspects travelled to the location of the crime to purchase marijuana.

Ring doorbell surveillance videos are what detectives were able to use to positively identify the suspects. The Fort Myers Police Captain states they provided excellent footage which showed the suspects fleeing from the scene. From those, a positive identification was able to be made and detectives travelled to the state of Georgia to apprehend the men. Multiple law enforcement agencies assisted the investigation.

Fort Myers man trafficked drugs while out on bond

On behalf of Brown, Suarez, Rios & Weinberg, P.A. posted in drug crimes on Thursday, October 17, 2019.

A 48-year-old North Fort Myers man who was out on bond from a previous drug trafficking arrest was arrested again on Friday, September 27th for the same crimes. He had been released after posting a $235,000 bond on May 13th.

Based on a tip received by the Lee County Sheriff's Office Narcotics Unit, a search warrant was obtained for the man's residence in the 8000 block of Bartholomew Drive. There, officers found a large quantity of multiple illegal drugs and controlled substances. They included Fentanyl, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, MDMA, Oxycontin, Oxycodone, morphine, and Xanax.

Have prosecutors offered you a plea deal?

On behalf of Brown, Suarez, Rios & Weinberg, P.A. on Friday, October 11, 2019.

If you are facing criminal charges, you may be feeling more and more anxious as the time for your trial draws closer. This may be especially true if you are seeing the evidence against you growing. You may be imagining the jury seeing the evidence and finding no option but to convict you of the most serious charges you face.

A conviction for a felony charge, such as homicide, robbery, fraud or weapons charges can mean an extended stay in prison. It can result in separation from your loved ones, loss of your job and other hardships that may follow you for the rest of your life. If this possibility worries you, you may have the option of considering a plea bargain.

Fentanyl bust near Fort Myers youth complex

On behalf of Brown, Suarez, Rios & Weinberg, P.A. posted in drug crimes on Thursday, October 3, 2019.

One 34-year-old male drug dealer who was well-known to Fort Myers law enforcement agencies was arrested in an undercover drug bust on September 26th. The arrest took place outside of a youth program complex, which was the location chosen by the dealer to make the sale, unknowingly, to an undercover narcotics agent. The bust was set up utilizing information gathered from a confidential informant to the Lee County Sheriff's Office narcotics unit.

Investigators told news outlets that the man was carrying enough fentanyl to kill more than 200 people. He has been charged with Sale or Delivery of Controlled Substance, Opium, or Deriv-sell (within 1000 feet of specified area, Schedule I or II) and Opium or Deriv-Possession (selling within 1000 feet of specified area, Schedule I or II.)

Firefighter and family injured in Florida crash

On behalf of Brown, Suarez, Rios & Weinberg, P.A. posted in personal injury on Friday, September 20, 2019.

A firefighter and members of his family were seriously injured in a recent accident in another part of Florida. The young daughter of the firefighter suffered critical injuries and she was struggling to survive and recover.According to reports, the car accident happened because one vehicle ran a stop sign and struck the side of another vehicle in the intersection. The initial impact started a chain reaction that ultimately involved four vehicles. All in all, 5 people had to go to the hospital for treatment of their injuries.

The firefighter who got hurt is only 23 years old and had served on his fire department for two years. It was not clear how his own injuries will impact his ability to continue working as a fireman. The man's wife also suffered injuries the authorities described as serious.

What injuries can you expect in an accident?

On behalf of Brown, Suarez, Rios & Weinberg, P.A. on Wednesday, September 11, 2019.

No one wants to think about the possibility that the next time they get into the car, they will be involved in an accident. Nevertheless, accidents occur all too frequently, and they are almost always preventable. Someone's careless decision or moment of distraction can mean days or weeks of pain and suffering for you. It may even leave you grieving over the loss of a loved one.

You can never really prepare for the aftermath of a collision. The kinds of injuries accident victims suffer vary depending on so many factors. Nevertheless, emergency responders and medical teams know what to expect when responding to an accident.

Enhanced penalties for drug crimes near parks, schools

On behalf of Brown, Suarez, Rios & Weinberg, P.A. posted in drug crimes on Friday, September 6, 2019.

Like many other states, Florida has special laws for those accused of selling controlled substances around certain places. For instance, a person accused of certain drug crimes near a school, a public park, public housing, child care facilities, or certain other community facilities where children and families are likely to congregate will face enhanced penalties if convicted.

In fact, in some cases, there is a mandatory three-year minimum jail term. There are also minimum fines and minimum community service requirements that may apply. Judges usually have some discretion when dealing out penalties, but mandatory minimums such as these can make it harder for courts to exercise that discretion in cases where they might otherwise give a defendant a lighter sentence.

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