Cody Dials is charged with first-degree murder in the death of David Rhea, 39, a commercial fisherman who lived in Pinellas Park. Recently, a gun that may have been used in the killing was discovered. The finding of this gun is bittersweet: it gave the prosecution a...
Tampa Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer
Month: March 2014
What Is Medicare Fraud?
Pharmacy fraud has become a rampant problem across the state of Florida as drug traffickers conspire with doctors and patients to cheat the Medicare system. The individuals involved have become more organized and have taken a systematic approach to stealing money from...
Florida man sues for wrongful arrest
A Florida man is suing a local police department for emotional distress and legal costs after he spent 15 hours in jail following his arrest for videotaping police officers on the job. The man was using his cell phone to record an altercation happening on the street...
What is considered a hate crime?
The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009 was created as a way to assist state, local, and tribal jurisdictions more effectively investigate and prosecute hate crimes. William Hatch, a man from New Mexico, was one of the first people...
What defenses are available for criminal defendants?
The different defenses that are available for a criminal defendant vary with each case and the facts surrounding that case. One defense that is available for some defendants is that the defendant is not competent to stand trial. However, the Oregon Supreme Court ruled...
How can I get my conviction reversed?
In Shelley v. State, Case Number 2D13-1941 the Second District Court of Appeal sided with O’Brien Hatfield, P.A. and reversed a sex crime conviction. This sex crime case reversal resulted from an appeal to the Second District Court of Appeal. It was an appeal from a...
NFL owner arrest could lead to professional sanctions
The arrest of the owner of a National Football League (NFL) team for driving under the influence of alcohol could lead to sanctions from the league, according to recent reports. It would be the first time a team owner has been sanctioned for a drug or alcohol related...
How do I know if I have been the victim of police entrapment?
Entrapment is an affirmative defense raised in a criminal case where the defendant was induced by a law enforcement agent to commit an offense that he or she would not have committed otherwise. In Florida, the defense of entrapment is most commonly used in cases that...
Florida teen goes to jail for prank turned felony charge
A Florida high school student was arrested this week after allegedly spiking his teacher's soft drink with hand sanitizer, according to local reports. The 15-year-old student is known as a prankster around the school and according to administrators was playing a...
How Do I Get My Federal Life Sentence Overturned?
We are pleased to announce the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals has overturned a life sentence for firm client Pedro Rodriguez. In an opinion released to the public on March 12, 2014, a panel of three judges agreed with our argument that Pedro Rodriguez's appointed...