Andrew D. Stine, P.A. - Florida Criminal Defence Attorney

Immigration is a tricky subject. If you are an immigrant, legal or illegal, and you are accused of a serious crime, you could be facing potential deportation. Regardless of your legal status you need to contact an experienced criminal defense lawyer immediately. This is the only chance you have at staying in this country. The law does not take immigration lightly and while there is momentum in changing immigration legislation, for now, being an illegal or even legal immigrant can be a precarious thing.

Many people have been following the John Goodman DUI Manslaughter case almost as avidly as they followed the Casey Anthony case. Goodman was convicted in March of killing 23-year-old Scott Wilson in a car crash, he trudged his way through and arduous court process leading to conviction and controversy. Then, Goodman's defense lawyers made several claims that the conviction should be overturned because of jury misconduct. Now, after the hearing and questioning of the jury, the judge may release Goodman while he appeals his conviction.

John Goodman, founder of the International Polo Club Palm Beach, was found guilty of DUI Manslaughter and Vehicular Homicide in March of this year. While his case seemed to be resolved, his criminal defense attorneys were continuing to attempt to change the fate of Goodman's case by accusing several of the jury members of misconduct. This case continues to complicate, while Goodman still sits in a cell, convicted of drunkenly hitting another person's vehicle, sending that car careening into a canal where the victim drowned.

Petty theft and grand theft are considered to be different solely on the value of the property or money stolen. You will be charged with petty theft if you have stolen property or money valuing less than $300. Greater than $300 is grand theft and is a felony. A felony conviction can cost you your rights as an average citizen. A man in Naples is in need of an experienced criminal defense lawyer because he has so many petty theft convictions on his record that his most recent theft escapade of $1 actually cost him a felony.

The Judge residing over the Goodman vehicular manslaughter case may be calling in the jury for questioning. The circuit judge Jeffrey Colbath held a hearing Tuesday after Goodman's attorneys filed a notice of intent to interview jurors of possible misconduct. Goodman was found guilty of DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide in March after slamming into Scott Wilson's vehicle and sending it careening into a canal where Wilson, still strapped into the driver seat, drowned.

Probation is a sentence ordered by a judge that allows a convicted criminal to live in society under the strict supervision or regulation by a probation officer. Probation does allow someone to resume somewhat of a normal life but the restrictions are often up to the judge or the probation officer. In this case, the 'Cookie Monster,' Stefanie Woods, was arrested for violating her probation because she failed to turn in a gas receipt, show up for a meeting with a probation officer and failed to be at her designated locations at the time allotted. The prosecuting attorney argued fervently that this convicted felon, with a long history of crime, should not be allowed back into society.

Stalking is not a crime often reported in news headlines but in this case, it caught the attention of reporters because the accused is a Palm Beach County Sheriff's Deputy. The accusations are that the officer used his law enforcement resources to aggressively stalk his ex-girlfriend. Crimes like these are disappointing for any South Florida resident to stomach because our community expects security and a sense of honor and duty from our local law enforcement. Seeing police officers abuse their power and their resources to manipulate other people causes a lack of faith in the justice system put in place to protect our community.

No, this story is not about Trayvon Martin. However, with all the media attention, publicity, and rallies surrounding the Trayvon Martin shooting, other similar cases are garnering a little more attention than they normally would have. In Pompano Beach, an unarmed black male was napping in a vehicle when he was shot multiple times by Broward Sheriff's deputies - one of which was a star on the reality TV show "Police Women of Broward County." It an open investigation and although the story is still unclear, at the end of the day, an unarmed black male was shot by a police officer, giving the case some room in the media spotlight.

Animal cruelty laws in Florida are getting stricter. More and more animal sanctuary owner-operators are being charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty throughout Florida as law enforcement attempts to crack down on the crime. Animal cruelty is the deliberate harm or death of an animal cause by the intentional abuse or neglect of its owner or caregiver. Depending on the severity of the crime, animal cruelty can be charged as a felony with penalties including several years in prison.

Surprisingly, robbery has one of the lowest index of crimes that occur in South Florida in comparison to violent crimes like aggravated assault, and property crimes like theft and burglary. It may be a sign of the times however because the rate of robbery in South Florida is increasing since the year 2010. Robbery is a crime that unfortunately happens every day no matter what county you are in. Just today in WPTV News, there were two separate stories on robbery. One occurred at a Papa John's, the other at a Burger King.