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

Parents send their children to schools entrusting the teachers and administration to provide their children with a safe, harm-free environment. While teachers cannot protect students from every potential threat, it is especially alarming to see the rise in sexual misconduct against children happening in Palm Beach County schools. The case of Carol Flannigan in 2004 helped shed light on the reality that our children are not always safe in school.

Animal law is evolving rapidly and the changes can be seen throughout the nation. The laws in South Florida changed to make the laws that protect animals much stricter, specifically the tethering laws. These new laws have seen a spike in animal cruelty arrests in the area, and the laws are only continuing to change.

In 1993, Linda Cooney was acquitted for murdering her husband. Nearly 20 years later, Cooney is back in the media spotlight when police were called to another shooting in the Cooney’s Las Vegas household. Kevin Cooney, her son, 30, was shot in the neck. The shooter? Linda Cooney.

It seems that we are hearing about cops committing crimes more often these days. It has been rumored that when police officers are charged with crimes, they suffer sentences that are much less severe than those of average citizens. This is evidenced by the fact that even when law enforcement officers are on leave after the crime surfaced, they are still paid.

Child abuse or neglect in Florida is an extremely serious crime. If you are accused of child abuse, you could be facing a serious misdemeanor or felony charge. A child in the state of Florida is defined as someone under the age of 18 years old. Abuse can be anything from physical harm, sexual harm, emotional harm, or even the threat of imminent danger. Child abuse is usually reported when a witness of some kind reports suspicion to the Department of Children and Families.

Palm Beach County Law Enforcement is looking into using a new form of technology that may actually decrease the crime rate. Several other counties across the nation are adopting the use of "predictive policing," a technology that collects and analyzes statistical data that supposedly gives police the ability to predict a potential crime scene. The use of this technology may have a dramatic impact on arrests, but it may also cause problems because technology may not always be reliable.

The DEA deemed synthetic marijuana, or synthetic cannabinoids and stimulants into the Controlled Susbtances Act, making it very illegal to possess or sell any substance that is considered a synthetic alternative to marijuana. Spice and K2 are incenses created by a mixture of chemicals that people have been smoking, as it has a similar stimulating effect to that of marijuana. Selling any controlled substance is a felony and if you are accused of this crime, you need a criminal defense lawyer immediately.

Serious crimes committed by police officers usually make headlines, but for some reason the immediate consequences do not seem to be as harsh as it could potentially be for citizens that commit the same crime. Two Fort Lauderdale officers have been accused of grand theft, kidnapping, and lying about the case. The grand theft committed could potentially be charged as a third-degree felony. The crime gets even more complicated as the money stolen should have been placed in evidence.

In basic terms, Stand Your Ground Law allows anyone immunity from prosecution if he or she used force in self-defense of person or property. After claiming immunity under Florida Stand Your Ground Law, a Motion to Dismiss should be filed by the defendant’s criminal defense lawyer.

Whenever a police officer breaks the law, it usually makes headlines. The American audience is borderline desensitized to seeing news reports of battery and assault incidents, robberies, thefts, and the like. However, when a crime is committed by an officer of the law, it makes breaking news because we as a society depend on police to be the safety nets and model citizens of our communities. A police officer in Riviera Beach is experiencing scrutiny after pulling a Taser out on a 12-year-old boy.