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

The shooting of Trayvon Martin has been floodlighted with media attention with rallies happening in cities from coast to coast and Martin's parents appearing at Capitol Hill. There has been much controversy and debate over the case where experts are questioning the defense of "self-defense," or the stand your ground law. At the end of the day however, an unarmed 17-year-old boy was shot dead by the neighborhood watch crime captain. The debate over the case is likely to escalate as tension increases and supporters demand the arrest of George Zimmerman.

More often than not, domestic disputes and aggravated assault cases between family members involve alcohol abuse. Abusing your alcohol tolerance can lead to several poor decisions, even decisions that can land you in jail. Even if you have consumed only one drink of alcohol, your judgment is already impaired even if it seems clear as day at the time, according to Florida Traffic School. Even one drink affects your biological processes enough that it can cause you to make poor decisions you could regret, including harming people you care about.

In the state of Florida, Florida’s Assault and Battery Law supplements domestic violence law. The difference is significant however because even though assault and battery are very specific in the crimes they cover, domestic violence is a specialized form of both in that the penalties are even more severe and the consequences are much more serious.

Many people have been following the case of the death of beloved grocery store owner Jimmy McMillan in Belle Glade. The 19-year-old accused of robbing, shooting, and killing McMillan confessed to his crimes Saturday. After appearing before the Judge briefly he is being held without bond and could possibly be facing the death penalty for aggravated assault with a firearm, armed robbery with a firearm, and first-degree murder with a firearm.

Stabbing is a serious crime as it can be deemed it court as assault with a deadly weapon or even attempted murder. These two crimes are both felonies but the sentences may vary depending on the circumstances of the crime. Also, stabbing may have residual charges depending on the situation as well. If the stabbing coincided with theft or robbery, the multiple charges could have a serious impact on the sentence and court proceedings. 

Crimes against elderly people often go unreported because the victim’s rarely contact authorities themselves. Usually, a witness or friend recognize something odd occurring and report the discrepancies to the authorities. Crimes against elderly people usually encompass fraud, burglary, theft, or any money-related crime. One Tequesta woman, 65, was young and nimble enough to escape a serious assault on her life.

Criminal charges can’t be separated by categories because one criminal charge often results in residual charges. A great common example would be when a residence is busted for being a marijuana grow house and then the owner is also charged with weapons possession after weapons are found in the residence. Multiplecriminal charges can often result in a very complicated sentence.