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Clearwater Criminal Defense Blog

Woman taken into custody on drug charges

On behalf of Hoskins & Penton, P.A. posted in Drug Charges on Thursday, April 19, 2018.

Authorities in Florida used a warrant to search home owned by a 44-year-old woman. She was also the sole occupant of the house where police found ledgers, baggies and a variety of drugs. A larger plastic bag contained 21.2 grams of cocaine, and cocaine was also found on a mirror. In addition to the cocaine, authorities found THC vaping oil, marijuana and prescription pills. The search also uncovered $9,095 in cash, and some of that money was obtained after selling drugs to undercover officers.

Authorities charged the woman with trafficking cocaine, possession of marijuana with intent to sell and possession of several different controlled substances. She was also charged with being in possession of drug paraphernalia. A representative from the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office Narcotics Unit said that carrying out such investigations is a benefit to the community. She also mentioned that officers work to assist drug users in their efforts to get clean.

What should I do after a DUI arrest?

On behalf of Hoskins & Penton, P.A. posted in blog on Wednesday, April 18, 2018.

If you are facing a DUI charge in Clearwater, you may feel as if your life is over. You may also worry about going to trial. Regardless of whether this is your first time dealing with a criminal matter or not, the penalties of conviction are severe. You need to act quickly to overcome this ordeal. 

You need to understand the seriousness of your situation. Procrastinating and hoping that your DUI charge will resolve itself is not beneficial and can cause you to miss out on options that could lead to a better outcome. Here are some steps to take to help you mitigate the consequences of a DUI charge. 

Traffic stop in Florida lands 2 people in jail for marijuana

On behalf of Hoskins & Penton, P.A. posted in Drug Charges on Friday, April 13, 2018.

A 19-year-old man and 18-year-old woman from out of state await their court appearances after police in Lynn Haven arrested them. An officer pulled over a sedan driven by the man for speeding. The officer said that the strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle justified a search. Police allegedly recovered 14 ounces of marijuana described as high quality and worth $6,000 along with a loaded 9 mm Glock handgun.

The presence of a digital scale and packaged marijuana led police to conclude that the people were engaged in drug dealing. When questioned by investigators, the woman reportedly admitted that the bulk of the marijuana, scales and gun belonged to her. As a result of her statement, she now faces felony charges related to distribution of marijuana and possessing a firearm.

Two arrested for possession of guns and drugs

On behalf of Hoskins & Penton, P.A. posted in Drug Charges on Friday, April 6, 2018.

A minor traffic violation was the catalyst for a major arrest that included illegal drugs, ammunition and a loaded AR-15 according to the Leon County Sheriff's Office. This arrest was at the 3900 block of Roberts Avenue in Tallahassee, Florida, at approximately 4 a.m.

According to the police report, a blue Nisan Altima with two individuals inside was spotted running a stop sign by a deputy on patrol. The deputy began to follow the suspect vehicle which he claims illegally passed another vehicle before turning off onto a side street. The deputy pulled the suspect over and had the driver and passenger step out of the vehicle after he said he smelled the odor of marijuana. A search of the vehicle reportedly turned up marijuana, cocaine, a loaded AR-15, a loaded pistol and additional ammunition. Both suspects were taken into custody and transported to the Leon County Detention Facility.

Traffic stop leads to drug charges

On behalf of Hoskins & Penton, P.A. posted in Drug Charges on Wednesday, March 28, 2018.

Two Florida residents were taken into custody by police on drug possession and trafficking charges on March 23. According to authorities in Fort Walton Beach, a Ford Mustang was stopped for a tint violation after receiving word that it could contain narcotics. A search revealed that there was marijuana and drug paraphernalia scales as well as 17 grams of methamphetamine.

This led to police searching the hotel room of a 33-year-old woman who was charged with trafficking in methamphetamine and possession of paraphernalia. During the search, authorities found hypodermic needles and drug paraphernalia. After police arrived at the motel room at Sea Breeze Inn, they took a 23-year-old man into custody and issued him a notice to appear in court on a marijuana possession charge. Authorities say that the investigation into the case is still ongoing.

How driving while drowsy can lead to disaster

On behalf of Hoskins & Penton, P.A. posted in blog on Tuesday, March 20, 2018.

Living and working in the Clearwater area, you are probably no stranger to operating your vehicle while sleepy. Many people suffer from sleep-deprivation. Work schedules, lifestyles and obligations often mean less time for sleep and more hours awake. 

Perhaps you drink coffee or other energy drinks before getting in the driver’s seat to cope with your drowsiness. This can provide temporary relief, but your body needs more than caffeinated beverages to cope with lack of sleep. 

The rights of abuse victims in Florida

On behalf of Hoskins & Penton, P.A. posted in Criminal Defense on Tuesday, March 20, 2018.

Florida residents who are victims of domestic violence may be able to seek relief through both civil and criminal courts. For example, a person would ask for a restraining order or injunction from a family court. Domestic violence occurs when an individual commits an act of violence against a partner or former partner or anyone who is a family member either biologically or through marriage.

The state does allow for injunctions by those who are abused by a romantic partner even if that person is not related by marriage. This may be true even if the victim is abused by someone who he or she used to date. A dating relationship is any relationship that was romantic, intimate or sexual in nature. Stalking, kidnapping and sexual assault are all considered to be forms of domestic violence in Florida in addition to aggravated assault and aggravated battery.

Florida woman arrested for DUI after parking lot crash

On behalf of Hoskins & Penton, P.A. posted in Drunk Driving on Friday, March 16, 2018.

A Florida woman is facing driving under the influence charges after she crashed her car in a grocery store parking lot. Law enforcement only took the 50-year-old woman into custody after she left the scene of the crash to buy more wine inside the store.

According to the Cape Coral Police Department, law enforcement was notified of a possible accident after a store customer exited the building and noticed damage to her parked vehicle. As police were interviewing the customer, the alleged offender approached the scene with her recently-purchased wine and admitted to hitting the car.

Florida Keys couple arrested, charged with drug offenses

On behalf of Hoskins & Penton, P.A. posted in Drug Charges on Thursday, March 8, 2018.

A Florida Keys couple arrested on March 1 for selling cocaine at a Marathon Walgreens is now facing drug charges. The two sold cocaine to an undercover agent who was posing as a drug buyer inside the popular pharmacy's bathroom, according to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office.

The two arrests resulted from an undercover operation that sought to investigate the sale of drugs in the area. According to police, the operation had been ongoing since earlier in the year. In this case, the undercover agent called the man and claimed to be a buyer interested in purchasing cocaine. The man handed the phone to the woman, who then allegedly arranged the place and time for the deal to take place.

How legal drugs can get you a DUI charge

On behalf of Hoskins & Penton, P.A. posted in blog on Monday, March 5, 2018.

It may be obvious that driving under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs is unlawful and dangerous, but what about legal medications? Some prescription drugs and even over-the-counter medications may affect your driving ability and leave you with a DUI charge. In fact, an AAA fact sheet says that prescription drugs are the most common drug detected in impaired drivers after fatal accidents.

That is right–you may face a serious criminal conviction even if you are taking a drug legally. Here is how taking legal medications may result in impairment and DUI arrests.