Fort Lauderdale Criminal Attorney Blog

August 23, 2015

Arrest on Cruise Ship for Battery of a Minor

By The Law Offices of Richard Ansara, P.A.

Millions of people flock to Florida and its surrounding waters for an escape from the daily grind. But for some, the “vacation mindset” leads to lowered inhibitions and the assumption that consequences won’t be forthcoming.

However, as one Ohio man learned recently, one doesn’t evade the law simply because a crime occurs on vacation.

The 30-year-old was arrested at a Florida port, shortly after the cruise ship on which he was a passenger docked. Authorities alleged he had battered and threatened a 13-year-old boy who made sexual overtures toward his niece. He was charged with child abuse, assault, battery and false imprisonment of a child.
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August 18, 2015

Driver Sentenced 30 Years for Crash That Killed Five

By The Law Offices of Richard Ansara, P.A.

Back in 1996, a man in West Boca caused an auto accident that resulted in the deaths of five Boca Raton teenagers. The following year, he would receive a 15-year prison sentence.

Three years later, another man in West Boca killed six senior citizens in a crash. He too would later receive 15 years for his crime.

But now, in 2015, a 23-year-old in Riviera Beach has been sentenced to 30 years for the exact same crime: Vehicular homicide.
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August 14, 2015

DUI Manslaughter Arrest in Pompano Beach Crash

By The Law Offices of Richard Ansara, P.A.

Statements made to police detectives from a hospital bed will make it difficult for a man to build a solid defense following a fatal car accident in Pompano Beach in June.

The decedent in the case was working with one other as a driver/delivery person on a car hauler. The workers stopped on South Dixie Highway on June 23rd to drop off a vehicle to a business there. The workers parked the semi-truck on the far right lane of the roadway. The flashing hazard lights were turned on. They lowered the ramp in the rear and were working on unloading the vehicle from the lower ramp.

Decedent was standing inside near the back of the trailer trying to unchain another vehicle. Meanwhile, according to police, defendant driver was operating his vehicle in the right lane. He reportedly did not stop or swerved as he approached the stopped truck. Instead, he drove right up the ramp. He struck decedent with the front bumper of his vehicle, and decedent was launched through the front of defendant’s vehicle.
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August 10, 2015

Bretherick v. Florida – Stand Your Ground Immunity is Defense Burden

By The Law Offices of Richard Ansara, P.A.

The Florida Supreme Court has once again taken on the issue of the controversial “Stand Your Ground Law,” ruling explicitly that the burden is on the defendant to prove he or she is entitled to immunity under this statute.

In Bretherick v. Florida, defendant had argued the onus was on the prosecution to show why such immunity did not apply. Amicus curiae briefs were filed with the court by the National Rifle Association of America and Florida Carry, Inc. in support of defendant.

The district court denied defense motion to dismiss on these grounds. Florida’s Fifth District Court of Appeal then affirmed that by finding it was the defendant who had a burden to prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, at the pretrial evidentiary hearing, that he or she is entitled to immunity. However, the 5th DCA then certified the question to the state supreme court for review as a matter of great public importance. Justices with the Florida Supreme Court agreed with the 5th District panel.
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August 6, 2015

Cohen v. Florida – Phone Call Gets Man 25 Years Prison

By The Law Offices of Richard Ansara, P.A.

Violations of probation in Florida can be extremely serious matters.

Many criminal cases are resolved through plea agreements that offer plaintiff an opportunity to avoid a lengthier jail or prison term by submitting to community control (i.e., probation). However, a person who does not abide by the terms of that probation could face severe repercussions – up to and including imposition of the full sentence they would have otherwise faced on the previous charges.

This is why probation violation cases need to be handled by an experienced criminal defense attorney. The stakes can be enormously high, and it’s not a risk you want to take.
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August 3, 2015

Parents Criminally Charged When Children Access Guns in Florida

By The Law Offices of Richard Ansara, P.A.

A father in Davie recently came under police scrutiny after he allegedly shot his 12-year-old daughter on accident while teaching her about gun safety. Police decided ultimately not to arrest him.

The girl was admitted to a local hospital with a gunshot to her left forearm, and the injury wasn’t considered life-threatening. The injury reportedly occurred when the father was trying to show her how to safely draw a firearm from his pocket.

Investigation is still ongoing, and while police haven’t charged him, that decision will be reviewed by the state attorney’s office. Other parents in similar situations have not evaded criminal charges.
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July 28, 2015

South Florida Father Sentenced to 5 Years Prison for Shaken Baby

By The Law Offices of Richard Ansara, P.A.

For the death of his 5-month-old son as a result of violent shaking, a Lake Worth man will serve five years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter.

Initially, defendant had been charged with first-degree murder and faced up to 30 years in prison. Defendant’s wife, the child’s mother, supported defendant and the two even went on to have another child, a daughter, after the death of their son.

This may have prompted prosecutors to agree to a plea deal with much lesser prison time than what he could have served. As part of the deal, prosecutors dropped the first-degree murder charge and child abuse charge in exchange for a guilty plea to manslaughter. Even that charge carries a possible prison sentence of up to 15 years. That he had no prior criminal record, authorities say, also factored into the agreement for him to serve less time.
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July 23, 2015

South Florida Embezzlement Arrests After $80k Stolen

By The Law Offices of Richard Ansara, P.A.

Two insurance underwriting company employees were arrested in Hollywood, accused of embezzling at least $25,000 but possibly as much as $80,000 from the firm.

The workers, age 31 and 41, are accused of taking some customer’s monthly cash premiums and pocketing them, while at the same time recording the payment was made to the business.

Problems arose, however, when deposits fell short of the recorded amounts. One woman is accused of taking $16,000 and another $7,000. Another $1,700 was paid by a customer to one of the women, though he could not remember which. Detectives say the investigation is ongoing, and it’s probable more charges will be filed as more information becomes available.
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July 14, 2015

Moss v. Florida – New Trial in Sex Crime Case After Evidence Error

By The Law Offices of Richard Ansara, P.A.

A Florida man convicted of burglary of an occupied dwelling and sexual battery will receive a new trial after an appeals court agreed the trial court wrongly entered evidence of statements he made to authorities prior to his arrest.

In Moss v. Florida, the state’s 1st DCA found there was sufficient evidence to show defendant exercised his right to remain silent during the second questioning.

The law affords suspects in criminal cases the right to remain silent. However, thanks to ill-advised and over-simplified television programs, there is vast misunderstanding as to what exactly these rights are and when and how they may be invoked.

A “Miranda Warning” as it is called, is derived from the First Amendment protection against self-incrimination. This advises suspects what they cay can be used against them in court, that they have the right to consult a lawyer, that the lawyer can be present during questioning, that a lawyer represent them free of cost if they can’t afford one and that they have the right to stop answering police questions at any time. This warning must be provided when a person is interrogated while in police custody (a situation in which a reasonable person in suspect’s situation would not feel free to leave).
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July 10, 2015

“High-End” Prostitution Ring Leader Gets 3 Years Federal Prison

By The Law Offices of Richard Ansara, P.A.

A man who reportedly directed a high-stakes prostitution ring in South Florida – one with ties to a law firm tainted by a huge Ponzi scheme scandal – has been sentenced to three years in federal prison.

The 51-year-old defendant admitted guilt for arranging encounters with prostitutes from his “high-end adult escort agency” to wealthy clients throughout South Florida and in other cities. Some of the women employed by the operation were Florida natives, although some were recruited from some Eastern European countries.

Posing as tourists, the women were housed in various locations across the Pompano Beach area, but on occasion traveled on “tours” in cities like Chicago, Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, where sexual encounters with various clients were arranged.
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