Category: Legal Blog

Criminal Defense, Legal Blog, Recent News, Warrant

Unflattering Facebook Photo Leads to Arrest

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Although not a Florida case, I thought it was worth posting:

A Columbus, Ohio woman was arrested last month after she observed her mugshot posted on the police department’s Facebook page and complained that she wanted it removed. Monica Hargrove’s picture had been posted on the Facebook account as part of the police department’s weekly roundup they refer to as “#WarrantWednesday.” Hargrove reportedly had an outstanding warrant for aggravated robbery and kidnapping. According to Denise Alex-Bouzounis, public information officer at the Columbus Police Department: Hargrove contacted the detective listed on the Facebook post and said, “‘Hey, I want my picture down,’ “[The detective] said, ‘Come on in and we’ll talk about it.'” Hargrove then went to the police station, where she was taken into custody.

Full story found on the Huffington Post, here: Facebook Mugshot Arrest

Anyone whose mugshot is posted on a police Facebook page should contact a criminal defense attorney before heading down to the police station. A criminal defense attorney could facilitate a turn-in and have a bondsman ready. Additionally, a criminal defense attorney will be able to help protect your rights and advise you not to make any statements that could be (and will be) used against you.

Casey Reiter is an associate attorney at Stuart R. Manoff & Associates, P.A. in West Palm Beach, Florida, practicing in the areas of Criminal Defense and Marital Law.

Legal Blog, Uncategorized

Regular People are Arrested Every Day

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Many people question why I wanted to be a criminal defense attorney. Some angrily accuse me of defending “bad guys” and of helping make the streets of Palm Beach County more dangerous. A common comment I hear when introducing myself is: “Boy, I hope I never need you!” But what many people fail to realize is that “regular people” find themselves in trouble with the law every day. Teachers, students, lawyers, doctors, stay at home moms, architects, engineers – people from every walk of life can encounter legal troubles. Today, a Fort Pierce, Florida police officer was arrested for DUI. Good people make bad mistakes. It is not always the “bad guys” who are arrested or who need a criminal defense lawyer.

The reality is that anyone at any given point in his or her life might need a criminal defense attorney some day. Good kids often make mistakes, such as getting into fights at school, and find themselves facing juvenile criminal charges. College students often go to parties or sneak into bars, drink alcohol even though they are underage, and find themselves facing misdemeanor criminal charges. College kids also experiment with drugs and when caught, find themselves facing misdemeanor charges or felony charges, depending on the illegal substance, that could affect the rest of their lives. People speed and drive recklessly. People smoke marijuana. People get mad and hit other people during arguments. People drink a little too much alcohol and drive home from work functions and cocktail hours every day.

“Good people” do “bad things” all the time. Hardened criminals who are in a never-ending loop of prison time and probation violations are not the only people who need help.

When someone is arrested, regardless of their background, they are entitled to an attorney on their side to walk them through the criminal justice system, make sure that their rights aren’t being violated, and hold the State to the presumption of innocence until a person is proven guilty.

Casey Reiter is an associate attorney at Stuart R. Manoff & Associates, P.A. in West Palm Beach, Florida, practicing in the areas of Criminal Defense and Marital Law.

Legal Blog, Legislative Update, Marijuana, Recent News

Boynton Beach Marijuana Update

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The Boynton Beach City Commission voted on Tuesday to go forward with the October 21, 2014 hearing to discuss a possible moratorium on businesses in the city from producing or distributing medical marijuana.

The vote was apparently unanimous. After the October 21, 2014 hearing, the Boynton Beach City Commission will have to vote twice on a temporary ban of the businesses in the city from producing or distributing medical marijuana in order for the ban to become official.

Casey Reiter is an associate attorney at Stuart R. Manoff & Associates, P.A. in West Palm Beach, Florida, practicing in the areas of Criminal Defense and Marital Law.

Criminal Defense, Drug Charge, Legal Blog, Legislative Update, Marijuana

Marijuana Ban in Boynton Beach?

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The Boynton Beach City Commission is to vote Tuesday night on whether or not they should have a medical marijuana hearing on October 21, 2014. If the commission votes in favor of the hearing, Boynton Beach citizens would be able to discuss whether or not the city should ban businesses in the city from producing or distributing medical marijuana. A potential ban could last up to 1 year.

The ban would depend upon whether Amendment 2 to the November Ballot is passed. Presently, as of January 1, 2015, authorized Florida doctors may begin writing prescriptions for authorized strains of marijuana. However, the passage of Amendment 2 would allow for much broader medical use of marijuana. Amendment 2 proposes legalizing marijuana for a wide range of conditions, including but not limited to: cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, Lou Gehrig’s disease, Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis or other conditions a doctor believes it likely that the benefit of the medical use of marijuana would outweigh the potential health risks. Additionally, the proposed amendment would allow for smoking marijuana, instead of solely permitting the ingestion of a cannabis oil. Thus, the concern in Boynton Beach is of the unforeseen impact that the opening of medical marijuana stores would have on the city.

It is important to note that Florida marijuana laws still do not authorize the private/recreational use or growing of marijuana. Possession of Marijuana (without a prescription) is prosecuted as a violation of Florida Statute 893.13; possession of under 20 grams of marijuana constitutes a misdemeanor in the state of Florida, punishable by up to 1 year in the county jail, possession of 25 pounds of marijuana, or 300 or more marijuana plants constitutes a first degree felony punishable by up to 30 years in Florida State Prison.

Drug charges are serious and are heavily prosecuted in the State of Florida. Anyone facing marijuana charges in Palm Beach County should contact a knowledgeable Palm Beach Criminal Defense attorney.

Casey Reiter is an associate attorney at Stuart R. Manoff & Associates, P.A. in West Palm Beach, Florida, practicing in the areas of Criminal Defense and Marital Law.

Legal Blog, Recent News

Waldo Florida Police Department Disbanded

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The small police department of Waldo, Florida has been disbanded, after officers reported they were forced to meet an “illegal ticket quota.” This news comes just weeks after the police chief resigned

The Waldo Police Department had only seven (7) police officers, yet those seven managed to write 12,000 speeding tickets last year, which resulted in the collection of more than $400,000 in fines.

Waldo’s City Council voted this week 4-1 in favor of eliminating the small police department.