This week a spoke to a great group of students studying and training to become bail bond agents in Florida. Eventually, after a 120 hour course and training under a licensed bondsman, they too will receive their bail agent license. Many people ask me though if they can be a bondsman if they have a...
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Off duty Lakeland Police officer charged with battery after alleged road rage incident
An off duty police officer was charged with battery after an alleged road rage incident today. Part of the incident was captured on a surveillance camera. Allegedly, there was an incident on the road where the off-duty Lakeland Police Officer felt that the other driver cut him off. As with most road rage type incidents,...
Read MoreArrested for Polk County shoplifting gets a free ride from Sheriff Grady Judd
If you are caught shoplifting or stealing in Polk County, it is a very serious criminal offense. As you can see by the picture, Sheriff Grady Judd and Jerry Hill, the State Attorney for the Tenth Judicial Circuit take this crime very seriously. Not only do the authorities take it seriously, but so do employers....
Read MorePlant City criminal defense attorney takes domestic violence case to trial
My client was charged with domestic violence. In Polk County, I can often get Domestic Violence or Domestic Battery charges dismissed without ever going to court. This allows my arrested client to start expunging their domestic violence charge immediately. Even a Domestic Violence charge that has been dropped will cause you problems when seeking employment. ...
Read MoreDifference Between Adjudicated Guilty and Withhold Adjudication for Sealing and Expunging Arrest
Adjudicated Guilt in Florida Explained General Adjudication of Guilt vs. Withholding Guilt During the sentencing phase of a criminal trial the judge has the option of adjudicating a person guilty or withholding adjudication (withholding guilt). This translates to whether you were convicted or not. When adjudication is withheld you are not formally convicted by the...
Read MorePolk criminal attorney quoted on Polk prostitution sting in Newsweek with Sheriff Grady Judd
This weekend Newsweek’s The Daily Beast did an article on Polk County’s prostitution sting. Sheriff Grady Judd was quoted in the article giving his views and insight into the Polk Sheriff cybercrimes unit and Polk sex crime investigations. You can view the full article by Christine Pelisek here: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/01/27/florida-s-prostitution-buster.html Sheriff Judd warned anyone inclined to...
Read MorePolk County prostitution attorney seal expunge record civil penalty not paid
Effective January 1, 2013, the "civil penalty" for soliciting for prostitution has been increased from $500.00 to $5,250.00. Where does the civil fine go? $500.00 goes to where it went before the prostitution law changed. $4,500.00 of the solicitation for lewdness fine goes to the Department of Children and Family Services (DCF) to fund safe...
Read MorePolk county sex crime attorney voyeurism and video voyeurism
VOYEURISM Voyeurism is a sex crime and taken very seriously by the prosecutors in Polk County, FL. Recently, there was the case of the foreign exchange students in the Polk area who moved into an apartment where hidden video cameras were planted throughout the apartment. The alleged victims thought they were being secretly recorded. The...
Read MoreProstitution or Solicitation for a Lewd Act - Sex Crime attorney
The Florida legislature has amended the Prostitution statute to increase the civil penalty portion of the statute to $5,000.00!!! This $5,000.00 lewdness fine applies to crimes committed after January 1, 2013 Is this legal? Can they really fine me $5,000.00? there are number of legal challenges to this "civil penalty" Does it have any nexus...
Read MoreExpunge your Domestic Violence arrest for background checks
Problems finding a job or renting a place to live? Need to get an arrest off your record because you are licensed by the State of Florida? Nurses, teachers, attorneys, dentists, LPNs, etc. need to expunge their arrests. Retain a lawyer to expunge or seal your charges from public records. One of the most common...
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