Teen Who Tricked Ex Into Sex Cuts Plea Agreement | The Smoking Gun.
Too bad there is no crime of “criminal stupidity” with which to charge both of them.
Deputies: Lawn mower thief left Amscot receipt at scene – St. Petersburg Times
Deputies: Lawn mower thief left Amscot receipt at scene – St. Petersburg Times.
A guy tried to tow another guy’s lawn mower out of his yard . . . ALLEGEDLY.
Only in Pasco County. Well, maybe in Polk County, too, but that would have ended in a shoot out. . .
There are several interesting things about this article. First, the alleged thief “left his calling card” at the scene – an AmScot receipt with his name on it. That’s how they tracked him down.
Second, he immediately cut the mower loose from his car, apologized, and left. The alleged thief thought the mower was “scrap.”
Third, this is Pasco County, which raises the question of whether it is unreasonable to think that a mower left in someone’s front yard is junk or not. I suppose the answer to that depends on how high the unmowed grass in front of the trailer is, and how rusty the mower is (parked next to the pink lawn flamingo and sofa, of course).
Finally, what raises my interest the most is the question of whether taking junk, trash, garbage, or other waste from someone’s lawn is even a crime. If there is no value to the item, can it be “stolen”? Under Florida criminal law, something doesn’t have to have any value to be owned, but it has to have some value in order to be considered stolen.
Think about this the next time you want to go on someone’s property and take that old computer they have laying next to the garbage . . . you may get charged with a crime!
By the way, if he had gotten money at AmScot, why would he need to steal anything, anyway? Only in Pasco County.
$5 A Meatball: Internal Audit Finds Overspending at Justice Department – Politics | Republican Party | Democratic Party | Political Spectrum – FOXNews.com
I am hesitant to say anything bad about the DOJ, lest they turn their guns on me. But this story falls somewhere between comical and maddening. According to “the report”, the massive overspending was a product of “oversight”.
I’m going to use that argument with the DOJ the next time that I am negotiating for one of my clients. . .
Judge blocks Florida law restricting doctor gun talk – St. Petersburg Times
Judge rejects bid to delay Kevin White trial – St. Petersburg Times
Judge rejects bid to delay Kevin White trial – St. Petersburg Times.
Interesting, but not unexpected. Most Federal trials move along very, very fast. The judges expect that the cases will be prepared to go to trial within just a few short months of the arrest/arraignment (first court date). Unless there are extenuating circumstances (for instance, where witnesses live out of the state/country and the attorneys require extensive travel time, or where there are mountains of documents), Federal judges usually just do not give continuances.
We’ll see if it actually goes to trial, or ends up in a plea. The denial of the continuance might have an impact on the decision to forego a trial and try to enter a plea.
“Operation Pandora’s Box” nets dozens of arrests
“Operation Pandora’s Box” nets dozens of arrests.
Apparently someone is in big trouble. Some people are in big trouble.
The problem in cases like this comes in the form of how the Feds charge these cases, as a conspiracy, and with the Federal sentencing guidelines.
The conspiracy charge allows the government to go back as far as they have any proof of related criminal activity. The guidelines permit the sentencing judge to estimate amounts of drugs moved and money collected. These estimates can come from actual transactions where money and drugs were exchanged, then multiplied out over the course of the conspiracy. Estimates of drug quantity can also come from the testimony of involvants and co-conspirators.
And the guidelines are harsh – very harsh for career criminals.
In short, all of these people are in a heap of trouble, and have a tough road ahead.
Jeff Ashton to write Casey Anthony book
Jeff Ashton to write Casey Anthony book.
Alternatively called “How I screwed the pooch on national TV and lost the trial of the century, then quit my job.” Forward by Marcia Clark and Christopher Darden.
As with Dr. Phil, please boycott this book and all other attempts to make money off of the Anthony trial.
Bodiford speaks at DUI seminar
I’ll be speaking today at a seminar for lawyers, “Handling the First DUI Case.” Presented by LawReviewCLE, it will be at the Hyatt Downtown Tampa.
Accused of plotting Tampa school bombings, these two boys changed course – St. Petersburg Times
Accused of plotting Tampa school bombings, these two boys changed course – St. Petersburg Times.
Just a follow up of Wednesdays post…
BS ALERT: Cop says tossing out drug law “encourages drug use”
Read this article: http://www.tampabay.com/news/courts/criminal/miami-judge-tosses-out-drug-cases-cites-federal-ruling/1186550. It gives the good news, which is that a Miami judge has granted motions to dismiss in 39 drug possession cases. I have already provided the order to the local judges hearing my motions to dismiss.
What boggles my mind is the Miami police officer, who is quoted as saying that the decision makes it harder for cops to enforce drug laws and “encourages drug use.”
CODE 5 B.S. ALERT!!!
NO ONE is going to run out and use drugs because Milt Hirsch granted a motion. Most of them are to high to know he did it in the first place.
Police officers should be wary of adopting attitudes like the one of their brethren in Miami. Police and deputies cannot blame lawyers and judges who do their jobs. If the law is bad and needs correcting, then so be it. Fix it. Until then, we must challenge all arrests predicated on that bad law. No one is making it harder to enforce drug laws EXCEPT THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE.
Finally, do not blame drug use on the judge. That’s just stupid. And if you’re that stupid, we know why you think an unconstitutional law should be enforced, and we really don’t trust you to be out there enforcing it to begin with.
After all, don’t most evidence suppressions come from cops not knowing the law, or simply disregarding it? Riiiiiight. . .
