Former Tampa Bay Buccaneer turned “Inside The NFL” analyst Warren Sapp was arrested Saturday, February 6, 2010 on the allegation of battery domestic violence in Miami, Florida. Sapp, who was in Miami covering Super Bowl XLIV for the NFL network, was suspended by the network pending a complete investigation.
Sapp is also known from his appearance in the seventh season of “Dancing with the Stars” with professional dance partner Kym Johnson. Sapp and Johnson ultimately finished second in the competition.
The arrest occurred as a result of allegations made by his girlfriend of two years who was allegedly staying overnight with Sapp in his hotel room in Miami. According to the alleged victim, Warren Sapp came into her room early in the morning and dragged her out of bed, starting an argument about some guys she had been hanging around earlier the previous evening. He then “grabbed her and began to choke her” and threw her out of the room, she claims.
Sapp tells a different story. He told Miami iBeach Police that he had originally allowed the alleged victim to stay in his room but had changed his mind. He said that he was “expecting company” and wanted her to leave. He said that he was trying to help her do just that and she fell. Sapp was released Sunday morning (Feb. 7) on a $1500 bond.
If you or someone you know has een arrested or charged with a Battery or Domestic Violence charge in Orlando and are facing criminal prosecution for Domestic Violence in either Orange County, Seminole County, Florida, contact the attorneys at TILDEN LAW for an initial and confidential free consultation, 407-599-1234.
Trooper Paul C. Lawence has been accused of attempting to artificially increase the number of citations issued to his credit by issuing several hundred bogus tickets. Lawrence, a Florida Highway Patrol trooper based in South Florida has been arrested on charges of official misconduct, after authorities said he wrote hundreds of fake citations to drivers. The official esimate is more than 200 traffic tickets have been issued since November have been by Lewis. South Florida Courts have been dismissing these tickets but believe there may be more.
Authorities grew suspicious when the ticketed motorists began complaining they knew nothing about the citations. Prosecutors said Lawrence had used information from drivers he previously stopped to draft new tickets. Believing there may be more victims, FHP has created a hotline. Those who believe they received a false citation from Lawrence can call 305-470-2525.
It has long been speculated that law enforcement agencies have monthy and annual “ticket quotas”. A spokesman for the FHP said they don’t operate on a quota system.
If you have been arrested or charged with a crime in Orlando or are facing criminal prosecution in either Orange County, Seminole County, Florida, contact the experienced attorneys at TILDEN LAW for a free initial and confidential consultation, 407-599-1234.
Latoria Pickett, 28, of Orlando was arrested on felony charges of conspiracy to commit organized fraud and fraudulently using personal-identification information and was being held in the Orange County Jail on $50,000 bond.
Pickett, who worked as a customer service repreentative for a company (Affiliated Copmuter Services) that processes payments for E-PASS was arrested on February 3, 2010, after allegations that she photocopied customer checks and sold them to people who stole money from their accounts. According to a spokeswoman for the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority, about three dozen customers were victimized. Pickett was fired shortly after the allegations came to light.
The investigation began in September 2008 when the Orange County Sheriffs Office conducted a traffic stop and found copies of Expressway Authority customer checks on a woman named Tonya Wells, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said. Wells and several others were arrested that year on charges of cashing counterfeit checks throughout Florida. Investigators found dozens of checks, drivers licenses and bank-account numbers for people who were not E-PASS customers, they said.
The Expressway Authority and ACS hired auditors and changed procedures to make sure a similar scheme could not happen again. Hodges would not be more specific.
If you have been arrested or charged with Fraud or Theft in Orlando and are facing criminal prosecution in either Orange County, Seminole County, Florida, contact the attorneys at Tilden Law for an initial and confidential consultation, 407-599-1234.
Orlando Police departments are warning people to be on the lookout for a scam group that has recently arrived in the city. Law enforcement officials say that gangs are moving into the area and are preying on people using a 3-card Monte game. Among the areas hit by these indivicuals are Daytona during Bike Week and the Daytona 500 along with Orange County tourist areas.
In 3-card Monte, a dealer shows the audience a card, shifts that card with two others and asks someone in the audience to guess which card was shown. One person in the audience is in on the game and works with the dealer to convince others to bet large amounts – and lose them.
The scam group’s members also have been known to rob participants as they play the game. The men, who all are related by blood, marriage or long-term association, often travel in minivans registered from Ohio and Kentucky. One Marion County man already has reportedly already has been robbed of a $2,600 and a valuable ring while playing the game at a gas station, according to the Marion sheriff’s office.
If you have been arrested or charged with a Fraud or Theft in Orlando and are facing criminal prosecution in either Orange County, Seminole County, Florida, contact the attorneys at Tilden Law for an initial and confidential consultation, 407-599-1234.
Seminole County circuit courts are starting a new drug court program. It is grant funded and under the terms of the grant, it is for first time felony drug offenders only. Therefore the primary charge must be for a felony drug offense and that must be the first felony of any type. There must be no evidence of sale. Minimal prior misdemeanors are allowed but will be reviewed on a case by case basis. Participants must live in Seminole County to qualify. Unlike other diversion cases,these cases can be referred from the trial division.
This is not a free program and will likely be on a sliding scale. Other requirements include: some community service, cost of prosecution, drug court fees and charges for the program requirements. Funding will cover some costs for indigent clients. Prior to final acceptance the defendant must have a TASC (drug) evaluation that finds them suitable for the program, however, TASC will not accept any appointments until previously approved by the program director. Evaluations from other sources are not acceptable. If the evaluation says they need more extensive treatment than provided for in this program they can opt in to the normal drug court program. DUI counts will need to be resolved with the trial division prior to entry into the program.
Due to record keeping requirements there will be a referral form required to submit future case for drug court (both programs).
If you have been arrested or charged with a Drug crime in Orlando and are facing criminal prosecution in either Orange County, Seminole County, Florida, or if you have had your driver license suspended for a Drug conviction, contact the attorneys at Tilden Law for an initial and confidential consultation, 407-599-1234.
Our client was arrested in Orange County on a charge of DUI. The arresting Officer indicated in his report that our client was driving on the wrong side of the roadway. The officer followed our client and viewed a driving pattern that included weaving and failing to keep her car in her lane. A traffic stop was conducted and the officer indicated he smelled alcohol on our client’s breath. Following the field sobriety tests, our client was arrested for DUI and ultimately refused the breath test.
Our client is in college studying gireign relations politics hoping for a career out of the country in politics with the U.S. government. It was required that the DUI charge be reduced or dismissed in order for her to both continue her education and then persue her career in international politics.
After our firm made a demand for evidence, it was discovered that there may be some questionable actions by law enforcement. Pre trial motions were filed and negotiations began with the State Attorney. During this process, the State Attorney agreed to reduce the charge to a non DUI offense.
If you have been arrested or charged with a DUI in Orlando and are facing criminal prosecution in either Orange County, Seminole County, Florida, or if you have had your driver license suspended for a DUI, contact the attorneys at Tilden Law for an initial and confidential consultation, 407-599-1234.
Recently, TILDEN LAW was re-hired by a former client who was charged with Violation of Probation in Seminole County, Florida for a second time. Our client was on probation for a alcohol related reckless driving charge that our firm was previously successful in defending and reducing from a DUI charge.
Our client was being tested on a weekly basis through his counseling center for controlled substances. At his most recent counseling meeting, our client tested positive for alcohol by way of urine testing. As a result, our client’s probation officer filed a probation violation affidavit and submitted the violation to the court and office of the State Attorney for prosecution.
Attorney N. Fleetwood Tilden, researched the method of collecting our client’s urine sample as well as the type of alcohol test and determined that neither would be admissible in court to prove our client willfully violated his probation. As a result, the State Attorney dismissed the Violation of Probation charge at the hearing and our client’s probation was terminated in compliance.
If you have been arrested or charged with a VOP in Orlando or are facing criminal prosecution in either Orange County, Seminole County, Florida, contact the experienced attorneys at TILDEN LAW for a free initial and confidential consultation, 407-599-1234.
Felony Domestic Violence Charge Dismissed
TILDEN LAW was contacted by a client recently who was facing a charge of Felony Domestic Violence Battery by Strangulation and Witness Tampering in Seminole County, Florida. According to the police affidavit, our client was involved in an argument with his wife relating to a variety of domestic issues. As the argument escalated, the report indicated that our client grabbed his wife by the throat with his hands and attempted to strangle her until she almost lost consciousness. The report further indicated that the alleged victim attempted to use her cell phone to call 911 but it was taken from her by our client in an attempt to prevent her from calling police.
Our office became involved shortly after our client was arrested and while he was being held in jail without bond. Attorney N. Fleetwood Tilden, immediately filed a motion for bond with the court. During the hearing, the court granted our motion as well as our further request that our client be released without special condition of no victim contact and no return to the shared residence. As the case progressed, Mr. Tilden was able to negotiate a resolution where the State Attorney dismissed the both Felony charges. Our client ultimately resolved his case with a non-conviction to a misdemeanor charge.
If you or someone you know has een arrested or charged with a Battery or Domestic Violence charge in Orlando and are facing criminal prosecution for Domestic Violence in either Orange County, Seminole County, Florida, contact the attorneys at TILDEN LAW for an initial and confidential free consultation, 407-599-1234.
The TILDEN LAW firm was recently hired to represent a repeat client accused in Seminole County, Florida of Battery Domestic Violence against his former girlfriend. The alleged victim called 911 after she and our client became involved a verbal argument. When law enforcement arrived, the victim filed a sworn written report that she was struck by our client resulting in raised red marks on her neck and arm.
During the initial meeting and interview of our client, attorney N. Fleetwood Tilden determined that it may be possible to achieve a case dismissal by negotiating a “pre-filing” disposition. Mr. Tilden contacted the State Attorney’s office and convinced the prosecutor to dismiss the criminal case once our client provided proof of completion of an anger management class within 30 days. We complied within the time given which resulted in a dismissal of all charges.
If you have been arrested or charged with a Battery Domestic Violence crime in Orlando and are facing criminal prosecution in either Orange County, Seminole County, Florida, contact the Domestic Violence attorneys at TILDEN LAW for an initial and confidential consultation, 407-599-1234.
Last week TILDEN LAW was contacted by a former client who we represented on a DUI charge in Seminole County, Florida that was successfully resolved as a lesser charge of Reckless Driving. As a condition of his sentence, our client was placed on probation with a special condition of probation that he neither possess nor consume alcohol. Unfortunately, our client tested positive for alcohol during a meeting with his counselors. As a result of the positive test result, our client’s probation officer violated his probation and the judge issued a VOP warrant with no bond.
Attorney N. Fleetwood Tilden, contacted the State Attorney’s office and was able to convince the prosecutor not to object to our client being granted a bond. Mr. Tilden also researched the test used at the counselors office to test our client for alcohol and determined that there are additional environmental factors which may cause a “false positive” result. Mr. Tilden filed a Motion to Recall Warrant and was ultimately successful in convincing the judge to recall the arrest warrant without ever arresting our client and allow our client to remain out of custody pending his hearing.
If you have been arrested or charged with a VOP in Orlando or are facing criminal prosecution in either Orange County, Seminole County, Florida, contact the experienced attorneys at TILDEN LAW for a free initial and confidential consultation, 407-599-1234.