Our office was contactedI by a former client to assist him in a Felony DUI charge out of Seminole County, Florida. Our client had 3 prior DUI convictions and was facing mandatory jail and a mandatory lifetime driver license revocation. In addition to the DUI charge, the State Attorney also charged driving on a suspended license and refusal to submit to a breath test.
Our client was alleged to have driven his vehicle in a manner consistent with impaired drivers. He was ultimately stopped for weaving outside of his lane and stopping his vehicle in an intersection causing other vehicles to swerve to avoid a accident. As part of the litigators, we recommended he enrol in counseling for alcohol addiction. We filed pre trial motions and conducted depositions. During the depositions, we were able to convince the arresting officer and State Attorney to reduce the Felony DUI to a misdemeanor reckless driving. As a result, our client was not sentenced to jail/prison and avoided the DUI lifetime driver license revocation.
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.
Mildred Fernandez, former Orange County Commissioner, was charged in a 14 count charging document earlier today. Fernandez faces numerous felony charges including racketeering, bribery, and grand theft. Fernandez had recently put her hat in the ring for Orange County Mayor.
These allegations come after her recent arrest on allegations of accepting campaign contributions in exchange for helping a developer move his project ahead.
Fernandez was in the throes of a mayoral campaign when she was arrested April 27, but she was removed from her county commission post b by Governor Charlie Christ and she later abandoned her campaign.
The State Attorney’s Office has alleged that Fernandez agreed to help a man named Tony Cabrero push forward a commercial building project that was having difficulty gaining traction. Fernandez is accused of forcing Cabrero to contribute to her campaign before agreeing to discuss his project in her district, according to an arrest affidavit.
An Orlando police officer accused of grabbing a woman’s lactating breast while working off duty resigned today.
Loverde, 31, is accused of grabbing the new mother’s breast after he walked her to her car at Firestone Live, a concert venue on North Orange Avenue downtown. He is charged with battery, a first degree Misdemeanor and false imprisonment, a second degree Felony. He was suspended without pay from the department on Dec. 17.
Loverde is currently out on bond in the amount of $5,500 with the additional condition of having no contact with the alleged victim. Trial is currently scheduled for June 21, 2010.
Orange County courts are currently offering a deferred prosecution program for some DUI cases. This deferred prosecution program is called Orange County DUI Pre Trial Diversion. There are also two tiers of Orange County DUI diversion based on the breath/blood test results or if there was a breath test refusal. Tier one DUI Pre-Trial Diversion is for those DUI cases where the breath/blood averages to less than .15 and tier two DUI Pre Trial Diversion is for those cases where the individual either refuses the breath test or his/her average breath/blood results are .15 or greater. The primary benefit to such a program is, upon successful completion of its terms and conditions, the office of the State Attorney will file a dismissal of the DUI charge. Unfortunately, the State Attorney’s office is very selective in their admission policy and only admit individuals whose case fits into its narrow parameters. Some of the qualification criteria include:
- Information received by the State Attorney indicates client is a good candidate to successfully complete and benefit from the program.
- No prior alcohol related criminal offenses.
- No accident alleged in the present case including single car accidents.
- No more than one prior diversion program or two prior misdemeanor charges.
At TILDEN LAW, we evaluate every client’s case to determine whether they are qualified for the DUI pre trial diversion program and whether there is a greater likelihood of dismissal through other means. We work with both the Court/State Attorney and the PTD program coordinator to make our client’s entry and completion as smooth as possible.
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.