TILDEN LAW – Orlando Criminal Attorney

The 21-year-old son of a Sanford police officer is accused of attacking a homeless man in front of a Sanford bar.  A warrant for the arrest of Justin Collison has been issued alleging a charge of aggravated battery, a 3^rd degree felony.  As a result of the attack, it is reported that the victim, Sherman Ware, suffered a broken nose.  Collison is the son of Lt. Chris Collison who is assigned to the Sanford police department’s patrol division. 

The attack was recorded on video by a person outside the Wet Spot bar on Park Avenue in downtown Sanford.  Collison was questioned at the scene but not arrested.  Acting Sanford police chief Capt. Jerry Hargrett said Wednesday that officers made “blatant” policy violations that night, including not handcuffing Collison or patting him down.  Hargrett said he wasn’t sure why the officers didn’t arrest Collison, but said there was no evidence Collison was given preferential treatment.  The police department launched an internal investigation into four officers, including a sergeant, who were associated with the case.

The video shows Ware trying to break up a fight on the sidewalk when Collison walks up behind him and punches Ware in the back of the head.  Ware pitched forward, hit his head on a nearby light pole and fell to the ground. He was taken to Central Florida Regional Hospital with a broken nose.  A few days after the fight, police asked the State Attorney’s Office in Sanford to review the case and decide whether to file an aggravated battery charge against Collison.

New Years Eve is one of the busiest days of the year for police enforcing DUI laws.  Police may have a new weapon in their pursuit.  Florida is among several states now holding what are called “no refusal” checkpoints.  It means if you refuse a breath test during a traffic stop, a judge is on site, and issues a warrant that allows police to perform a mandatory blood test.  It’s already being done in several counties, and now Mother’s Against Drunk Driving in Hillsborough County are working to bring it to the Tampa Bay area.  The federal government says Florida has among the highest rates of breathalyzer refusal.  Florida currently has criminalized a second or subsequent breath test refusal.

This new tactic, however, is under fire by DUI defense attorney who believe the mandatory blood test as a violation of constitutional rights.  Part of the concern is the invasive nature of utilizing a needle to withdraw a blood specimen at the roadside.  Supporters, though, say you could see the “no refusal” checkpoints in the Bay area by October.

TILDEN LAW represents clients in Central Florida accused of DUI and Driving Under the Influence charges.  If you are facing a Orlando, Orange County or Seminole County DUI or Driving Under the Influence charge, call our office for a free case evaluation, 407 599-1234.

Pittsburgh’s new head football coach has been arrested on allegations of Domestic Violence according to news reporting agencies.  Michael Haywood, who was named new head coach for the Pittsburgh Panthers football program is a former Notre Dame offensive coordinator and formerly played running back.

Haywood was arrested at the alleged victim’s residence Friday afternoon.  According to reports, a physical altercation erupted over a child custody issue as the alleged victim attempted to leave.  The victim reported that Haywood grabbed her arm and neck and also pushed her leaving marks on her neck, arms and back.

Haywood, who was hired by Pittsburgh on December 16^th to replace football coach Dave Wannstedt remains in custody without bond due to the charges with an initial court date in January.

TILDEN LAW represents clients in Central Florida accused of domestic violence charges.  If you are facing a Orlando domestic violence battery charge or a Seminole County Domestic related charge, call our office for a free case evaluation, 407 599-1234.

TILDEN LAW represents clients in Central Florida accused of DUI and Driving Under the Influence charges.  If you are facing a Orlando, Orange County or Seminole County DUI or Driving Under the Influence charge, call our office for a free case evaluation, 407 599-1234.

Ron DiMenna was arrested last Thursday afternoon and charged with DUI in Brevard County.  DiMenna, 73, is known by most as the founder of Ron Jon’s Surf Shops.  According to the Brevard County sheriff’s office, DiMenna’s pick-up truck was weaving which prompted a motorist to call 911.  DiMenna’s truck had a open 20 ounce can of Four Loko, a alcohol based drink, in his car at the time of his DUI arrest. 

According to police reports, DiMenna showed multiple signs of impairment including, difficulty walking when he stepped from his Ford pickup, flushed face, slurred speech and his demeanor was slow and lethargic.  Also noted in the report written by the deputy “I then requested him to explain the odor of alcoholic beverage coming from his person. Mr. DiMenna stated, ‘I’ve had a couple.’”

This is not the first DUI charged DiMenna has faced.  His prior DUI arrests were in 2005, when he pleaded guilty to reckless driving, and in 2007, when he was convicted of DUI, according to the Brevard-Seminole State Attorney’s Office. He lost his license for six months and was sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 178 days suspended.  Other arrests include a 1987 case in New Jersey when he was charged with illegal possession of drugs and firearms after a former employee died outside DiMenna’s motor home. DiMenna previously served 18 months in prison on a 1975 drug conviction.

In addition to driving under the influence on Thursday, DiMenna was charged with refusal to submit to a breath test, the report stated. He was booked into the Brevard County Jail and was released after paying $5,500 bail, the report stated.

If you have been arrested or charged with a Orlando DUI or Seminole County DUI charges either Orange County, Seminole County, Florida, contact the attorneys at Tilden Law for an initial and confidential consultation, 407-599-1234.

TILDEN LAW represents clients in Central Florida accused of Probation Violation charges.  If you are facing a Orlando, Orange County or Seminole County VOP charge, call our office for a free case evaluation, 407 599-1234.

Being charged with violation of probation or violation of community control is a serious matter. Without an experienced attorney on your side, you could be faced with being arrested and held in jail without bond until your violation is resolved. The Orlando criminal defense firm of Tilden Law represents clients facing violation of probation (VOP) charges and violation of community control charges in Orlando, Orange County and Sanford, Seminole County.

Criminal Defense Attorney, N. Fleetwood Tilden, is a former Central Florida Prosecutor who has spent the last 15 years practicing criminal law and has successfully represented and been involved in excess of 250 violation of probation, violation of community control and petitions for early termination of probation cases in Orlando, Orange County courts and Sanford, Seminole County courts.

Twelve individuals were arrested by the Polk County Sheriff’s department in connection with the sale of the imitation marijuana product, K2 earlier today.  K2 is a product brand of what law enforcement labels “imitation or fake marijuana”.   The arrests came after undercover officers were sold K2 during a police orchestrated reverse sting operation.  Arrest warrants have been issued for an additional person who is now out of the state.

The arrestees are being charged with possession and sale of an imitation controlled substance, a third-degree felony. Most of the store employees who were in compliance told undercover detectives they either no longer sold the product, or never sold it, according to deputies.

The crackdown began last month when Polk County law-enforcement agencies became the first in the state to challenge sales of so-called synthetic marijuana products sold as incense.  Florida’s Drug Policy Advisory Council recently urged the Florida Legislature to join a growing number of states in banning the substances.  Since that has not happened, Polk officials are using an existing statute that makes it illegal to sell “imitation controlled substances.”

The products, usually sold at small gasoline stations and mom-and-pop food stores, are sprayed with synthetic “cannabinoids” and can be purchased legally as incense.

TILDEN LAW represents clients in Central Florida accused of criminal Drug charges.  If you are facing a Orlando, Orange County or Seminole County Drug charge, call our office for a free case evaluation, 407 599-1234.

A 13 year veteran with the Florida Highway Patrol has been sentenced in a case involving official misconduct, a third degree felony.  Former Florida Highway Patrol trooper, Wilfredo, Jay Bennett has agreed to forfeit his law enforcement certification for life as part of a plea deal struck between state prosecutors and his criminal defense attorney.  Bennett, was placed on supervised probation for a 5 year term and required to pay a fine of $5,000.00. 

Among the allegations, Bennett was accused of regularly engaging in sex while on duty with at least two former girlfriends.  In addition, Bennett is accused by another woman of spending time with her in her apartment while also on duty and offering to get a ticket dismissed against a woman if she cooked dinner for him and.  It was also alleged that Bennett gave a former girlfriend a ride in his patrol car on 50 occasions while in duty.  Bennett quit his position at FHP in January, 2010 on the day following his arrest.  Under the plea deal, adjudication was withheld, so Bennett will not have a felony conviction on his record. But the deal also means he can never be a law-enforcement officer anywhere in the United States.

If you have been arrested or charged with a crime in Orlando or Seminole County, contact the attorneys at Tilden Law for an initial and confidential consultation, 407-599-1234.

Sellers of synthetic marijuana, also known as “K-2” and “Spice” are the target of Central Florida law enforcement agencies.  Currently, these products are being legally sold in some Florida convenience stores and gas stations as incense.  The Polk County sheriff’s department and Haines City police department are soon expected to outline details of a criminal enforcement operation targeting the establishments selling these products.  Also known as “legal weed”, some of these products are sprayed with a chemical that simulates the active ingredient in marijuana.  K-2 and Spice have gained popularity among both teens and adults as a legal substitute for pot.

TILDEN LAW represents clients in Central Florida accused of criminal Drug charges.  If you are facing a Orlando, Orange County or Seminole County Drug charge, call our office for a free case evaluation, 407 599-1234.

Developer John Boback, Sr. of Flagler Beach is accused of taking $410,000 from a Marco Island man to build a condominium on property at located on North Oceanshore Blvd.  The 51-year-old Flagler County developer was arrested this week and accused of grand theft in what authorities called a fraudulent real-estate purchase.

The buyer said he was told the condo was to be part of a larger professional complex. But investigators say it was never built.  Buyer Patrick Lyons, 55, told investigators all he ever received was a deed. Now the property is in foreclosure.  Lyons tried but couldn’t get Boback to refund his money.

Boback was booked into the Flagler County Inmate Facility and was released after posting $50,000 bond.

Orange circuit judge Frederick Lauten ruled Monday that nearly 50,000 tickets issued to motorists caught by automatic cameras running red lights in Orlando during the past two years should be dismissed.  The effect of Judge Lauten’s ruling may require the city of Orlando to refund more than $4 million paid in fines. But because the ruling is almost certain to be appealed, it may be years before there’s a final decision.

In his ruling, Judge Lauten ruled that “Although the court believes the city’s articulated goal is laudable — increasing public safety by reducing red light-running — the challenged city ordinance intrudes on an area of law reserved to the state is therefore invalid,” Lauten wrote.  The ruling doesn’t mean Orlando will be turning its cameras off, because the Legislature changed the law earlier this year to allow enforcement cameras. But it would seem to throw out nearly 50,000 tickets mailed to violators before the new law took effect July 1.  Orlando city attorney’s certainly will appeal the judge’s ruling. 

Regardless, Lauten’s opinion could have implications for drivers photographed blowing through red lights across Florida.  The judge’s  decision did not touch on ticket refunds or damages. The city issued 48,579 red-light tickets from Sept. 1, 2008, to July 1, when the law changed. It had levied more than $6.2 million in fines and collected $4.3 million.  Refund checks wouldn’t show up in mailboxes anytime soon. An appeal could take 18 months or more.