TILDEN LAW – Orlando Criminal Attorney

An alleged mistress of famed golfer, Tiger Woods, has been sentenced to serve one year in county jail as a result of a sentence to DUI.  Mindy Lawton was sentenced earlier today in connection to a no contest plea to a 2008 Orlando DUI charge.  As a condition of her plea, Ms. Lawton was also sentenced to  5 years supervised probation in Orange County, Florida.   

In 2009, Lawton told the tabloid “News of the World” that her affair with the then-world’s No. 1 golfer ended shortly before the birth of Woods’ daughter, Sam, in 2007.  ”I met Tiger in 2006 when I was working at Perkins as a manager,” Lawton said.  Lawton went into graphic detail about her alleged relationship with Woods. Claims of affairs involving Woods came to light after he crashed his SUV outside his Isleworth home the day after Thanksgiving in 2009. He later apologized for his “trangressions.”

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.

Orlando police arrested a driver on suspected DUI early New Year’s day.  The driver allegedly crashed his car, a gold Hyundai Accent, into a roundabout in downtown Orlando.  The concrete barrier in the center of the roundabout was damaged in the crash.  DUI causing an accident, even a single car accident, is considered an enhanced or higher level charge carrying elevated sentence penalties.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Recently, a client was arrested on charges of DUI and Leaving he Scene of an Accident (Hit and Run) in Orlando, Orange County, Florida.  The police report alleges that at about 12:00 a.m. our client drove into his apartment complex parking lot and struck two parked cars.  Damage was clearly done to his vehicle and allegedly done to the other vehicles.  Florida highway Patrol were called to investigage and ultimately arrested our client on charges of DUI causing damage and leaving the scene of an accident. DUI Breath tests were refused.

After filing Motions to Supress and having hearings, the case was set for trial.  At trial, TILDEN LAW petitioned the State Attorney for a dismissal which was granted.  All criminal charges were dismissed.

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 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.

In a nine-page order, a six-judge panel denied a request Tuesday to exclude breath-test results in 19 pending driving-under-the-influence cases. The deputy in charge of certifying breath-testing machines for the Sheriff’s Office had a valid permit to do so, the judges ruled.

Defense attorneys argued that Sgt. Edward Bowman’s permit to act as the inspector for the Volusia County sheriff’s three Intoxilyzer 8000 machines had expired. A paperwork error was to blame, they said. The lawyers said Bowman should have been retrained on the breath-testing equipment because he retired in 2003 and returned to the job five years later. Instead, Delgado argued, Bowman took a refresher course.  The judges finding was that Bowman’s permit to inspect the machines was invalid for just two months in 2008,

Bowman left his job in 2003 and was rehired in 2008. His permit, the court decided, became invalid July 1, 2008, but was good again after Sept. 29, 2008, because he completed a renewal course on the equipment, as required. Because each of the 19 pending cases was the result of arrests after that date, when the permits were good, the motion was denied.

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

Pinellas County Sheriff’s office arrested a jail employee on allegations of DUI yesterday.  According to authorities, Diane Ferron, an assistant inmate records supervisor, was leaving work Wednesday when she lost control of her vehicle and plowed through the jail’s exterior chain-link fence.  Ferron, a civilian employee at the Pinellas County jail was charged with driving under the influence after reportedly crashing through a jail fence.

When deputies responded, they noted that Ferron seemed to be impaired. She reportedly failed a field sobriety test, but deputies ruled out alcohol. Ferron said she had taken prescription medication.

Ferron was charged with DUI and DUI with property damage. Since both charges are misdemeanors, the sheriff’s office reports that Ferron will be allowed to return to work pending an internal inquiry.

Florida penalties for a DUI with accident are considered more severe than an ordinary DUI charge.  When a crash is involved, the minimum charge is a 1^st degree misdemeanor which means the potential jail sentence is 1 year instead of 6 months.

If you have been arrested or charged with a Orange County DUI or other criminal offense 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.

University of Florida sophomore wide receiver, Frankie Hammond, was arrested early Sunday morning on DUI and liquor possession charges by UniversityPpolice.  Hammond’s vehicle was pulled over on allegations that he was speeding and swerving and was found with an open bottle of Crown Royal whiskey in his car.

Hammond, 20, has been suspended from all team activities, according to team spokesman Steve McClain. He was booked at 4:47 a.m. and released from Alachua County jail Sunday afternoon on his own recognizance, according to the jail front office.

According to University Police, Hammond driving faster than 45 miles per hour in a 20-mph zone while swerving on Gale Lemerand Drive on the UF campus at 2:09 a.m., according to a police report provided by Alachua County Sheriff’s Office.  Officers noted that Hammond’s speech was slurred and had, bloodshot and “glassy” eyes.  Standardized field sobriety test were given to Hammond which he reportedly failed.  Hammond reportedly had a blood alcohol level of 0.188 and 0.191, more than twice the legal limit.   

Hammond is at least the 28^th Gator to be arrested since Urban Meyer took over as head coach of the Gators. The last Gator to be charged with DUI was defensive end Carlos Dunlap four days before the Southeastern Conference Championship Game.

If you have been arrested or charged with a Orange County DUI or other criminal offense 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.

The Florida Highway Patrol is scheduling a DUI checkpoint near its South Semoran Boulevard headquarters to begin on Friday, June 11, at 9:00 p.m.  The DUI checkpoint is designed to cracking down on unsafe and impaired drivers. Earlier this year, a Orange County DUI checkpoint accounted for nearly 20 Orange County DUI arrests with another 10 arrests on a variety of other criminal charges.  That DUI checkpoint was conducted from 9 p.m. Friday to 4 a.m. Saturday, March 13^th.

If you have been arrested or charged with a Orange County DUI or other criminal offense 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.