TILDEN LAW – Orlando Criminal Attorney

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 Orange County State Attorney’s office dropped a DUI charge against D’Anne Leigh Mica, daughter of U.S. Rep. John Mica, after an Orange County judge granted a defense motion to suppress the woman’s initial stop by the police, according to court records and sources familiar with the case.

D’Anne Leigh Mica was arrested in early 2010 on a charge of driving under the influence after police said she was stopped with a blood-alcohol content more than twice the legal limit.  Mica’s Orlando defense attorney filed motions to suppress the stop of Mica’s vehicle based on the Maitland Police officer being outside his jurisdiction when he stopped her.  The basis for the stop was to “check on her well being.”  The defense successfully argued that there was in sufficient probable cause to follow the woman and make the stop. 

Specifically, the defense argued that police cannot leave their jurisdiction to “check” on people for a “well-being” check and therefore had no authority to stop Mica’s vehicle outside their jurisdiction.  

Prosecutors initially planned to appeal the ruling but last week decided to drop the case. A police report indicated that Mica, a 34-year-old public-relations executive, was driving east on Horatio Avenue early on Jan. 8 when her black SUV drifted back and forth.  An officer stopped her and asked if she was OK. He noticed the smell of alcohol on her breath and that her eyes were glassy and bloodshot, he wrote in the report.

Mica also reportedly failed two officer-administered breath tests, blowing a 0.192 percent and a 0.198 percent. The legal limit is 0.08 percent.

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.

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:

1. Information received by the State Attorney indicates client is a good candidate to successfully complete and benefit from the program.
2. No prior alcohol related criminal offenses.
3. No accident alleged in the present case including single car accidents.
4. 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.

Marion County Deputies pulled over a driver Sunday, March 7, 2010 after they witnessed the driver of the vehicle speeding and weaving in and out of traffic with his son in the car.  Deputies report that Anthony Earl Siple’s Honda Sunday night on suspicion of drunken driving.  Marion County deputies report that Mr. Siple  and followed him at 70 mph in a 55 mph zone for more than a mile with her lights on before he pulled over.

In the vehicle with Mr. Siple was his 12 year old son in the passenger seat.  According to deputies, Siple had a smell of alcohol and red and watery eyes.  Siple failed the walk and turn, one-leg stand and finger to the nose field sobriety tests, the deputy said. During the alphabet test, the man stopped at the letter “H.” 

Siple was arrested on charges of driving under the influence and child abuse and neglect and was taken to the Marion County Jail, where a breathalyzer revealed Siple’s blood-alcohol content to be .292, deputies said. The boy was released to a relative could not finish, the deputy said.

If you have been arrested or charged with a 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.

Beginning Friday, March 12, 2010, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Orange County Community Safety Task Force, the Ocoee Police Department will be hosting a DUI checkpoint that night, from 9 p.m. Friday to 4 a.m. Saturday, March 13^th.

Information released by law enforcement agencies indicate that eastbound and westbound drivers will be stopped near 11953 West Colonial Drive. Ocoee and Orlando police, deputies and Florida Highway Patrol troopers will stop drivers in an attempt to remove suspected DUI offenders and other criminal traffic violators from the roadways.

Anyone stopped by police will be subject to a driver license check and possible arrest for suspended license offenses and outstanding warrants.

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.

Being arrested for a DUI in Florida can be a frightening event.  Facing both from criminal prosecution and a driver’s license suspension, people arrested and accused of DUI often don’t know where to turn.  TILDEN LAW has over 15 years of experience in successfully handled thousands of cases in both Seminole County and Orange County Courts.  Here is an example of our success.

Our client was arrested in Seminole County on a charge of DUI causing accident and injury.  The arresting trooper arrived at the scene of the crash after the paramedics had arrived and began treating both our client and others involved in the accident.  During his DUI investigation, the trooper directed our client to submit to a blood draw to test her blood alcohol level.  Through the discovery process, it was determined that the trooper’s actions throughout the investigation were improper.  Attorney N. Fleetwood Tilden, filed multiple motions to suppress state’s evidence which were granted by the trial court.  The end result was the DUI was dismissed.

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.