Recent Blog Posts in June 2010

Florida State prosecutors announced that they will seek the death penalty in the case of three men accused of kidnapping and murdering Vincent Binder, a Florida State University student. A notice of intent to seek the death penalty against Peter Hughes, Kentrell Johnson, and Quentin Truehill was filed by Seventh Circuit State Attorney R.J. Larizza.

Binder disappeared on his walk home from a friend's house in Tallahassee on April 2. It was a month later before his body was found off I-95 near St. Augustine. The three men accused of Binder's murder were initially arrested in Miami on the charge of kidnapping Binder. Police then found receipts in the stolen truck the men were driving that showed the men had used Binder's debit card along the road. After Binder's body was found, murder charges were laid against all three.

If you have been charged with a federal crime, such as kidnapping, an Orlando criminal defense lawyer from the Rivas Law Firm can help.  Contact us now!

SWAT and narcotics officers were preparing to search a Lincoln residence when other officers stopped a vehicle carrying two of the house's residents. One of those residents was Jerry Brown, 49. After getting permission from Brown's roommate, officers searched the vehicle, house, and Brown and discovered a handgun and nearly 600 pills, a narcotics investigator reported.

440 of the pills are believed to be Oxycontin and Hydromorphone, both painkillers, and 141 have not yet been identified. The remaining five pills are believed to be Alprazolam, an anti-anxiety medication. Brown allowed himself to be pat down and had a bottle of pills on him. A .22-caliber semi-automatic handgun was found in the house. He was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

If you have been charged with a drug-related crime or weapon crimes, it is important that you discuss your case with an Orlando criminal defense lawyer.  Contact the Rivas Law Firm now!

A multi-agency probe that has lasted for months has resulted in the arrests of 172 people, including two doctors, and the seizure of more than 20,000 prescription pills. The probe, called "Operation Pain Killer" targeted street-level dealers and doctors who are involved in peddling prescription narcotics. 49 of those arrested live in Lake County, FL, and others lived in Orange, Oseola, and Seminole County.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Gerald Bailey reported, "I'm pleased that this investigation neutralized numerous distribution points in Central Florida. There will be follow-up operations to attack this lethal supply chain." Most of those arrested were charged with trafficking Schedule II narcotics. The drugs seized included oxycodone, hydrocodone, and alprazolam. The two doctors arrested operated pain management clinics. The probe began on January 1 and the final round of arrests was made on June 2.

If you have been charged with drug crimes in Orlando, contact the Rivas Law Firm to schedule a time to meet with an Orlando criminal defense lawyer.

Police cracked down on B2T (Bottom to Top), a Florida bikini bar, arresting seven dancers, three managers, a promoter, and a DJ. The dancers reportedly broke city codes by removing their tops and in some cases their bottoms and engaging in prostitution with the bar's clientele.

Undercover officers reported rampant drug use in the club in addition to the illicit sexual activities that occurred in cubicles inside the club. The DJ was arrested and charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, and he was also carrying a butterfly knife. Of the 30 dancers, most were not charged with any crimes and were allowed to go home. Locals have called to complain about the club 40 times since it opened earlier this year, typically complaining about noise.

If you have been charges with a sexual offense, such as prostitution, you need to contact the Rivas Law Firm now and arrange a consultation with an Orlando criminal defense attorney.

Hery Krispiyanto, 30, a bartender on a Carnival Cruise Line ship is set to appear in an Orlando court on the charge of raping a 14-year-old girl in April 2009. The girl told her mother in August who then told the FBI that Krispiyanto had raped her. Krispiyanto initially denied the accusation, but after failing a polygraph exam, he admitted to having sex with the girl.

The girl and her parents had reportedly become acquainted with Krispiyanto before the sex crime occures. The girl told investigators that one night when she was alone on the upper deck of the ship, Krispiyanto walked up behind her, grabbed her, and pulled her into a nearby employee-only room. Krispiyanto then reportedly began to touch the girl inappropriately. She tried to stop him and tried to fight back, but Krispiyanto proceeded to rape her, according to the criminal complaint. Krispiyanto is being held on a single charge of a sex crime with a minor at Seminole County Jail.

If you have been charged with a sex crime or other serious criminal offense, you should discuss your case with an Orlando criminal defense lawyer from the Rivas Law Firm.  Contact us now!

John Harper, 46, was found guilty of attempted voluntary manslaughter after he set a man on fire as a result of a dispute over money. Harper is a habitual felony offender, and as such he faces up to ten years in prison.

Last September, Harper and Fultz became involved in a dispute over money. Fultz was hit in the head and face and knocked to the ground by Harper before Fultz agreed to take Harper to the homeless camp at which Fultz lived to give Harper the money he owed him. It was at the homeless camp that Harper was seen carrying a fuel can while Fultz was seen running with his clothes on fire. Fultz suffered first, second, and third degree burns over thirty percent of his body. Harper is set to be sentenced on July 13, assistant State Attorney Christopher Kelly reported.

A serious crime requires a serious defense. Get in touch with an Orlando criminal defense lawyer today if you have been charged with a serious offense such as manslaughter.  Contact the Rivas Law Firm now!

Orlando Police Officer Rod Johnson was patrolling West Orlando when he saw Lamont Snell out front of the Lewis Apartments on West Church Street acting suspiciously. Officer Johnson parked his unmarked police car a short distance away to try to "spook" Snell into leaving the area.

It was then that Snell allegedly removed the lid of a nearby trashcan, pulled out a handgun, slipped it in his pocket, and walked directly toward the car. Snell couldn't have seen Johnson through the darkly tinted windows. "He either thought I was going to rob him or that he was going to sell me some dope and then rob me," Johnson reported. Johnson then radioed for back up before exiting his car with gun drawn and telling Snell to drop his gun and get on the ground.

Snell reportedly ran from Officer Johnson but only made it a block before he was caught. Snell has been previously convicted of five felonies and in this case has been charged with carrying a concealed firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and resisting arrest without violence.

If you have been charged with a theft crime such as robbery, contact an Orlando criminal defense lawyer today.

A pedestrian was killed when he was struck by a driver who then fled the scene in Fort Myers. The Fort Myers Police are searching for the driver that killed 27-year-old Joshua Pollock. It is unclear whether Pollock was attempting to cross the street or if he was walking down the middle of SR-82 near Omni Lane.

Pollock was struck by two cars around 11:20pm. The first car that struck Pollock fled the scene. The second tried to swerve to avoid Pollock but hit him, reports say. The driver of the second car stayed on the scene with Pollock until Emergency Medical Services arrived. Pollock was transported by EMS to Lee Memorial Hospital where he died. Any information that may lead to the identity of the driver who fled the scene is being sought by Fort Myers Police.

If you have been charged with committing a hit and run, contact an Orlando criminal defense attorney as soon as possible to discuss your legal options.

A man called the police after two women claiming to sell magazines stole his wallet off of his counter after he let the women into his home. 22-year-old Jessica Rosenengal of Florida and 21-year-old Starla Harjo of Oklahoma were arrested a short distance from the crime. They admitted to stealing the wallet and said they had thrown it away. The wallet was later located where the women said they had thrown it, according to police.

The two young women have been charged with grand larceny and peddling without a permit. Harjo was also charged with possession of marijuana. Both women were arraigned and held on $7,000 bail. Police Lt. Thomas Gerace advised the public, "Always ask to see a permit to solicit before dealing with anyone selling door to door," and "Never let a stranger into your home."

If you have been charged with a criminal offense such as a theft crime or a drug crime, contact the Rivas Law Firm and talk with an Orlando criminal defense attorney.

47-year-old Jim Greer, the former chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, was arrested for reportedly running a scam that defrauded the GOP. Greer has been charged with one count of money laundering, one count of organized fraud, and four counts of grand theft.

Greer served as the chairman of the Florida GOP from January 2007 to February 2010. Florida Governor Charlie Crist personally picked Greer for the job, and also called for the investigation that led to his arrest. Greer allegedly set up a company called Victory Strategies to help him raise funds for the GOP of Florida, but then pocketed the money raised. Victory Strategies raised $199,254 from February to October 2009 according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and Greer was paid $125,161 of that while keeping his ownership interest hidden.

If you have been accused of a white collar crime that could cause damage to your business and personal reputation, contact the Rivas Law Firm and set up a time to speak with an Orlando criminal defense attorney.

The Osceola County Jail is in the process of receiving $4 million worth of security improvements. Over Memorial Day weekend, an accused smuggler managed to sneak in six pieces of crack cocaine which weren't discovered until four days after he was booked into the jail. Last year the guards managed to let a 9mm pistol slip by them, and earlier this year, tools for an escape.

Jail officials commented that they did not know how many other cases of smuggling had been discovered since January and would need to do at least eight hours of research to discover if any other drugs had been sneaked past guards in recent months. The jail's interim Director Kim Bogart has ordered an investigation to determine how the drugs were smuggled in.

If you have been accused of a drug crime in Orlando, contact the Rivas Law Firm to schedule an initial consultation with an Orlando criminal defense attorney.  We can help you determine the best course of action.

Florida Highway Patrol troopers reported that Mark Dhanraj, 26, rear-ended and ran over Keith Hess, 44, who was riding his bicycle. Hess was found lying dead on the southbound side of Conway Road shortly after the accident. According to the troopers, Dhanraj tried to drive away from the accident but crashed his car about a mile away in some woods. A witness, Alex Jimenez, reportedly went to help Dhanraj, who then tried to pay Jimenez $200 to help him get away.

The responding troopers issued Dhanraj a sobriety test, which he failed. His silver BMW had its tail lights and windshield smashed, linking him to the death of Keith Hess. Dhanraj has been charged with DUI and manslaughter.

If you have been charged with a serious criminal defense including driving under the influence or manslaughter, contact the Rivas Law Firm to speak with an Orlando criminal defense lawyer today.  We would welcome the opportunity to listen to your side of the story.