Our client was charged with Domestic Battery following an incident where he struck his roommate, and former boyfriend, in the head with a Rays replica mini baseball bat.
Because our Client worked in... the health care industry and had a job that he would certainly lose upon being convicted of a criminal offense, we prepared his case for a Jury Trial from the get-go.
Following a one-day Jury Trial in Pinellas County's Domestic Court (Division R). our Client was found NOT GUILTY. Our Client was able to testify on his own behalf that he was acting in self defense when he struck his roommate / prior boyfriend.
The jury only took twenty (20) minutes to exonerate our Client. He is now back at work. With his good name restored.
Criminal defense
State of Florida v. Camille L. Harper
May 13, 2010
OUTCOME: Not Guilty on Leaving the Scene of an Accident
My client was charged with Leaving the Scene of an Accident with Property Damage, Refusal to Sign a Traffic Citation and Obstruction.
At the filing stage, we were able to get the State of Florida ...to drop the Obstruction charge. They did, however, file the Leaving the Scene with Property Damage and Refusal to Sign a Traffic Citation.
While my Client readily admitted that she refused to sign the traffic citation for Leaving the Scene of an Accident, she maintained that she was NOT driving and did NOT leave the scene of an accident.
At trial, my Client was identified by the victim of the accident as well as the St. Petersburg Police Department Officers involved in the case. We conceded the Refusal to Sign the Citation charge and fought vigorously on the Leaving the Scene of an Accident with Property Damage charge.
Despite being identified as the driver of the vehicle (and found guilty by the Judge of a Careless Driving traffic infraction), we were able to convince the Pinellas County jury that there was insufficient evidence (no photos, no paint transfer, etc.) to find my Client guilty of the Leaving the Scene of an Accident with Property Damage charge.
After more than one (1) hour of deliberations, the jury came back with a NOT GUILTY verdict on the contested charge of Leaving the Scene of a Accident with Property Damage. This saved my Client from a jail sentence that was being requested by the State of Florida as well as having to pay restitution to the victim of the accident.
Overall, this was a very risky Jury Trial for my Client as she had a lot to lose. Fortunately, we were able to poke enough holes in the State's case to create a "reasonable doubt" of my Client's guilt.
Criminal defense
State of Florida v. David Langley
Dec 15, 2009
OUTCOME: Not Guilty
My client was arrested by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office and charged with Domestic Battery by Strangulation and False Imprisonment (both Third Degree Felonies).
After negotiations with the Pin...ellas County State Attorney's Office, the False Imprisonment charge was dropped and the Felony Domestic Battery by Strangulation charge was filed as a Misdemeanor Domestic Battery.
Because my Client was on Felony probation in another county (and looking at a five (5) year prison sentence upon ANY conviction) we set his Domestic Battery case for a "Speedy Trial."
During a one-day trial, the State of Florida called the alleged victim, a roommate/witness and the arresting/investigating officer. The SLAVIN LAW FIRM was able to cross examine these witnesses and show inconsistencies in their testimony.
During closing arguments, the SLAVIN LAW FIRM was able to point out the conflicts in the evidence as well as the lack of evidence collected by law enforcement.
The jury deliberated less than thirty (30) minutes and came back with a unanimous NOT GUILTY verdict for my Client. This verdict will also prevent my Client from having his probation revoked and he will no longer be looking at a five (5) year prison sentence.
Criminal defense
State of Florida v. Randall Burton Keith
Feb 12, 2009
OUTCOME: NOT GUILTY on all 3 Counts
My client was charged with 2 counts of Aggravated Assault with a Firearm and 1 count of Felony Criminal Mischief. The State of Florida alleged that my client pointed a firearm and threatened two victi...ms in the parking lot of the Undertow Bar on St. Pete Beach.
One victim claimed that he had a gun pressed against the back of his head (more than once). He also stated that my client put the firearm inside his mouth.
My client was also charged with felony criminal mischief for using his firearm to smash/break the victim's sunroof.
Because my client was looking at a three (3) year mandatory/minimum prison sentence, up to a maximum of 35 years in prison, he was forced to take his case to trial.
After a three (3) day trial and about 2.5 hours of jury deliberation, my client was found NOT GUILTY on all three (3) felony charges.
Criminal defense
State of Florida v. Milton S. Harris
Dec 11, 2008
OUTCOME: MISTRIAL on 3rd day of JURY TRIAL
The Defendant, Milton S. Harris, was charged by the State of Florida with 1 count of Second Degree Murder, 3 counts of Attempted Second Degree Murder and Felonious Possession of a Firearm.
It was ...alleged that the Defendant was a principal and get-away driver in a nightclub shooting in Port Charlotte, Florida. Two other co-Defendants were also charged.
From the outset, the State was seeking a 30-35 year prison sentence for my client. Facing the maximum penalty of LIFE in prison, my client exercised his constitutonal right to a speedy trial.
The trial began on December 9, 2008 when a jury was selected and sworn in. Over the next several days, the State of Florida called numerous witness and entered tons of evidence including firearms, spent casings, bloody photographs, etc.
On the third day of trial, the State had its Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) firearms analyst on the witness stand when a discovery violation was committed. On behalf of my client, I objected to the State's failure to disclose two crucial firearms reports. During a Richardson hearing, I was able to establish that my client was, in fact, prejudiced by the State's discovery violation. Court adjourned for the day while Judge Porter considered the Defendant's Motion for a Mistrial.
In light of the above discovery violation, the State of Florida made a generous offer of 10 years in DOC prison followed by 5 years of DOC probation. The State also nolle prossed the Felon in Possession of a Firearm charge which had been bifurcated from the trial.
On December 11, 2008 my client pled no contest to the above sentence which was greatly reduced from the sentence that the State of Florida was previously seeking.
State, local, and municipal law
State of Florida v. Joseph E. Eagen
Jan 25, 2008
OUTCOME: GUILTY plea, SENTENCED to 124.65 months DOC prison
The Defendant was charged with DUI Manslaughter after crashing the vehicle in which he was driving and causing the death of his friend Andrew Garcia. After being taken to the hospital, the Defendant s...ubmitted a blood sample, for the presence of alcohol, which was 0.14, almost twice the legal limit of 0.08. After conducting lengthy discovery, the Defendant pled Guilty to the charge of DUI Manslaughter and asked that the Court "depart" from the sentencing guidelines based on his remorse and the fact that this was an isolated incident that was committed in an unsophisticated manner. A seven hour departure/sentencing hearing was held where the Defendant put on several witness including a psychologist and several family members. The State of Florida also called several witnesses including members of the victim's family. The State was also able to introduce into evidence various photographs from the Defendant's MySpace.com page in which he was drinking and partying (and not showing the remorse that he was asking the Court to find). Ultimately, Judge Ley rejected the Defendant's attempt for a "departure sentence" and sentenced the Defendant to 124.65 months in the Florida Department of Corrections.
Please see the attached St. Petersburg Times article for further information:
http://www.sptimes.com/2008/01/26/Northpinellas/Emotions_flow_at_DUI_.shtml
State, local, and municipal law
State of Florida v. William J. Truesdale
Aug 31, 2007
OUTCOME: GUILTY as charged, Sentenced to LIFE in prison
The Defendant was convicted of Second Degree Murder for blasting a shotgun into his ex-girlfriend's home, killing her daughter.
State, local, and municipal law
State of Florida v. Men Sorn
Jul 14, 2007
OUTCOME: Adj. Guilty, Sentenced to 35 years in prison
This was a case that I handled when I was the Gang Unit prosecutor at the State Attorney's Office. The Defendant, Men Sorn, along with a co-Defendant, Seth Walker, were both charged with Second Degree... Murder, Aggravated Assault with a Firearm and Shooting at, within or into a Vehicle after a several mile car chase through the streets of St. Petersburg, Ultimately, Men Sorn shot and killed Xaisomdeth Sayavongkeo (aka: Lun). Both individuals were members of the Asian Pride Gang in St. Petersburg. This incident was the result of an apparent split within the gang's structure. After the Defendant pled to all three charges on the morning of trial, a lengthy sentencing hearing was conducted where the State of Florida put on several hours worth of testimony from their gang expert, Detective Bryan Sims of the St. Petersburg Police Department Gang Intelligence Unit. At the conclusion of the sentencing hearing, the Defendant was sentenced to 35 years in the Florida Department of Corrections.
State, local, and municipal law
State of Florida v. Kenneth R. Tillery
Apr 27, 2006
OUTCOME: GUILTY on 4 Counts, Sentenced to 7 years in prison
The Defendant was charged with three counts of Sale of Cocaine and 3 counts of Possession of Cocaine for three hand-to-hand transactions with law enforcement. The Defendant was charged as a principal ...in one of the drug sales in which he gave the cocaine to another co-Defendant, who then gave it to the undercover detective. The defense was mistaken identity. This case was interesting because the testimony revealed that the Defendant and his co-Defendants had every person that entered their home swept for bugs with a bugging device prior to being allowed into the home. The undercover detective did an excellent job getting around this situation as he/she was wearing a recording device at the time of the drug transactions. The Defendant was found Guilty, as charged, on four of the six counts. The jury returned a Not Guilty verdict on two of the six counts (in which the testimony revealed that the Clearwater Police Department had given a "bump" of cocaine to a citizen in return for information. The Defendant was immediately sentenced to 7 years in the Department of Corrections.
State, local, and municipal law
State of Florida v. Wayne A. Greene
Feb 23, 2006
OUTCOME: GUILTY as charged, sentenced to LIFE in prison
The Defendant was charged with Second Degree Murder for shooting his ex-girlfriend, then removing her body and dumping it behind a church. He was sentenced to LIFE in prison.
