Attorney Steven George Casanova's Legal Cases

DUI and DWI

Martin County - DUI

Jun 01, 2013

OUTCOME: Dismissed

A Stuart Police Officer stated in his report that he observed the Defendant weaving within his lane, “hugging” the solid white line. The Officer conducted a traffic stop of the Defendant’s vehicle. T ... he Officer stated that when he spoke with the Defendant he notice the Defendant’s eyes to be bloodshot and watery, speech slurred and smelled of alcoholic beverages. The Officer asked the Defendant to perform field sobriety test, which he refused. The Officer arrested the Defendant for DUI based on speech, unsteadiness on his feet, disorderly clothing and uncooperative, belligerent, cocky behavior. The Officer requested a breath test; however the Defendant exercised his right to refuse. During the initial consultation with my client, he informed me of the Officer’s conduct, feeling it was inappropriate and unnecessary. My client stated he believed the Officer viewed him enter his car in the parking lot of a bar and was “hard on to bust him.” My client stated he was confident he was not under the influence, drove his vehicle within the lanes and was very cooperative and polite to the Officer. After reviewing the discovery and the dashboard camera from the Officer’s car I confirmed my client’s statements from our initial consultation. My client did not appear to be intoxicated, he was steady on his feet, speech was clear and he was cooperative and polite to the Officer. Also, the driving pattern did not match the Officer’s statements; my client drove within his lane as required by Florida Statute. I filed a Motion to Suppress based on the office stopping my client without an indication of an illegal driving pattern, and the fact the officer did not issue a civil traffic citation. The Honorable Curtis Disque entered an Order granting the Motion to Suppress forcing the State Attorney’s Office to drop the charge of Driving Under the Influence.

DUI and DWI

Brevard County - DUI

May 01, 2013

OUTCOME: Dismissed & Expunged

Indialantic Officer stated in his report that he observed my client’s vehicle traveling north bound on A1A, rapidly accelerating to 87 mph in a 40 mph zone. The Officer conducted a traffic stop of my ... client’s vehicle. My client performed a series of field sobriety test, showing numerous indicators of impairment, to which he was arrested for DUI. My client submitted to the breath test with results of .211 and .201. I reviewed the discovery, including a dashboard camera from the officer’s vehicle. The video showed what the Officer stated he observed in his report, my client’s vehicle traveling northbound on A1A. However, the Officer failed to state the distance he was from my client’s vehicle, what, if any, instrument he used to measure my client’s speed and the officer lost visual of my client’s vehicle, which he had to travel multiple streets before finding my client and his vehicle. A Motion to Suppress was filed based on the Officer’s warrant-less search and seizure. The Honorable Benjamin Garagozlo entered an Order GRANTING the Motion to Suppress. The charge of DUI was dropped by the State Attorney’s Office. My office further went on to expunge the charge from my client’s criminal record.

Criminal defense

Brevard County - Felony Leaving Scene of Accident

Dec 01, 2012

OUTCOME: Downgraded to Misdemeanor - Fine and Class

My client was backing out of her parking space in the parking lot of Wal-Mart. While backing up she hit another person, whom was loading groceries into the truck of a vehicle. My client was unaware ... of what exactly she had hit, so she stopped her vehicle, got out to expect the situation. She observed two females at the rear of another vehicle, she asked if she hit the women, and was told “yes”. My client asked if she was ok and the women ‘nodded’. My client then asked if she could do anything and was told, “no.” My client assumed there was no serious injuries and left the parking lot to return home. Later that afternoon Officer Jones, of the West Melbourne Police Department, arrived at my client’s home and placed her under arrest for Leaving the Scene of an Accident involving Personal Injury, a Felony of the 3rd degree, maximum sentence of 5 years in prison. I reviewed the discovery, including a surveillance video from the Wal-Mart parking lot. I was able to determine that my client did in fact back from her parking space and lightly hit a woman with the rear bumper of the vehicle. I could see in the video my client get out of her vehicle, have a short conversation with two women, then return to her vehicle and leave the scene in a normal, unhurried fashion. I could tell from the video that this case was more of a miscommunication between the women, and my client was not maliciously or intentionally fleeing the scene. I was able to arrange a very favorable plea offer for my client. Her felony charge was reduced to a misdemeanor charge of leaving scene of an accident. Adjudication of guilt was withheld, meaning she was not convicted of a crime; she was required to pay a small fine and complete an online basic driver improvement course.

Steven George Casanova's Legal Cases (3)

Martin County - DUI

Brevard County - DUI

Brevard County - Felony Leaving Scene of Accident