Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Bail After a Sex Crime Arrest in Florida: What Families Should Expect
A sex crime arrest in Florida can turn your life upside down. The first question most families ask is, “Can we get our loved one out of jail while the case moves forward?” The answer is often yes, but it depends on the charge, the evidence, and how well the first hearings are handled…. Read More »
Why the Entrapment Defense Failed in a Recent Florida Traveling To Meet a Minor Trial
Traveling to meet a minor is a serious offense in Florida. Having a strong defense is vital in these cases. Often, people caught in police stings assume that entrapment as a defense will save them. However, this defense rarely works. One particular trial in Bay County shows why the entrapment defense can fail in… Read More »
What Counts as “Traveling” Under Florida’s Traveling To Meet a Minor Law?
If you have been accused of traveling to meet a minor in Florida, you may be wondering what the word “traveling” actually means under the law. Do you have to reach the meeting place? Does driving a short distance count? What if you changed your mind along the way? Florida’s law is broad, and… Read More »
Miami Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Exploiting Elderly Woman
Florida doesn’t take kindly to those who exploit elderly adults, especially when someone goes after a person’s money, assets, or property just because they’re vulnerable. A recent case out of Miami-Dade County really makes that clear. A 67-year-old man was sentenced to two decades in prison for targeting a 94-year-old woman. What Happened in… Read More »
Can You Challenge Sex Offender Registration After a Florida Conviction for Traveling To Meet a Minor?
A Florida conviction for traveling to meet a minor can have consequences beyond a prison sentence, including sex offender registration. Sex offender registration can affect where a person lives, travels, and works. But what happens if someone later believes the registration requirement was imposed improperly? A recent United States Court of Appeals decision offers… Read More »
What Should You Do if You Are Being Investigated for Human Trafficking in Florida?
Being investigated for human trafficking in Florida can be frightening, especially because trafficking offenses can carry severe penalties. While an investigation does not automatically mean you will be charged or convicted, what you do during the investigation can significantly affect your case. In this article, we share what to do if you’re being investigated… Read More »
Florida Lewd and Lascivious Molestation Appeals: Can Improper Hearsay Evidence Overturn a Conviction?
A conviction for lewd and lascivious molestation can have life-changing consequences, but a guilty verdict does not necessarily end the legal fight. If the trial court allowed evidence that should have been excluded, that mistake could give the defendant grounds to challenge the conviction on appeal. That is exactly what happened in a recent… Read More »
Florida Lewd and Lascivious Molestation Cases: How Important Is Witness Testimony?
Being accused of lewd and lascivious molestation in Florida can turn a person’s life upside down. In many cases, witness testimony becomes a major part of what the jury considers. But how much weight can a witness’s account carry, and what happens when questions arise about its reliability? We discuss this below. Read on!… Read More »
How Do You Defend Against Allegations of Elder Exploitation in Florida?
Being accused of exploiting an elderly person can be overwhelming, especially when the allegation involves money or property. You may be wondering whether you could be arrested, charged, or even sent to jail. But an accusation alone does not prove guilt. Florida law requires the State to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt,… Read More »
When Do Sexual Misconduct Allegations Become Human Trafficking Under Federal Law?
Under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA), specific legal requirements must be met before sexual misconduct can support a sex-trafficking claim. A recent federal case in Florida shows why those requirements matter when defending against a trafficking allegation. In Doe v. Ford, a woman claimed that a former romantic partner used manipulation, intimidation,… Read More »
