Assault

Published on: April 17, 2017

Former Knicks Favorite Charles Oakley Arraigned on Assault Charge

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

New York Knicks favorite Charles Oakley made his first court appearance last week since his arrest and ejection while attending a game at Madison Square Garden.

Oakley, 53, was arraigned in criminal court in Manhattan on misdemeanor assault and other charges before being released without bail.

Prosecutors have accused Oakley of striking a security guard in the February incident. They believe two other people who intervened were pushed and received cuts.

In court, prosecutors read into the record a statement Oakley made after his arrest alleging that Knicks owner James Dolan kept him under watch for no reason.

“Every time I come to the Garden, Dolan has security guards following me,” Oakley said, according to the prosecutors. “Every time I come to the Garden it’s a problem. I buy my own ticket. I don’t want to feel like I owe them anything. I had a couple of drinks before the game but nothing at the game.”

The former NBA player told The Associated Press that he did nothing wrong, and he would not change a thing if he was given a do-over.

Oakley played for the Knicks from 1988 to 1998.

You can be accused of assault whether or not any physical action was actually taken. In certain situations, just the simple verbal threat of physical violence can be enough for a conviction.

Published on: February 19, 2016

Former Bucs OL Charged with Felony Assault, Battery in Tampa

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A former Tampa Bay Buccaneers player was arrested Monday morning on charges stemming from an incident in January.

According to Tampa Police, Cosey Coleman, 37, was arrested at 11:30 a.m. at a home in Tampa. Coleman was an offensive lineman for the Bucs from 2000-2004.

A warrant was originally issued for Coleman’s arrest on Jan. 11, after he was allegedly involved in an altercation at Ducky’s Sports Lounge. While inside the bar, Coleman is accused of hitting a 40-year-old Tampa man in the face, knocking him to the ground. He was then escorted out by security.

When Coleman spotted the man leaving the bar, he allegedly grabbed a handgun from his car in the bar’s parking lot and began to raise his arm as if to point it at the man. Security grabbed him and prevented him from pointing or firing the weapon.

When authorities reached the scene of the alleged incident, Coleman was not present, and police issued the arrest warrant.

Police charged Coleman with two felony counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and battery. He was released later Monday on a $15,000 bond.

Coleman played a total of seven seasons in the NFL, five with the Bucs. He finished his career in 2006 for the Cleveland Browns.

If you are facing felony assault and/or battery charges in Florida, understand that these charges are quite severe. Florida felony assault and battery charges carry the possibility of actual prison time. With that said, there is no room for discussion – you need help, regardless of your innocence. Felony assault and battery charges are the real deal and can send you to prison, wreak havoc on your personal and professional life, and forever change your life’s path.

Published on: November 17, 2014

Overall Crime Rate Down Across the State of Florida

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Our criminal defense lawyers at Whittel & Melton are very pleased to announce that, according to Governor Rick Scott, Florida is on a path to a 44-year crime low.

The actual number of crimes across the Sunshine State is showing that crime rate is steadily on the decline.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has released its numbers for the first half of 2014, which shows there were more than 8,000 fewer crimes committed in the first six months of this year than in that same time period in 2013.

However, while the number of non-violent crimes is down, including robbery, burglary and stalking, the number of murders, forcible sex offenses, aggravated assaults and domestic violence are all on the rise.

In Central Florida, most of the counties are in line with the overall report, seeing a drop in criminal activity across the board.

The biggest decline occurred in Flagler County, with crime dropping nearly 11 percent. Sumter County actually saw the biggest rise in crime, with an increase of 2.4 percent.

Published on: November 22, 2013

Hernando County Criminal Defense Lawyer :: ‘Operation Safe Families’ Nets More than 400 Arrests

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office recently released the results of a four-week operation designed to serve outstanding arrest warrants on people accused of domestic violence or failing to pay child support.

The task, dubbed “Operation Safe Families,” was conducted from Oct. 13 through Nov. 9. According to reports, it resulted in 403 arrests in the county.

Operation Safe Families took place with the National Family Violence Apprehension Detail initiative, a one-day national endeavor to serve outstanding family-violence warrants organized by the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office in Oregon. Operation Safe Families was aimed at targeting those individuals that endanger the lives of their children and families in Florida.

At its conclusion, the operation yielded 59 arrests associated with possession of controlled substances, 29 arrests related to domestic violence, 25 arrests associated with nonpayment of child support, nine arrests on domestic violence injunctions and 92 arrests associated with other warrants and alleged criminal actions.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement logged 108,046 domestic violence offenses that were reported to law enforcement agencies, according to the 2012 Uniform Crime Report. This same report indicated that 202 people died as a result of domestic violence, which represents about 20 percent of all homicides in Florida.

Domestic violence is defined as any threat or action aimed at a spouse, domestic partner, live-in companion or even another family member that causes the person to fear for his or her well-being. Domestic violence charges in the state of Florida can be classified as a misdemeanor or felony depending on the severity of the offense. If you are charged with this crime, you could face the following consequences:

• Jail Time
• Mandatory Counseling
• Community Service
• Anger Management
• A “No contact” order prohibiting you from seeing the alleged victim
• A “No return” order prohibiting you from returning to your home

Published on: April 22, 2011

Orlando, Florida Criminal Defense Attorney :: Big “O” Charged with a Big “A” – Assault At a Weekend BBQ

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Police arrested former NBA center, Oliver J. Miller, Tuesday for allegedly striking a man in the face with a handgun at a cookout over the weekend. He was charged with two counts of first and second degree assault.

Miller, 41, faces charges of assault, reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct and other related charges. Police were called to the cookout on Saturday around 8 p.m. after witnesses said Miller pulled out a Glock handgun and struck a 32-year-old man in the face.

The Big “O” was a first round draft pick for the Phoenix Suns in 1992 out of the University of Arkansas. He has since played for no less than 18 professional teams around the world, including the Harlem Globetrotters.

According to the Baltimore Sun, the man was taken to Anne Arundel Medical Center for injuries not considered life-threatening.

Many assault charges trace back to fights that got out of control. If you are arrested for assault it does not mean that you started the fight, many times it simply can mean that the other person called the police first. When you are arrested for aggravated assault you face serious felony criminal charges. Aggravated assault is a second-degree felony that is defined as a crime of violence. This felony charge is a violent act that causes bodily harm or permanent disfigurement or disability to the injured party. Under Florida law, felony assault can be charged when a deadly weapon is used. The use of a firearm in any assault case can elicit prosecution under Florida’s 10-20-Life statute. Use of a firearm can also increase the degree of felony that is charged.