Monroe County

Published on: November 25, 2013

Monroe County Criminal Defense Lawyer :: Man with Fake Pilot’s License Arrested in Florida Keys

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A man with a fake pilot’s license was recently arrested in the Florida Keys.

According to authorities in the Florida Keys, the man was apparently flying customers in an unregistered plane.

The Marathon, Florida man allegedly showed investigators a fake pilot’s license and was advertising for customers on the social networking site Facebook.

Investigators noted that the light sport aircraft was “falling apart due to saltwater exposure.”

The man was charged with felony possession of an unregistered aircraft and felony operation of an aircraft in a careless or reckless manner. Additional charges could follow, according to police.

The man posted $10,000 bond Tuesday.

The Federal Aviation Administration is also investigating the matter.

Impersonating a licensed professional in Florida carries very serious consequences. A Monroe County Criminal Defense Lawyer at Whittel & Melton can help you achieve the best possible resolution for your case. Being charged with this type of offense usually results in a complex set of legal issues. As former prosecutors, we can investigate the details leading up to your arrest and identify any weaknesses or inconsistencies in the government’s case against you.

It is a felony in Florida for any person who is not licensed to practice a profession that requires a license certifying their qualifications or to pretend to be licensed to practice a profession that requires licensure. Such professions can include:

• Pilots
• Doctors
• Teachers
• Physicians
• Attorneys

Published on: October 21, 2013

Volusia County Criminal Defense Lawyer :: Marathon Man Accused of Masturbating on Amtrak

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 33-year-old Marathon man was arrested Tuesday and charged with lewd or lascivious exhibition for allegedly masturbating in clear view of passengers on an Amtrak train.

The man is accused of exposing himself in front of a young child during the alleged incident.

The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office was called to the Amtrak station just west of DeLand Tuesday morning after the conductor apparently reported the incident to Amtrak authorities. An Amtrak agent put in a call to the Sheriff’s Office warning them that the train was due in the station in just a few minutes.

When deputies arrived at the station shortly after 9 a.m., the train had arrived and they talked to a passenger in the coach section who claims the man was masturbating in the seat next to him while he was trying to sleep. The witness alleges the man exited his seat while still exposed and walked down the aisle to the bathroom, where he passed a small child who appeared to be around 3-years-old.

According to deputies, the man said his blanket was moving back and forth because his stomach was itchy. Deputies claim the man later told them that he might have accidentally ejaculated on the bathroom floor.

The man was arrested for lewd or lascivious exhibition in the presence of a victim under the age of 16 and transported to the Volusia County Jail in Daytona Beach.

Any person convicted of lewd or lascivious exhibition faces severe consequences, including the very real possibility of being forced to register as a sexual offender or sexual predator. Registered sex offenders are required to comply with a strict set of registration laws in Florida and throughout the United States. If you are under investigation for lewd and lascivious exhibition or have already been arrested or charged with this offense in DeLand, Daytona Beach, Deltona, New Smyrna Beach, Ormond Beach or Orange City, it is best to contact a Volusia County Criminal Defense Lawyer at Whittel & Melton as soon as possible to protect your rights. As former prosecutors, we understand how the State and law enforcement officers investigate these types of cases.
To schedule a free initial consultation with us, please call us today at 866-608-5529.

Published on: August 16, 2013

Monroe County Man Wanted charged with Credit Card Fraud arrested while fleeing the Florida Keys to Russia

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Florida Keys resident Alex Bogomolny had an outstanding $1.5 million arrest warrant based on allegations that he conducted multiple counts of fraud, specifically, trafficking in counterfeit credit cards and identity theft.

According to reports, he was picked up by the Monroe County Sherriff’s Office Tuesday as he was trying to catch a flight to Russia.

That day, the sheriff’s office received word that Bogomolny had flown out of Key West to New York but had missed his connecting flight to Russia. He was waiting in the John F. Kennedy airport for another flight, when he was apprehended.

Working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office alerted ICE agents that he was trying to flee the country. ICE agents found Bogomolny at the JFK and took him into custody.

Bogomolny will be returned to Monroe County to face charges.

Bogomolny’s scheme was discovered when he was picked up for allegedly stealing a bicycle in Big Pine Key. When his personal belongings were collected when he was questions, Officers found over two dozen credit cards with different people’s names on them. Bogomolny was unable to give a good explanation for his possession of so many cards, which prompted law enforcement fo start an investigation. During this investigation, investigators found that he was opening up credit accounts under other people’s names, according to the sheriff’s office, prompting the arrest warrant.

Published on: July 26, 2013

Monroe County Homicide Defense Attorney :: Man Accused of Beating Man to Death Over a Beer in Keys Could Face a Murder Charge

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 42-year-old Stock Island man accused of beating a 45-year-old Keys man following a disagreement about buying beer could face a murder charge.

The victim was taken to Ryder Trauma Center in Miami for his injuries from the July 7 beating where he recently passed away.

According to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, the man was beaten and kicked in the head all over $10 for beer.

The 42-year-old man accused of beating the victim was charged with aggravated battery. But, Chief Assistant State Attorney Manny Madruga claims that once the autopsy reports come in the man’s charge could be increased to homicide.

The accused apparently told detectives he gave a woman $10 to buy him beer from a convenience store, but she returned empty handed. He asked for his money back, but the woman allegedly ran over to the now deceased man, who was on a bicycle, and the two men started fighting.

Witnesses told police the 42-year-old man kicked the other man in the face before running away.

Deputies found the man a short time later hiding beneath a building in a condominium complex.

The man is currently being held at the Monroe County Detention Center with no bond.

Homicide or murder is defined in the state of Florida as the unlawful killing of a human being. The state of Florida classifies homicide as a capital offense. With that said, any one facing murder or homicide charges faces a tough road ahead. These charges are quite serious and require an aggressive defense starting from the very beginning of the case. It is vital to have experienced legal counsel on your side so that you can obtain the best possible outcome for your situation. These cases usually capture the attention of the media and therefore spur much public debate. A Monroe County Criminal Defense Lawyer at Whittel & Melton can protect your rights through every stage of your case. We have the knowledge and resources needed to defend your homicide charges.