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This Thanksgiving holiday, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and our Florida DUI Defense Lawyers at Whittel & Melton want to remind you to stay safe on the roads. Whether you are travelling a long distance to a relative or friend’s house for a Thanksgiving feast, driving home from college to be with your parents and siblings, or just heading down the street to see local friends and family, we want to remind you that Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving, regardless of whether it is during a holiday or any other day.

Thanksgiving Sobering Statistics

  • In 2020, 185 fatalities occurred from drunk driving over the Thanksgiving holiday period (Wednesday, November 25 – Monday, November 30).
  • From 2016-2020, 821 people were killed in alcohol-related car crashes during the Thanksgiving holiday period (Wednesday before Thanksgiving-Monday after Thanksgiving).
  • During the 2020 Thanksgiving holiday period, male drivers were found more likely to be involved in DUI-related car accidents than females – males accounted for more than three-quarters of Thanksgiving DUI car accidents. During this same period, more than four times as many drivers involved in DUI car crashes were impaired at nighttime as opposed to daytime.

2022-Thanksgiving-Buzzed-Driving-Is-Drunk-Driving-200x300Celebrate Turkey Day with a Plan

It is always a good idea to plan if you know you are going to have a few drinks. Celebrating responsibly does not have to be hard – make sure you know where you are going and have a safe ride home. If you are going to be the designated driver for your group, then take your role seriously and do not consume any alcohol, not even one drink.

Here are a few more reminders to keep your Thanksgiving holiday period, including “Blackout Wednesday,” a safe and happy time.

  • It is never OK to drink and drive. Even if you have had just one alcoholic beverage, get a sober ride home. You can call a taxi, use a rideshare service like Uber or Lyft, or have a sober friend or family member drive you home. AAA will also bring their Tow-To-Go service for the 2022 Thanksgiving Holiday weekend. Starting Wednesday November 23 at 6pm-6am Monday morning, members and non-members can call the AAA Tow-To-Go number 855-2-TOW-2-GO, or 855-286-9246 and get a tow truck to take the impaired driver and their vehicle home or to a safe location (must be within a 10-mile radius of where they were picked up.)
  • If you see a drunk driver on the road, then you should call 911 immediately.
  • If you have a friend or relative that is about to drink and drive, then take their keys away and help make the necessary arrangements to get them home safe or create a space for them to sleep it off until they can safely drive home.
  • Lastly, always remember that buzzed driving is drunk driving.

What To Do if You or a Loved One is Harmed in a DUI Accident this Thanksgiving

If the worst happens during the 2022 Thanksgiving holiday period, and you are involved in a drunk driving crash, then our Florida DUI Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton will be available 24/7 to help aide in your best interests. You deserve financial compensation for your injuries, lost time from work, pain, and suffering. After you or a loved one has been harmed in a DUI crash, you should not have to worry about keeping up with medical bills and making sure your family is taken care of. It does not matter if you were injured in a car accident, motorcycle accident, or truck accident – we can help get you the compensation you deserve. You can call us statewide at 866-608-5529 or contact us online to request a free consultation. Continue reading

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Posted in: DUI
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Actor Gary Busey, 78, known for playing the role of Chet Steadman in the 1993 classic “Rookie of the Year” and featured in the films “Point Break” and “The Buddy Holly Story,” is now facing several sex offense charges in connection with alleged incidents that occurred at Monster-Mania Con at a Doubletree Hotel near Philadelphia.

Busey was a featured celebrity at the convention that was held from Aug. 12 to 14.

On Friday, Cherry Hill detectives charged Busey, who resides in Malibu, California, with two counts of criminal sexual contact in the fourth degree, one count of criminal attempt/criminal sexual contact in the fourth degree, and one count of harassment, according to reports.

Grey-minimalist-law-firm-service-instagram-post-300x300Three women allegedly came forward and told police that Busey groped and touched them inappropriately during a meet and greet at Monster-Mania Con in the afternoon of Aug. 13.

There is no further information available on these charges.

Whether you have already been arrested or are aware that you are the main suspect of a sex crime and are under investigation, you need to act fast as time is of the essence. You must not delay in building your defense strategy and you need to get legal help as soon as possible. Our Florida Sex Crimes Defense Lawyers at Whittel & Melton will work swiftly, creatively, and aggressively to ensure that you have a cutting-edge defense to help fight whatever serious sexual allegations you are facing. Whether you are up against state or federal sex offense, we have a proven team who can assist with your sex crime case today.

A sex crime conviction carries a very real stigma with it, along with severe consequences that can ruin your future even beyond time spent behind bars. You could be looking at registration as a sexual offender, which will restrict where you can live and work. You must fight back against sex crime allegations. Our Florida Sex Crimes Defense Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can get started working on your case immediately, launching our own investigation into the matter and utilizing experts to establish the credibility of any alleged victims.

Will My Sex Crime Case Go to Trial?

You probably have many questions about your sex crime allegations, and whether your case proceeds to trial will rely on many factors, including if there is DNA or other corroborating evidence, if there are incriminating statements against you, and if the accuser(s) are credible or have lied in the past. Our experienced sex crime defense lawyers will scour all the evidence against you and help you understand exactly what you are up against so that you can make an educated and informed decision on whether you want to enter plea bargain negotiations or test your luck at trial. Continue reading

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Posted in: Sex Crimes
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A 32-year-old Miami police officer who was allegedly under surveillance by internal affairs detectives was also arrested early Sunday for driving under the influence of alcohol and possession of cocaine.

The man was arrested in Miami’s Brickell district after he attempted to drive away in his patrol car after drinking outside the D-Dog House restaurant.

The man remained at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on Sunday afternoon.

The man’s arrest report states that anti-corruption investigators were watching the man as he drove his patrol car, parked, and then proceeded to go inside the restaurant.

He was apparently under surveillance over an “ongoing administrative case,” but no more details are available on that subject matter.

Add-a-heading-1-200x300The report goes on to say that the detectives watched him hanging out with a group of men and consuming several drinks. He was stopped from driving his patrol car after he was allegedly seen swaying and swaggering as he approached his car. The report also alleges that his eyes were bloodshot and he smelled of alcohol.

Detectives claim that he dropped two clear plastic baggies containing a white powdery substance that they believe to be cocaine from his right pocket at the time he was detained.

He allegedly failed a roadside sobriety test and apparently submitted to a breath test that revealed his blood-alcohol content level was 0.34. The legal limit is 0.08.

If your blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) is 0.08 or higher and you are stopped for suspicion of DUI by police, then you will likely be asked to submit to a field sobriety test. You will also be asked to show your driver’s license, insurance card, and vehicle registration. While you are under no obligation to submit to a field sobriety test or any chemical testing, refusing will lead to your driver’s license being automatically be suspended. Our Miami DUI Defense Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can represent you at all administrative hearings for your loss of driving privileges as well as serve as your legal counsel for all criminal proceedings.

Field sobriety tests are designed to use simple physical and cognitive skills to assess whether a person has been drinking and driving. While the tests are designed to be accurate by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, our legal team at Whittel & Melton are aware that these tests are not always a correct judgement on one’s ability to operate a motor vehicle. If you have been arrested on suspicion of drinking and driving while under the influence of alcohol, then you need to enlist the help of our former Miami-Dade state prosecutors immediately. Continue reading

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Posted in: Drug Crimes, DUI and Uncategorized
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Two physical therapists and five other alleged participants in Miami were arrested last week and charged with staging car accidents and then billing insurance providers as much as $161,000.

Florida’s Department of Financial Services apparently spent the last few months working with an informant to document the alleged car insurance fraud ring. They believe that one of the participants used Instagram, the social media app, to find people willing to help stage accidents.

These no-fault car insurance scams apparently worked like this: The accident would be staged first, then the “victims” would be taken to physical therapy clinics where they were paid up to $2,000 to request treatment for their “injuries.” After this was complete, the physical therapists would tell the “victims” what types of injuries to complain about and then their insurance companies would be billed accordingly for treatment.

https://www.floridacriminalattorneyblog.com/files/2022/04/httpswww.thefllawfirm.com_-300x300.pngThe Miami physical therapy clinics involved have been named as Life Medical Rehab, Premier Wellness, Red Diamond, Holistic Medical and Evolution Med, according to reports.

All seven alleged participants were booked into jail in Miami. The charges include staging accidents, organized scheme to defraud, patient brokering, grand theft and insurance fraud and grand theft. The police said that they expect to arrest more people involved.

Personal injury protection motor vehicle fraud has been an ongoing issue for South Florida. There have been numerous arrests for PIP fraud schemes in recent years, including a $23 million PIP fraud scam in 2018.

Staged car accidents are nothing new in Miami and throughout all of Florida. In fact, many auto accident fraud complaints are filed by public citizens who see something suspicious and report their findings to the Florida Department of Financial Services by using the online Fraud Reporting Website. Police are always on the lookout for these “PIP Mills” that often involve physical therapy or chiropractic clinics who file fraudulent medical claims to insurance companies using PIP automobile insurance coverage. Continue reading

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A former Hillsborough County teacher and coach has been arrested for the second time facing more allegations of child molestation, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

The 33-year-old ex-teacher and former volunteer coach was arrested Wednesday on new charges stemming from a football player who has accused him of sexually abusing him more than 50 times between 2017 and 2021. The former volunteer coach has been released on bail.

The man was initially arrested last month after being accused of inappropriately touching a child and showing pornographic images to the child at the school where he was a teacher.

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Posted in: Sex Crimes
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A teacher for the Pasco County School district has been arrested and charged with custodial authority sexual battery on a student.

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation into the 32-year-old man on January 2, 2022, after they received information about an alleged inappropriate relationship between the male teacher and student.

The alleged incidents took place when the student was 14-years-old.

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Posted in: Pasco County and Sex Crimes
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Alvin Kamara, running back for the New Orleans Saints, was arrested on a battery charge Sunday in Las Vegas after playing in his fifth pro bowl.

Reports from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department show that Kamara is accused of injuring another person at a Las Vegas nightclub sometime over the weekend.

Police said they were dispatched to a local hospital around 5:50 p.m. where an injury victim had reported that they were battered by 26-year-old Kamara.

nevada-g85d2f7e10_1920-300x199Kamara played in Sunday’s Pro Bowl, making four catches for 23 yards, but was taken into custody and booked at the Clark County Detention Center immediately after the game. He was charged with battery resulting in great bodily harm.

Kamara spent Sunday night in jail and posted bond on Monday.

In the state of Florida, when an act of battery is committed against another person resulting in great bodily harm, this is considered Felony Battery – a third-degree felony that can land a person behind bars for up to five years. Battery is escalated to Felony Battery when a person intentionally touches or strikes another person with the intent to cause great bodily harm, such as broken bones, injuries that require surgery, permanent disability or permanent disfigurement.

Facing criminal charges for battery, with or without a weapon, is a very serious matter in the state of Florida and requires immediate legal representation from an experienced criminal defense lawyer right away. Our Florida Criminal Defense Lawyers at Whittel & Melton know the laws and how to navigate the Florida criminal justice system to help defeat misdemeanor and felony battery charges. We can handle all types of misdemeanors or felony assault and battery charges, such as assault, battery, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, domestic violence, and sexual assault and battery.

Whether you have been arrested following a bar fight, a domestic argument, or any other circumstance, we recommend remaining calm and keeping quiet. Do not try and talk your way out of these charges as you can end up doing more harm than good. Call our Florida Criminal Defense Lawyers at Whittel & Melton at 866-608-5529 and let us speak for you. We can guide you through the criminal justice process and help you understand how the police, prosecutors, and judges usually handle these types of violent cases. Depending on the facts of your case, we can work with the prosecution to negotiate a reduced a sentence or possible have the charges against you dropped. Continue reading

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Posted in: Assault and Battery
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A former Steinbrenner High School band director has been sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to having an unlawful sexual relationship with a student.

The 37-year-old man will also serve 10 years’ probation as a sex offender.

He is slated to turn himself into authorities on Monday, February 7 at 10 a.m. at the Orient Road Jail.

The man was arrested in June 2020.

Teachers are placed in trusted positions over young students, and because of this they are held to high standards. When they are accused of violating their positions of authority, things can quickly get messy. Due to the high number of cases of sexual abuse by teachers, counselors, coaches, clergy members, and other people in positions of authority, teachers need to be aware of the potential for accusation to arise regarding a potentially inappropriate teacher-student sexual relationship. Claims of this nature can be damaging to one’s career and reputation and lead to criminal charges carrying very severe consequences if a conviction is achieved.

college-student-g6082e6904_1920-300x198If you are a teacher or another person placed in a position of trust among minors and have been accused of unlawful sex with a student, then you must fight back to protect your future. We believe that you are innocent until proven guilty and we will fight on your side to help prove your innocence.

Our Tampa Sex Crimes Defense Lawyers at Whittel & Melton understand the urgency of your situation, which is why we will work hard to build you a powerful defense strategy. Our hope is to protect you from criminal charges and avoid you being forced to register as a sex offender for the rest of your life and all the challenges that this label brings with it. We also know that you have worked hard for your career and want to protect your status as an educator from being tarnished.

Just mere allegations of impropriety between a teacher and a student can stir up a lot of issues. You could be fired and humiliated AND face serious legal ramifications. Our Tampa Sex Crimes Defense Lawyers at Whittel & Melton want to encourage you to stay the course and not lose hope. By working with us, we can help you make the best decisions for your specific situation and work towards getting the charges against you reduced or dismissed entirely. Continue reading

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A 51-year-old Wildwood notary was arrested at the end of 2021 for her alleged involvement in notarizing a document for a dead person’s bank account.

She was charged with a felony – false certification by a notary – after she was interviewed at the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office Public Safety Building at Pinellas Plaza in The Villages.

Just what is the woman accused of? She allegedly notarized a document on Aug. 12 not in the presence of the person whose signature she was notarizing, according to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office report.

The woman apparently never met the person whose signature she was notarizing, and signed the document and stamped it with her notary stamp and seal.

The document in question was then used to withdraw funds from the deceased family member’s bank account, according to the arrest report.

The woman was arrested and booked at the Sumter County Detention Center. She has since been released after posting $2,000 bail.

A notary, also known as a notary public, is someone who has the duty to witness the signing of legal documents, such as trusts, deeds, licenses, etc. A notary is publicly commissioned official who has the task of verifying the authenticity of legal documents to deter fraud as well as serving as an impartial witness when legal documents are signed. stamp-g0ef3c5d31_1920-300x230

Legal documents are required to be notarized to make sure that the transactions are conducted properly and that no fraud is committed. Notaries serve as a person who can verify the authenticity of documents and make sure that all parties involved are entering into agreements knowingly and willingly.

Being a notary carries inherent risks. One careless mistake could easily lead to criminal charges. The following are just a few ways a notary can land themselves in hot water:

  1. Notarizing a document when the signer is not present
  2. Failing to properly identify the signer
  3. Incomplete certificates
  4. Failing to record all notarizations
  5. Allowing someone else to use your notary tools
  6. Overcharging for notary fees
  7. Offering legal advice
  8. Continuing to notarize documents once your commission expires

Notary misconduct is real and can lead to criminal charges. If you have been charged with a criminal offense related to notary misconduct in The Villages or surrounding areas, then you need to enlist the help of our Villages Criminal Defense Lawyers at 352-369-5334. Whittel & Melton as soon as possible so that we can help you clear up any misunderstandings. Once you get us involved with your case, we can conduct our own investigation into any evidence and speak with police and prosecutors on your behalf so that your side of the story can be heard. We may be able to have the charges against you dropped or significantly reduced. The best thing you can do to help yourself following an arrest is to call us at so that we can make sure nothing you say is twisted to be used against you later on.

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Posted in: Fraud and The Villages
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Each year FBI crime data is released that focuses on the most dangerous states in the country. The state of Florida ranks 17th on the deadliest states scale, which means there are numerous cities within the state that have a high crime rating. 

The FBI uses statistics focusing on violent crimes, murder, property crimes, and more as their metric for making their determinations. From there, the data is compiled to map out the cities with the most crimes per capita, rounding out the top 10 most dangerous cities for 2021. 

Here is the list of the most dangerous cities in Florida: 

  1. Florida City: This is the most dangerous city in the entire state for 2021. For Florida City, violent crimes 100k is at 2,619, which is nearly 7 times higher than the national average of 366. 
  2. Lake City: Lake City has a population of about 13,000 in Lake City and is the #2 spot on this list again for 2021. Lake City has a high volume of larceny and property crimes per 100k, coming in at 6,432 while the national average is at 2,109. 
  3. Opa Locka: Opa Locka, Florida is a relatively smaller city in the northeastern area of Miami-Dade county. It is only 4.2 square miles, but takes the #3 spot on the list due to  very high numbers of violent crimes, robberies, and larceny. 
  4. Lake Park: Lake Park, FL has fewer than 10,000 residents, but due to their extraordinarily high volumes of larceny, property crimes, and violent crimes it takes the 4th spot on the list for 2021. Violent crimes in Lake park are nearly four times the national average. 
  5. Panama City Beach: This is a popular tourist area, known as PCB. PCB has an all-time high property crime rate at 6,347 per 100k, which is much higher than the 2,145 state average.
  6. Miami Beach: This area boasts some beautiful scenery and hotspots for nightlife, but that comes with high miami-885032_1920-300x225crime rankings. With so many tourists and visitors every year it is no surprise that this area sees its fair share of property and larceny crimes. Larceny is nearly 4 times as high in Miami Beach when comparing to the USA’s national average. 
  7. Perry: Perry, Florida is new on the list for 2021, taking the 7th spot. The crime rate in Perry is 108.94 percent higher than the national average. Most of the crimes in Perry involve property crimes, larceny, and burglary. 
  8. Daytona Beach: This is one of the most well-known cities in the state, but sadly also one of the most crime-ridden. Violent crimes in this area clock in at 1,137 per 100k, and while this might not seem, keep in mind that the national average is 366.  
  9. Cocoa: This city in Brevard County with a population of fewer than 20,000 residents take the number 9 spot on the list due to the crime rate in 20221 reacging 139.59 percent above the national average. FBI data shows that the crime rate for larceny in Cocoa is almost triple the national average and property crime is double. 
  10. Riviera Beach: Riviera Beach is in Palm Beach County and takes the 10th spot for 2021 due to the crime rate per 100k being 5,158. This statistic means that the crime rate in this area is 108.26 percent higher than the national average. 

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Posted in: Criminal
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Contact Information
MAIN OFFICE AND MAILING ADDRESS HERNANDO COUNTY
11020 Northcliffe Blvd
Spring Hill, FL 34608
Phone: 352-666-2121
Alt: 866-608-5LAW(5529)
Fax: 352-556-4839
Satellite Locations
PASCO
5318 Balsam St #A
New Port Richey, FL 34652
Phone: 727-847-2299
PINELLAS
5107 Central Ave
St. Petersburg, FL 33710
Phone: 727-823-0000
Fax: 727-898-2001
CITRUS COUNTY - INVERNESS
111 W Main St, #303
Inverness, FL 34450
Phone: 352-726-0078
CITRUS COUNTY - BEVERLY HILLS
5 William Tell Ln
Beverly Hills, FL 34465
Phone: 352-726-0078
LAKE-SUMTER
123 N Florida St
Bushnell, FL 33513
Phone: 352-793-9330
MARION-THE VILLAGES
510 Co Rd 466 #201W
The Villages, FL 32159
Phone: 352-369-5334
Fax: 352-556-4839
ALACHUA
5215 SW 91st Terrace
Gainesville, FL 32608
Phone: 352-264-7800
TAMPA - Hillsborough County
4401 W Kennedy Blvd #250
Tampa, FL 33609
Phone: 813-221-3200
PALM BEACH
3700 Airport Rd, #401
Boca Raton, FL 33431
Phone: 561-367-8777
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