Congratulations to attorney Andrea Smith! Ms. Smith was appointed by Gov. Scott to the 10th judicial circuit to replace Judge Langford when he retires from the bench this month. The judges in the 10th judicial circuit through criminal and civil divisions. Welcome to the bench!
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Polk County prostitution $5,000.00 civil penalty not applied retroactively judge rules
This week, Polk county criminal court Judge Fegers rules that the "civil penalty" in prostitution case can not be applied retroactively. This means that if you were arrested before January 1, 2013 before the$5,250.00 fine went into effect, you will NOT have to pay the fine. This is due to the fact that our Florida...
Read MoreCan a convicted felon be a bail bond agent in Florida?
This week a spoke to a great group of students studying and training to become bail bond agents in Florida. Eventually, after a 120 hour course and training under a licensed bondsman, they too will receive their bail agent license. Many people ask me though if they can be a bondsman if they have a...
Read MoreBartow criminal lawyer teaches future bail bond agents
On Thursday, it was again my pleasure to teach future bondsmen and women about the criminal court system. If you would like to be a bail bond agent and help assist people to get out of jail, you can more information at http://bailbondedu.com/, Florida's leading bail bond educator. In order to become a bondsman there are...
Read MorePolk Criminal Lawyer Thomas C. Grajek attends NACDL Forensics Evidence seminar on DNA evidence
In April, I attended the NACDL legal seminar "Making sense of Science." This continuing legal education seminar focused on how science plays a role in criminal cases. A main topic was DNA evidence in criminal cases. This evidence is found in rape or capital sexual battery and there is DNA evidence on the body. Or,...
Read More2nd District Court of Appeals rules police holding driver's license is a seizure
Last week, the Second District Court of Appeals overturned a Defendant's conviction for possession of a controlled substance (carisoprodol). The rulings by the 2nd District Court of Appeal are binding on the county and circuit court's of Polk County. That means the felony or misdemeanor judge in Polk County must follow the appellate court's rulings...
Read MoreFlorida bans texting while driving
Starting October 1, 2013, “texting while driving” will be banned in throughout Florida. It will be a civil offense to read or send a text, email or instant message on a smartphone while driving. In order to cite a driver for this violation, the person must be stopped for some other lawful reason. That means...
Read MoreOff duty Lakeland Police officer charged with battery after alleged road rage incident
An off duty police officer was charged with battery after an alleged road rage incident today. Part of the incident was captured on a surveillance camera. Allegedly, there was an incident on the road where the off-duty Lakeland Police Officer felt that the other driver cut him off. As with most road rage type incidents,...
Read MorePolk County Criminal Defense Attorney Jury Trial for Improper Exhibition of a Firearm
My client was charged with Improper Exhibition of a Firearm. We demanded speedy trial in this case and the charge was dismissed by the court at trial. My client was accused of waving a fireman at an elderly lady arising out of an alleged road rage incident. This incident was allegedly witnessed by an off-duty...
Read MoreAnother Polk County Backpage solicitation for lewdness and prostitution sting
Polk County law enforcement agencies ran another prostitution sting this week. This appears to be similar to the prostitution stings recently done this past January and last August. The prostitution law increased the "civil penalty" for "johns" from $500.00 to $5,250.00 on January 1, 2013. I am the only Polk County criminal defense attorney who has challenged the...
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