As if millions of barrels of crude floating around the Gulf of Mexico isn't bad enough, now some scammers are trying to take advantage of people whose livelihoods have been damaged by the record-breaking spill.From the Florida Attorney General's Office press release:Â A consumer recently reported to the Attorney General's Office that she received an email [...]New danger from oil spill: Scam
… the cultural and legal landscape was much different. The U.S. Supreme Court had not yet decided that every criminal defendant should get an attorney even if they can't afford one (Gideon vs. Wainwright in 1963), or that everyone arrested should be told of their rights to remain silent and have a lawyer represent them [...]When these lawyers started in 1960
A Manatee County man facing up to five years in prison on a probation violation complained about his defense attorney and started filing his own motions in his case,  including a motion to get his attorney removed from the case. At a hearing, Clifton Thompson told the judge that he wanted to represent himself.Circuit Judge Debra [...]Representing yourself in court? No knowledge needed
I've received several e-mails today asking for a way to contact somebody about the foreclosure mediation program starting later this month in Sarasota and Manatee counties.The program I wrote about automatically contacts owners of homestead property when a foreclosure is filed in court but it will only start after June 21.If you need help [...]More info on foreclosure mediation
No matter what you think of the going rate for buying a song on iTunes or Amazon.com these days, we all agree $1 million would be a bit steep. But former Talking Heads member says Gov. Charlie Crist owes him that amount for using the rock group's “Road to Nowhere” song in an attack ad [...]Rock star: Crist used song without permission
http://crimeandcourts.blogs.heraldtribune.com/files/2010/06/Deandre-150x150.jpgDeAndre Tunstall was considered one of the most violent young men in Newtown, known as the enforcer of a notorious street gang and charged with murdering a young U.S. Marine reservist.Tunstall, 20, was scheduled to plead guilty Friday morning to murder and be sentenced lightly " 25 years in prison when he could have been [...]For gangbanger, a risky decision
http://crimeandcourts.blogs.heraldtribune.com/files/2010/05/george-lopez-51-150x150.jpgThe other night, my girlfriend and I were watching George Lopez on Nickelodeon.We watch Lopez mostly with my children, who love it because it means they are up past bed time and because George's mom, Benny, is so mean.On the last episode, a sex offender named “Chris” moved into the neighborhood after being jailed for [...]George Lopez and the sexting teacher
I don't know if this means everything or not:On Saturday, I was over near The Courts in Newtown looking for a guy who knew a guy who was involved in a deadly shooting.A tan Caprice followed me.From King to Osprey to 21st and over to The Courts, slowing at stop signs until he rolled down [...]'It's Newtown. You hear everything.'
Over the last week, I've been assailed with rumors and questions about the shooting death of a 20-year-old man by an off-duty deputy in Venice.Here, then, are a couple of points about Tyler Spann, Deputy Carlos Verdoni and the ongoing investigation:… There was no video camera in Verdoni's squad car. Most Sheriff's Office vehicles don't [...]Some insight on the Venice shooting
http://crimeandcourts.blogs.heraldtribune.com/files/2010/04/Blogmug12.jpgGoing to jail has to be one of the lowest moments of your life.I've never been, of course, other than for official newspaper business, so maybe my take on this is skewed.Still, whenever I see someone smiling in their mugshot I wonder: Really? You're happy about this?Jail guards see it all the time " folks [...]Smile for the camera
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