Recent Updates
April 28, 2010
State Must Prove Defendant's Knowledge of Driver's License Suspension
April 13, 2010
Sentencing Commission Votes to Eliminate Recent Criminal History Points
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Consent to search inside of vehicle does not extend to locked containers
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Making phone calls to get drugs for personal use not a felony
October 07, 2009
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Local Contractor arrested for Theft from Customers
September 25, 2009
Topic: Criminal
The Florida Times Union reported that the State Attorney's Office has charged a Jacksonville contractor with stealing from customer by taking deposits for work and not doing any work. The stated defense is that the business went under and that was why work was not being done. However, deposits are supposed to be segregated and not used for other work so deposits should be available to give back to customers in that instance. The contractor is being held on a $500,006 bond, a bond normally reserved for murders, rapists, etc. Regardless of feeling about how distateful this alleged crime is, this bond shows that bonds in Jacksonville are out of control for an economic crime to be held in jail. If the State wants to seek jail time, they are certainly entitled to do so, after the defendant has been found guilty or pled guilty.
Interestingly enough the State is also considering charging the salesperson who worked for the contractor. The salesman stated that he played no role in the conspiracy and that the contractor owes him money for commissions as well. This will be a much more difficult case to prove, assuming the contractor does not cooperate and implicate the saleperson to the State or there is no other evidence not in the paper.
To read about this case, click here.
