Pumphrey Law Blog

November 22, 2023 Don Pumphrey, Jr. Criminal Defense, Drug Charges Social Share

Law enforcement agencies around the world are beginning to question the reliability of police K-9s trained to detect the scent of certain illegal substances. While both State and Federal police have utilized police canines for their enhanced sight and smell, recent data suggests that the alerts given to the canine handlers may be wrong more often than right. Two studies—one …

November 22, 2023 Don Pumphrey, Jr. Criminal Defense Social Share

Bribery is considered a white-collar crime, and is defined as the offering, giving, soliciting, or receiving anything of value as a means of influencing the actions of an individual with a public or legal duty. Chapter 838 of the Florida Statutes provides the various definitions and offenses that fall under bribery and misuse of public office. One form of bribery …

November 22, 2023 Don Pumphrey, Jr. Criminal Defense, Violent Crimes Social Share

Starting a fire in a dwelling, structure, or conveyance can create a danger to yourself and any other individuals in the surrounding area. Aside from the physical dangers of starting a fire, it is also illegal. In the state of Florida, burning a building, or creating a fire within a building, can result in charges for arson. The crime of …

November 22, 2023 Don Pumphrey, Jr. Criminal Defense, Drug Charges Social Share

Out of all the various drug offenses, drug trafficking is the most severe due to its mass form of distribution. In recent years, Florida and the rest of the United States has experienced an uprise in controlled substances, namely, fentanyl. Two brothers in South Florida were recently arrested and charged with drug trafficking after an undercover police investigation seized more …

November 22, 2023 Don Pumphrey, Jr. Criminal Defense Social Share

Pretending to be a police officer not only undermines the trust between civilians and actual law enforcement officers, but also carries severe legal penalties. The State of Florida has established strict laws and regulations to protect the integrity of police agencies while ensuring the trust of its citizens. This blog post will delve into several examples of police impersonation cases …

November 22, 2023 Don Pumphrey, Jr. Criminal Defense, Drug Charges Social Share

The Florida Supreme Court heard arguments on November 8, 2023, regarding the proposed ballot measure that could create a constitutional amendment allowing the recreational use of marijuana for adults. The proposed initiative would allow adults in Florida who are 21 years old or older to legally purchase, possess, and use marijuana recreationally. That means while medical marijuana cards still exist, …

November 22, 2023 Don Pumphrey, Jr. Criminal Defense Social Share

Interfering with a sports or entertainment event will disrupt something that people paid money to attend. Interference can occur in many forms; common examples include running across the field or streaking—when a person strips naked and runs in front of a crowd or live audience. While this may seem like an innocent prank designed to achieve those 15 minutes of …

November 22, 2023 Don Pumphrey, Jr. Criminal Defense, Sex Crimes Social Share

There are laws in place to prevent adults from engaging in sexual activities with minors. When a person over the age of 18 has sexual relations with a minor, they can be charged with a criminal offense. The exact penalties in Florida depend on the circumstances of the case. For instance, lewd or lascivious exhibition is a charge for a …

November 22, 2023 Don Pumphrey, Jr. Criminal Defense, Sex Crimes Social Share

Prosecution for alleged crimes in Florida typically comes with a Statute of Limitations. This is a time-based restriction for how long a prosecutor can wait to file criminal charges, or for a person to report the alleged crime to police. However, some offenses do not have a statute of limitations due to the severity of the offense. This typically occurs …