Pumphrey Law Blog

August 10, 2021 Don Pumphrey, Jr. Criminal Defense, News & Announcements Social Share

What Does the Bill Say? In late April, the Florida Senate adopted an anti-transgender House amendment to education-related Senate Bill 1028. This amendment works to “ban transgender youth from participating in school sports consistent with their gender identity.” On June 1st, Governor Ron DeSantis signed the bill into law, making Florida the eighth state, all republican-led, to ban transgender girls …

August 10, 2021 Don Pumphrey, Jr. Criminal Defense, News & Announcements Social Share

Cases of Deadly Force in Tallahassee Lead us to Wonder if Marsy’s Law can Negatively Impact Police Accountability What is Marsy’s Law? Marsy’s Law provides victims of crime constitutional rights that are equal to the rights given to criminal defendants. The law is named after Marsalee Nicholas, a college student in California who was killed by her ex-boyfriend in 1983. …

August 9, 2021 Don Pumphrey, Jr. Criminal Defense, Sex Crimes Social Share

A total of 17 people were arrested in the Polk County Sheriff’s Office sting, “Operation Child Protector” last week. The group, including three employees of Walt Disney World, were charged with a total of 49 felonies and two misdemeanors, including “traveling to meet a minor for sex, attempted lewd battery, use of a computer to seduce a child and transmission …

August 9, 2021 Don Pumphrey, Jr. Criminal Defense, News & Announcements Social Share

In April, Governor Ron DeSantis signed Florida’s “anti-riot” bill into law through the Combating Public Disorder Act. The original bill was intended to expand on Florida’s Stand Your Ground Law. This law, through Section 776.013 of the Florida Statutes, states that a person who is in a dwelling or residence in which the person has a right to be has …

August 9, 2021 Don Pumphrey, Jr. Criminal Defense, News & Announcements Social Share

Florida Law The legality of videotaping interactions with police has been an issue that many courts, including those in Florida, have grappled with in the new age of technology. Section 934.03 of the Florida Statutes states that the interception and disclosure of wire, oral, or electronic communications is strictly prohibited. Specifically, the statute finds the anyone who does the following …

August 9, 2021 Don Pumphrey, Jr. Criminal Defense, News & Announcements Social Share

An Important Question to ask as COVID-19 Resurgence Leads to Florida Defense Lawyers Pleading to Return to Virtual Hearings Nearly a week ago, the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers voiced their concerns about the resurgence of COVID-19 cases across the state and called for courts to return to virtual hearings for legal proceedings that are deemed non-essential. The plea …

August 9, 2021 Don Pumphrey, Jr. Criminal Defense, News & Announcements Social Share

Although Florida is known as a state with lenient laws when it comes to firearms, improperly storing a firearm can lead to serious legal penalties. Florida laws permit you to keep a weapon or firearm in your vehicle as long as you have a concealed carry license. However, if you meet certain criteria, you do not need to have a …

August 9, 2021 Don Pumphrey, Jr. Criminal Defense, News & Announcements, Sex Crimes Social Share

In Florida, criminal defendants can be charged with several criminal counts at one time. However, courts have to comply with applicable sentencing statutes when sentencing for each conviction. When they don’t, the sentence can be deemed illegal. Such was the case in recent Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal ruling, Prentice v. State. In Prentice, the court reversed the defendant’s …

August 4, 2021 Don Pumphrey, Jr. Criminal Defense, News & Announcements Social Share

Although it happened twenty-two years ago, the harrowing story of Amadou Diallo has received recent media attention as a result of being featured on Netflix series Trial by Media, a crime docuseries that features historically dramatic trials whose verdicts were heavily influenced by the media shaping public opinion. Background Amadou Diallo was a 23-year-old who immigrated from his comfortable life …