Category Archives: Sex Crimes
Can a Jury Reach an “Inconsistent” Verdict in a Florida Sex Crimes Case?
The right to trial by jury is the cornerstone of Florida’s criminal justice system. Of course, juries are not perfect. There are many cases where a jury reaches a verdict that might seem inconsistent or illogical to the outside observer. But are such inconsistent verdicts actually legal? In most cases, they are. The Florida… Read More »
Can Border Agents Search Your Phone Without a Warrant?
The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution normally requires the police to obtain a search warrant before conducting a search of your person or property without your consent. As with many constitutional protections, however, there are a number of judicially recognized exceptions. One of them is for searches that occur at the borders of the… Read More »
When Is Child Hearsay Admissible in a Florida Sex Crimes Prosecution?
Under Florida law, hearsay evidence is inadmissible in most criminal cases. Hearsay refers to any out-of-court statement used to prove the truth of the matter asserted. To give a simple illustration, a witness in a criminal trial can testify as to what the defendant told them. But the witness could not testify as to… Read More »
Could a Florida Statutory Rape Conviction Get You Deported?
Miami is a city of immigrants. Whether you are in the United States lawfully or as an undocumented immigrant, however, you are subject to possible deportation upon conviction for a variety of federal and state criminal offenses. For example, a person admitted to the United States as a refugee under a grant of asylum… Read More »