Man Guilty of 3 Counts of Florida BUI Manslaughter Faces 45 Years in Prison

An Okaloosa County, Florida jury found a man guilty last Thursday of 3 counts of BUI (Boating Under the Influence) manslaughter. No sentencing date has been set, because he still faces 5 misdemeanor charges related to the crash. Authorities say the man’s blood-alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit on September 4, 2009 when he crashed his boat into another vessel carrying 4 people, 3 of whom were killed. The three people killed were the month, father, and aunt of the skipper of a 20′ center console.

The USCG “Tiger Team” investigator, Augusto (Kiko) Villalon, made a full report of the accident for the Coast Guard’s Office of Boating Safety. This report was also given the jury which spent less than two hours coming to a guilty verdict on three counts of manslaughter. BoatTEST.com has obtained a copy of Mr. Villalon’s report report.

We are publishing the report in its entirety to give readers a clear idea of the responsibilities of boaters when encountering another vessel. Not only are the facts of this tragic accident sobering, but so are the Rules of the Road requirements for every boater. They are rules not to be taken lightly at any time.

If you have been accused of BUI, DUI or a related criminal offense in Charlotte County or elsewhere in Florida we may be able to help you. Call 941-916-3627 to schedule a free consultation with 1 of our Florida BUI lawyers. The soon you contact us, the better.

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Florida WR Frankie Hammond loses scholarship after DUI arrest

Florida WR Frankie Hammond has lost his scholarship after his DUI arrest in June but can eventually earn his way back on the team, coach Urban Meyer said.

Hammond, a rising redshirt sophomore, was arrested after police found two open bottles of Crown Royal whiskey in his car. His blood alcohol level well exceeded the legal limit.

Meyer said Hammond will lose playing time and will be kicked off the team should he land in trouble again.

“If he tries to come back and play, he’ll have to pay his own way and earn his spot,” Meyer said.

Have you been arrested for DUI in Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte or elsewhere in Charlotte County? If you have been and would like to talk to a lawyer about your options we can help you. Call 941-916-3627 to schedule a free and confidential consultation with a Port Charlotte Drunk Driving Lawyer at our firm.

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Man Arrested for Drug Possession at DUI Court Appearance

Port Charlotte Man Arrested on Drug Charges After DUI Court Appearance

PUNTA GORDA – A Charlotte County sheriff’s detective arrested a Port Charlotte man in the Charlotte County Justice Center on drug charges today after he appeared in court for a DUI case.

The suspect, 24, of Fourwinds Street, was arrested after he was searched at the courthouse and deputies reportedly found a plastic bag with Oxycodone pills.

Narcotics detectives planned to arrest him for drug dealing in connection with two undercover drug deals that allegedly took place at the suspect’s home. Deputies said that on Jan. 5, 25 Roxicodone pills were purchased for $300, and 113 grams of marijuana were bought for $325 on Jan. 14.

The suspect was charged with the sale and delivery of Roxicodone and possession of Roxicodone, sale and delivery of marijuana, possession of over 20 grams of marijuana, and possession of Oxycodone, all felony charges. He was also charged with three counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.

The suspect was being held at the Charlotte County Jail.

If you have been charged with a DUI or other crime such as drug possession or distribution in Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda or elsewhere in Florida we can fight for your constitutional rights. To exactly learn how we can apply our legal expertise to your case contact us for a free and confidential consultation:

Charlotte County Office
Bank of America Building
126 E. Olympia Ave., Suite 402
Punta Gorda, FL 33950
Phone: 941-916-3627 – Phones Answered 24/7
Free Consultation!

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WTSP: What’s that costing you? State spends millions on DUI education

Tallahassee, Florida — Teenage drunk drivers are a major concern because The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of youth deaths, aged 15 to 20 years.

In the United States, 12.8 percent of all fatal traffic crashes were alcohol-related, and 40 percent of that number involved teens driving while drinking alcohol. NHTSA told the state of Florida it has to do more to combat the problem.

Marianne Trussell, the chief safety officer for the Florida Department of Transportation, says one of the things NHTSA told the state to do is have more outreach programs to teens and parents.

And that’s a reason Trussell approved state funding for a refrigerator magnet, which is sent to the parents of 16, 18 and 21-year-olds on their birthdays.

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Miami Dolphins’ Brian Hartline may face charge of leaving accident scene

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Brian Hartline could face charges of leaving the scene of an accident with property damage after a truck registered to him was involved in a predawn July 3 wreck.

According to the official crash report, Florida Highway Patrol investigators still don’t know who was driving the Ford registered to Hartline that hit a broken down Cadillac Escalade parked on the right shoulder of Interstate 595 around 4:37 a.m.

They don’t know if there were any injuries, although a man identifying himself as Hartline’s attorney told FHP by phone that Hartline was uninjured.

What they do know, according to the accident report, is that the Ford is registered to Hartline; nobody reported the accident; nobody was present when troopers arrived; and Hartline still hasn’t made contact with FHP to talk about the accident.

When an FHP trooper called Hartline’s home, the report said, a guest told them Hartline wasn’t home and she didn’t know when he would be back. The guest gave the number of Hartline’s wife, Lindsay, who was in California. Troopers called and left a message on her cellphone. The person claiming to be Hartline’s attorney called in response to that message.

Whoever was driving the car could be cited for failure to report an accident and leaving the scene of an accident involving property damage. On the crash report, the estimated damages were $10,000 to Hartline’s vehicle and $22,000 to the Escalade.

An entry on Hartline’s Twitter account said Monday night that the Ohio native is back in his home state. Another entry said he was in California’s Napa Valley on June 29. There’s no direct reference to him returning to South Florida from California.

But Hartline wrote July 5 on Twitter that he was “waiting for my dude to get into town” then on July 6 that he and a friend were “starting our 1,400-mile trip to Ohio.” Hartline’s hometown of Canton is 1,177 miles from his Fort Lauderdale home. Northern California is 2,500 miles from Canton.

Calls to Hartline’s agent, Neil Cornish, were not returned. As of Tuesday afternoon, the Dolphins had no comment.

From looking at the cars and the marks on the cars, highway, shoulder and adjacent grass, the FHP trooper on the scene formed this accident report:

While going east on I-595 at approximately 65 mph (at the posted speed limit), on the airport side of I-95, Hartline’s Ford drifted onto the right shoulder. The Escalade was on the shoulder, legally parked, according to the report. Hartline’s Ford hit the Escalade, right front to left rear. The Ford then kept going about 200 yards before stopping. Meanwhile, the Escalade eventually spun onto the grass shoulder, facing north when it stopped.

This is the fifth known time this offseason that a Dolphins player’s name has wound up on a police report as a possible offender.

Running back Ronnie Brown and cornerback Will Allen were arrested on DUI charges, and defensive linemen Tony McDaniel and Phillip Merling were arrested on domestic-violence charges.

Hartline had a solid rookie season with 31 catches for 506 yards and three touchdowns. His average of 16.3 yards per catch led the team, and he contributed on special teams. He is expected to compete for the starting wide receiver spot opposite offseason acquisition Brandon Marshall.

Have you been arrested for leaving the scene of an accident or other criminal offense in Florida? If so, contact our Punta Gorda criminal defense lawyers for free consultation.

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Boca Man Crashes Into Home With Family, Charged With DUI

A mix of alcohol and jealous rage led a Boca Raton man to smash an SUV into his home on July Fourth while his wife and children were inside, according to police.

Police arrived in the 800 block of Southwest Ninth Avenue on Sunday night to find the home’s front door, window and wall in pieces, according to an arrest report. A damaged silver Mercury SUV was parked haphazardly in the driveway.

Inside was the suspect, 48, sat on the couch. His wife was in the bathroom crying hysterically.

“Put me in cuffs, take me to jail, let’s go,” the suspect allegedly told police, according to a police report.

The suspect was arrested on charges of DUI property damage, aggravated assault and criminal mischief, records show.
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Man Sentenced to 1 Year and 1 Day for Marijuana Related Crash

A Williston man who was convicted of vehicular manslaughter in the 2008 death of a Gainesville teen will serve a year and a day in prison followed by four years probation for the fatal crash.

The defendant ,23, entered a no contest plea to the charge on Thursday, records at the Alachua County courthouse show.

Killed in the crash was a 19 year old man. The wreck occurred on Interstate 75 on the night of Oct. 23, 2008.

The defendant was arrested for DUI manslaughter in July 2009 after a warrant was issued for his arrest, the Florida Highway Patrol reported.

Investigators alleged the defendant was impaired by marijuana at the time of the wreck.

The crash happened in the southbound lanes of I-75 at the Newberry Road interchange at about 11:15 p.m., according to FHP.

The defendant had been headed south in the interstate’s left lane where the victim’s 2001 Mitsubishi four-door was on its roof as a result of a previous crash. Officers accused the defendant of failing to notice the victim’s car and hitting it on the right side.

The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. The defendant was seriously injured and taken to Shands at the University of Florida. Both motorists were wearing seat belts at the time.

The defendant will receive credit for two days time served in jail, court records show.

Are you facing criminal charges in Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte or elsewhere in Charlotte County, FL? If so, you need legal representation to protect your rights! Call 941-916-3627 to schedule your free consultation with a Punta Gorda criminal defense attorney now.

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Gator WR Hammond may miss at least a game for DUI arrest

It’s been roughly three weeks since Frankie Hammond was pulled over during an alleged Crown Royal-fueled drive and hit with a drunk driving charge.

Almost immediately, Hammond was indefinitely suspended by head coach Urban Meyer, but little else has been reported.  Until now, of course.

According to ESPN.com’s UF website GatorCountry.com,– pay-per-view site, so you’re warned if you want to click the link that follows — part of Hammond’s punishment could include a one- or two-game suspension based on what the site is hearing.

While Hammond had just four receptions for 57 yards and a touchdown in 2009, he’s being counted on to be a significant contributor in the Gators’ passing game in 2010.

Even if the extreme of the reports are correct, Hammond would “only” miss games against Miami of Ohio and South Florida.  UF will open SEC play the week after the USF game against Tennessee.

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Sopranos Star Charged with Tampa DUI

Actor Joseph Gannascoli, who appeared in the TV series “The Sopranos,” has been arrested on a DUI charge in Tampa.

According to jail records, Tampa police arrested 51-year-old Gannascoli early Friday morning. He has posted $500 bond and was expected to be released from Hillsborough County jail later Friday. It is unclear if he already has an attorney.

Gannascoli, of East Rockaway, N.Y., played the character Vito Spatafore on the HBO drama “The Sopranos.” In the series, Gannascoli’s character was a mobster who was killed because he was gay.

Been arrested for DUI in Tampa?

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Tractor-Trailer Driver Charged with 2 Counts of DUI

A Florida tractor-trailer driver has been arrested and charged with two counts of driving under the influence after he almost ran other vehicles off the road, troopers said.The Florida Highway Patrol said the suspect, 51, was pulled over after they witnessed the truck drifting over all three northbound lanes of Interstate 75 in Alachua County. The suspect allegedly said he drank a beer while driving to stay awake.

This charge could easily cause this man to lose his job. As you may know there are tighter penalties for DUI while driving a commercial vehicle. However, with the right strategy nearly every drunk driving conviction is avoidable.

Been charged with drunk driving in FL? Feel free to contact our Punta Gorda DUI lawyers for a free consultation:

Charlotte County Office
Bank of America Building
126 E. Olympia Ave., Suite 402
Punta Gorda, FL 33950
Phone: 941-916-3627