Police arrested a Florida teacher, Valerie Elaine Sabarese, for possession and delivery of heroine and crack cocaine. Hillsborough County Police claim that she sold undercover detectives the illegal drugs at a convenience store.
In Florida, sale of a controlled substance, such as cocaine and heroine, is a second degree felony and can result in a maximum of 15 years in Florida State Prison. However, Ms. Sabarese’s case has another obstacle to overcome. Florida Law increases the penalty for sale of a controlled substance if it is within 1,000 feet of a convenience store. In that situation, the sale of cocaine and heroine is a first degree felony and is punishable by up to 30 years in Florida State Prison.
Although this crime occurred in West Florida, the law is the same for the entire state, including Jacksonville, Florida. As a Jacksonville Florida Drug Crime Attorney, I have handled many cases involving sale of cocaine and other controlled substances. In some cases, the criminal defendant is not guilty of the offense, and there may be an issue of mistaken identity. In other cases, the criminal defendant may have sold the drugs due to an excessive drug problem. A Jacksonville Florida Drug Crime Lawyer understands that each case is different and requires special attention.