Jacksonville Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog

When I was a child, I remember my dad talking about the oil crisis of the 1970s. He talked about people using a tube to siphon gas from other vehicles. In fact, people would install gas guards in order to prevent this from occurring. Therefore, when I think about some stealing gas in Jacksonville, Florida, I think of gas siphoning or gas and go (driving off without paying for gas). Siphoning gas is theft. If a person were to siphon gas, he or she would only be able to take an amount that would establish grounds for a petit theft. Jacksonville Petit Theft and driving off without paying for gas are both misdemeanors.

With Jacksonville Theft crimes, the higher the dollar amount stolen, the more serious the crime. If the dollar amount $300 or more, the crime is a felony. A felony gas theft occurred this week in Jacksonville, Jacksonville.com reports that 1,300 gallons of gasoline were stolen “from First Coast Shell at Greeland Avenue at Ramona Boulevard in Jacksonville. Station operators called in the theft at 4:05 p.m. Tuesday, reporting that $5,200 worth of gas was taken sometime after 10 p.m. the night before.” If the perpetrator is caught, he will certainly be facing a Jacksonville Felony Theft Charge.

Jacksonville teen, Michael Beauregard, was arrested and charged with Jacksonville Leaving the Scene of an Accident involving death. According to media reports, the accident occurred early Saturday morning. Monica Moon was returning from the store, when a truck hit her. Her fiance, David Lopez, witnessed the Jacksonville hit and run and stated that the driver of the truck stayed for approximately two minutes and then left the scene. Moon died at the scene. Police obtained a warrant and Beauregard was arrested yesterday.

If a bond has not already been set in the warrant, one will be set today at Beauregard’s Jacksonville bond hearing. His Jacksonville Criminal Defense Lawyer will need to build a defense immediately. He is likely facing a Florida prison sentence.

Michael Fiorelli was arrested in Jacksonville, Florida for voyeurism and violation of his probation. Employees of a Jacksonville Kohl’s store caught Fiorelli going in the dressing room of the women’s inmates department. They were able to obtain his license plate number, and they gave this to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. Thereafter, a woman was in the ladies’ restroom at the Marriott when “all of a sudden, she heard what sounded like someone standing on and slipping off of the toilet seat in the stall next to her… the man ran out of the bathroom.” The woman was able to obtain the man’s license plate number. (News4Jax)

The police contacted Fiorelli’s Jacksonville probation officer and confirmed that he was at the Marriott. He was arrested for Jacksonville Voyeurism in 2004 and 2007. In the 2007 case, he was placed on felony probation. Due to this 2011 Jacksonville arrest, he is also facing a violation of his probation along with the new felony charges.

Last July, St. Johns County Florida judge, John Alexander, voiced his concerns about the Duval County Juvenile Detention Center. A St. Johns County boy was being held at the Center on charges of drug paraphernalia possession and violation of probation. The boy was attack by two other juvenile detainees. Judge Alexander was never notified of the attack. Judge Alexander saw “this as tangible proof that the department’s closing of the St. Johns County juvenile detention facility last year was a mistake, and that he’d predicted this would happen. In 2009, the St. Johns County Detention Center closed, and St. Johns County Juveniles were transported to and from the Duval County Juvenile Detention Center for court proceedings. This was due to Florida’s State budget cuts (Jacksonville.com).

If you have questions about a St. Johns or Duval County Juvenile Case, contact a St. Johns County Juvenile Attorney.

The Duval County Juvenile Detention Center is a facility that holds juveniles that are court ordered to secured detention while they await a disposition in their cases. The facility holds a variety of juveniles. Florida Statute Section 985.255 lists the criteria required for detention of a juvenile, and Section 985.26 sets forth the length of detention. Secured detention is only to be used when it is completely necessary. Indeed, “the Legislature intends that detention care, in addition to providing safe and secure custody, will promote the health and well-being of the children committed.” Fla. Stat. 985.02 (2010). The Duval County Juvenile Detention Center’s website claims that their “facility provides supervision of youth in a safe, secure and humane environment.” However, there have been contradictory allegations. In particular, a St. John’s County Florida judge voiced his opinion about the practices of the Duval County Juvenile Detention Center last year.