A convicted Polk County felon allegedly cut off his electronic monitoring bracelet, ignored his probation sentence and skipped town. The Court convicted the defendant, 42-year old Manuel Lopez, of aggravated stalking of a fourteen year old victim in 2008. Lopez was ordered to serve a sentence of probation, house arrest and wear an electronic monitoring ankle bracelet.
The defendant failed to appear at a hearing this week and the authorities later discovered that the electronic monitoring bracelet had been tampered with. Officers believe that Lopez is on the run with his 73-year old father. The men were last seen by neighbors leaving the home that they shared together.
Authorities have located the defendant's abandoned vehicle. The police have reason to believe that Lopez is hiding in or around the Nashville, Tennessee area. When found, the defendant will likely face additional criminal charges for violating probation. As of this time, Lopez is still at large.
Facing criminal charges is a difficult and stressful experience. A defendant is forced to make crucial and life changing decisions under such tense circumstances. You need a knowledgeable Tampa defense lawyer to fight for your rights.
If you or a loved one has been charged with a criminal offense, contact a reputable Tampa criminal defense attorney for a review of your case. Musca Law has over 100 years of combined legal experience with a proven successful case track record. We have convenient offices located across the State of Florida and are proud to defend clients while they go through a challenging time in their life. Contact the attorneys at Musca Law for a free, comprehensive review of your case.
