Tampa Criminal Lawyer Blog

James W. Bruce, a 73-year-old grandfather, was arrested last Thursday on three counts of bank robbery.  Bruce told deputies that he that he needed to pay his mortgage.  This most recent arrest is just one in a recent "crime wave" by senior citizens in the Tampa area, which has left some puzzled.  During the last two months, 29 people over the age of 70 and 42 people from ages 66-70 have been arrested.  Even more surprising, these offenses are not minor traffic violations but include domestic battery [two cases], robbery [two cases], grand theft [three cases], aggravated assault and driving under the influence [five cases].

"We always assume age leads to wisdom but that is not necessarily the case," said Musca.  "Such a large number of arrests of senior citizens might strike one as strange at first blush," Musca explained, "but when the economy is bad and unemployment is high, desperation can set in."  Musca also pointed out that even spikes in cases of DUI and domestic violence are not unusual during stressful economic times.

Just last month, Pasco Sheriff's deputies charged Harold Van Horn, a 66 year-old-man, of robbing three banks.  According to the reports, Van Horn had been drifting between various hotels along U.S. 19, when he robbed a Regions Bank twice and a Fifth Third Bank.  Van Horn told deputies that he traveled to Florida when he lost his job in Ohio and turned to robbing banks to support himself.

There are other recent examples of this unusual trend.  Mary Joan Webb, age 77, was arrested and charged in December with grand theft for stealing $534 of merchandise from Macy's at Westshore Plaza.  In another incident, Lieutenant Johnson, age 73 and his wife, age 72, were recently charged with robbery using a firearm.  Johnson had no previous arrest record in Florida according to state records.  In yet another example, Pasco County sheriff's deputies arrested and charged Milo Dakic, age 73, with selling a $20,000 excavator that he did not own.

Continue reading "Attorney Musca Discusses Senior Citizen "Crime Spree" ! " »

In a bizarre rampage, Andre Rodne Watkins was arrested after a carjacking and shooting rampage that left one person dead, two people critically injured and Watkins in jail.  The rampage started when someone who had known Watkins for 5 years let Watkins in his F-150 pickup truck.  Once inside the vehicle, Watkins pulled a 45-caliber handgun from his waistband and ordered the driver to take him to Chadbourne Drive.  Alyssa Aracich who was in the backseat of her red Pontiac Sunfire was killed when Watkins arrived on the scene and started shooting at the car.  Two friends of Aracich who were also in the car fled.  Watkins gave chase and continued shooting but the friends escaped unharmed.

After shooting Aracich, Watkins forced the driver of the F-150 to take Watkins back to his car, which was parked at a 7-Eleven.  Watkins got in his Pontiac GTO drove to his house and switched cars getting into a 1999 Chevrolet Malibu.  Watkins drove to the home of Ariel Love and knocked on the door, but when Love answered the door, Watkins began shooting at him.  Love was shot and taken to St. Joseph's Hospital where he was listed in critical condition.

According to Deputies, Watkins then drove to a BP Gas Station on Linebaugh Avenue where he asked the clerk at the store for cigarettes but then without warning opened fire.  The clerk is also in critical condition at St Joseph's Hospital.  After shooting the store clerk, Watkins then drove to the home of Demetrius Jackson, who was in his front yard.  Watkins got out of his car and again began to open fire at Jackson, who fled and escaped without injury.

A Sheriff Deputy in an unmarked police car later recognized Watkins at a Marathon gas station.  Watkins was taken into custody but tried to resist according to the report.  Watkins faces numerous criminal charges including first-degree murder, carjacking, kidnapping and attempted first-degree murder.  He made his first appearance on Sunday.  Watkin's attorney said he had to impress on his client the importance of being calm and respectful in court.  John Musca, a Florida criminal defense attorney, said, "I was surprised to hear Watkins' attorney say that Watkins needed to remain in jail right now.  It is somewhat unusual for a defense attorney to take that position especially in a statement to the public."

Continue reading "Attorney Musca Comments on Shooting Rampage by Tampa Man Andre Rodne Watkins " »

Jeremy Lee Taff was arrested in the Tampa suburb of Clearwater and faces a federal felony interstate stalking charge while already fighting a fine and jail time on a misdemeanor conviction for harassing communications of the victim.  Court records show Taff and the victim attended the same high school in the 1990s. 

However, an affidavit of the victim indicates Taff's post graduation communications with her became annoying and then frightening in January and February of 2009.  The FBI filed an affidavit with emails from Taff including graphic descriptions of his desire to rape and sodomize the victim.  Taff will be brought back to Mobile, Alabama for a court appearance.  The U.S. Attorney's Office plans to present the case to the grand jury this month.  If he is convicted, Taff could be sentenced up to a maximum of 5 years in prison.

The woman originally sought an arrest warrant from the Daphne Police Department in March.  On October 5, Taff showed up at her home and said he wanted to take her picture.  Police arrested him later that day at a motel.  A Daphne municipal court found Taff guilty in November and sentenced him to six months in jail and a $500 fine.  Taff was out on bail while awaiting an appeal.

Taff has a history of legal and mental health problems.  According to Minnesota court records, Taff was convicted in 2003 of violating a restraining order and was sentenced to 60 days in jail, two years probation and an anger management program.  Taff pleaded guilty to making terrorists threats and was sentenced to three years probation and psychological counseling in 2005.  His probation was revoked in 2008 when he was sentenced to a year and a day in prison.  He was committed to a mental hospital by Minnesota courts for mental illness in 2004 and 2006.

Criminal charges for stalking, sexual assault, rape, internet solicitation and other sexual offenses can destroy your reputation and most importantly your future.   When charged with a criminal offense it is essential to have an experienced attorney on your side who will advocate aggressively for your rights.  At Musca Law, we believe that anyone accused of a crime deserves the strongest and most effective defense possible.  Contact Musca Law for an initial consultation, so we can provide you with the best possible outcome.

A public school was forced on modified lockdown, after a death threat was made towards one of the students, by the student's father.

The suspect had been served with a domestic violence injunction that morning by the county sheriff's office.
 
The injunction resulted in a physical confrontation with the student's mother as the suspect was waiting for the mother to show up for work. He then tried to force her into his vehicle by threat of gun.  The woman struggled and managed to escape.  The suspect fled the scene however a threat was made that he was going to kill his son.  This threat led to a modified lockdown on the school.

After tracking down a relative of the suspect, the police set up surveillance at the relative's home, where an arrest of the suspect was made.  He now faces charges of aggravated assault with a firearm, battery, tampering with a witness, and violation of an injunction.

Although attorneys at Musca Law do not condone domestic violence, they understand that as professional criminal defense attorneys, the need to protect the rights of persons who are accused or have committed acts of physical abuse.  Musca Law represents individuals in criminal domestic violence cases.

As with any criminal case, Musca Law conducts a thorough investigation of the facts.  They work with medical and psychological experts to gain a clear understanding of the dynamics of the family system involved.

If you have been charged with spousal abuse, child abuse, sexual assault, injunction violation, stalking, harassment or internet threats, contact Musca Law, a full service criminal defense firm that defends those accused of domestic violence crimes.

A sheriff's deputy with an exemplary record has been charged with the sexual assault of a woman that he had arrested. The woman was handcuffed and arrested after her license plate number had been phoned into police concerning a hit and run accident.

In a report made by investigators the deputy forced the woman to have sex with him in exchange for her release.

The deputy drove the woman down a dead end road, released the handcuffs, where a sexual act was performed.  The woman was later taken to her home where she immediately reported the incident to the police.

After an investigation into the incident the deputy was charged with sexual battery and placed on administrative leave without pay.

In comments made by the sheriff's department, "we are disgusted by this betrayal of public trust", "his actions reflect on every other man and woman who wears a uniform", "we cannot escape the consequences of one individual's actions".

Never mind a conviction, when someone is charged with a sex crime their life will not be the same again.  This is made clear by the comments made from the sheriff's department.   Additionally, a conviction of a sex crime requires that a person register permanently on the sex offender's registry, which is viewable to the public.

If you or someone that you know has been charged with a sex crime, you will need to retain an aggressive and experienced criminal defense attorney.  The consequences of these charges can be life-altering, where experienced legal representation is needed.

The Law Offices of Musca Law are fully prepared to handle your sex crime case.  As a leading Florida criminal defense law firm, we will provide you the legal representation that you need to fight your sex crime charges
                                                                                                                                                 

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A Riverview suspect involved in a police chase is in custody and faces a laundry list of felony charges against officers. Deputies were contacted after the defendant, 23-year old Temoi K. Ford, showed up at the mother of his child's home. A restraining order had previously been put into place to keep Ford away from the premises. When the police arrived, the defendant attempted to flee the scene.

He used his vehicle to purposely and repeatedly strike three separate police patrol cars. Ford drove recklessly and ran several stop signs in an effort to escape arrest. Officers eventually stopped the suspect and he now faces very serious felony crimes.

Ford is charged with attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, four counts of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, aggravated stalking, aggravated fleeing to elude and possession of marijuana. The Court has yet to set bail. Ford remains behind bars at the Falkenburg Road Jail.

Continue reading "Man Faces Life in Prison after Violent Police Chase" »

Hillsborough County Sherriff's Office took a suspect into custody after he released two pit bulls on a deputy. The officer, Richard Burton, responded to the scene of a noise complaint. The suspect, Juan David Delvalle, came out of the home holding the collar of a pit bull. He released the dog onto Burton commanding it to attack and then he fled back inside the home. The officer used his taser as self defense against the dog.

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An officer from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office arrested 27-year old Jose Saez, after he allegedly beat another man with an 8-foot long flag pole. Saez is accused of bringing the flag pole to the victim's home with intent on using it as a weapon. It is unknown at this time what initially caused the dispute between the men.

Saez allegedly struck the victim several times in the head with the metal flag pole, knocking him to the ground unconscious. The defendant is also accused of kicking and stomping on the victim's head while he lied on the ground motionless. Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene. A witness identified the defendant as the perpetrator and was found a block away from the attack. Saez faces charges of felony battery and could be sentenced up to 5 years in prison if he is convicted. The victim, whose identity has not been released, is being treated for serious head injuries at Tampa General Hospital.

 

Continue reading "Tampa Man Charged with Felony Battery after allegedly Beating Victim with Flag Pole " »

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