Attorney Successfully Gets Charges Dropped
Florida’s DUI penalties are some of the strictest in the nation. Those arrested for DUIs face suspensions of their driver’s licenses, fines and jail time. As such, false DUI-arrests are no joking matter, which is why the State Attorney’s Office just dropped DUI charges against 12 drivers.
The veracity of the charges against the drivers was cast into doubt after the officer that made the arrests was fired. The Tampa Bay Times reports that Sergeant Ray Fernandez was released after being involved in a DUI scandal that attempted to set up an attorney.
A rival law-firm sent a paralegal to buy the unfortunate attorney drinks and pressure him into driving a few blocks. Once he got into the car, the law firm tipped off Fernandez, who made the arrest.
The scandal was so serious that it warranted attention from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Also, thanks to pressure from an experienced DUI-lawyer, the State Attorney’s Office no longer could use Fernandez as a witness, which led to the charges being dropped.
This Was Not The First DUI Setup
Drinking while driving is a very costly offense. Those convicted of the crime will spend the rest of their lives with permanent criminal-records, making it difficult to find or maintain jobs.
It also leads to higher insurance premiums. That is what makes cases like Fernandez’s so heinous. If the entrapment had gone unnoticed, the victim likely would be in jail.
If you believe that you have been the victim of a DUI setup or that you have been mistakenly arrested for DUI, it’s important to find a defense attorney that you can trust. Choosing the right lawyer could be the difference between going to jail and having the charges dropped.
At the Law Offices of Michael Raheb, we are dedicated to keeping innocent people out of jail. To schedule a consultation, Call Us At 866-949-0888 Today!
The DUI Setup Scandal Worsens
After investigators found evidence of the setup, Fernandez attempted to cover it up by lying about where he got the tip and deleting all record of his communications with the law firm. After the case broke, he claimed that he accidentally deleted the text messages.
A DUI attorney for one of the defendants whose case was dismissed said that there was no way Fernandez could have taken the stand and have been believed. He also said that if the State Attorney’s Office had pursued the case, it would have been a “three-ring circus.”
If you live in the Fort Myers area and find yourself in need of DUI representation, help is just one call away. Call Us At 866-949-0888 Today!
