November 7, 2012
Possession of Marijuana Charges Completely Dismissed
Posted By 1 800 FIGHT IT
12-CM-015529 – Hillsborough County – October 2012 (Possession of Marijuana case)
Defendant, a passenger in a vehicle, was charged with Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Paraphernalia after Tampa police officers observed the vehicle he was traveling in make an illegal turn in an abandoned home site. In court, Stephen Higgins presented argument to the state attorney office regarding an illegal stop of the vehicle based on the officer’s hunch, constructive possession of the marijuana as well as the location the marijuana was found and got the charges dismissed.…
July 11, 2012
DUI Charges Completely Dismissed
Posted By 1 800 FIGHT IT
May 2012 – 4602-GSH – Hillsborough County
Witnesses in the blue arrival terminal of Tampa International Airport alerted Tampa Police officers to a vehicle defendant was operating. Based on the witnesses’ observations, they believed defendant was impaired. Officers arrived observing signs of impairment. Officers arrived and made contact with defendant, noting bloodshot, watery eyes and erratic statements. Defendant was cooperative throughout the incident and agreed to perform field sobriety exercises. After the exercises, he was arrested, provided samples of .000 and .000 and also provide a urine sample. He retained Finebloom, Haenel & Higgins, who after presenting the defenses to the state attorney, were able to get all charges dropped.…
July 11, 2012
DUI Reduced to Reckless Driving & No conviction on Possession of Marijuana Charges
Posted By 1 800 FIGHT IT
May 2012 – CTC113452WFCANC – Pinellas County
Defendant was stopped by Clearwater Police Department for flashing her lights and having dark tint. Officer’s noticed an odor of alcohol, bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. They asked her to perform field sobriety exercises and she agreed. At the conclusion of the exercises, she was arrested and provided breath samples of .000 and .000. Officers also searched her car and found marijuana. Facing charges of DUI and Possession of Marijuana, Stephen Higgins strategized a defense regarding the stop of defendant’s vehicle, the lack of physical evidence and her good performance on video and got the DUI reduced to Reckless Driving and no conviction on the Possession of Marijuana.…
May 7, 2012
DUI Charge Completely Dismissed due to Lack of Probable Cause
Posted By 1 800 FIGHT IT
2011 CT 003652
Manatee County
The Defendant was accused of running a red light and causing an accident. Manatee county Sheriff arrived on the scene and noticed a few beer cans around the accident location and smelled alcohol on the defendant. The Deputy began a DUI investigation and subsequently arrested the Defendant for DUI. The Defendant blew a .059 under the legal limit. However, the Deputy then asked for the Defendant to provide a urine sample. The urine result came back positive for marijuana. Darren Finebloom requested depositions of the arresting officer and showed conclusively that the Officer had no probable cause to request a urine sample. …
January 14, 2012
After Drug Search Is Challenged Successfully, Marijuana Trafficking Charges Dropped Against Client
Posted By 1 800 FIGHT IT
2009
Case CF 14482 NC
Charge: Marijuana Trafficking
Result: Charges Dropped
The defendant in this case was facing a mandatory jail sentence of three years for trafficking in 25-200 pounds of marijuana. He was also charged with manufacture of a controlled substance, resisting an officer without violence and possession of drug paraphernalia. Darren Finebloom took the case and after investigating and working with his client, Darren filed a Motion to Suppress due to an illegal search and seizure. The court granted the motion stating that there was insufficient evidence that exigent circumstances existed to allow the police to search the defendant’s residence without a warrant.…
December 21, 2011
Driving Under the Influence of Drugs DUI Charge Reduced
Posted By 1 800 FIGHT IT
NO CONVICTION (JUNE 2009)
A Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Deputy arrived on the scene of an accident and learned from witnesses that defendant was operating a vehicle at the time of the accident. Deputies approached the defendant and suspected that he may be impaired. Defendant failed Field Sobriety Exercises and was arrested. At the jail, defendant provided a breath sample, which indicated no alcohol in his system (.000). Defendant provided a urine sample which tested positive for illegal substances. Despite the video surveillance indicating impairment as well as positive urine results, Stephen Higgins was able to get the charge amended to Reckless Driving with no conviction.…
December 21, 2011
SARASOTA COUNTY TRAFFICKING IN OXYCODONE > 4 GRAMS
Posted By 1 800 FIGHT IT
SARASOTA COUNTY TRAFFICKING IN OXYCODONE 4 GRAMS 2007CF006486NC
The Defendant was a 67 year old with no prior record. He was involved in a major car accident and just recovering from triple bypass surgery. A friend made advances to get him to sell her oxycodone of which the Defendant was prescribed for his pain. She eventually convinced him to sell her a trafficking amount of oxycodone and the Defendant was arrested and faced a 3yr minimum mandatory prison sentence. Darren Finebloom, after lengthy negotiations with the State attorney’s office, was able to get the charge reduced and the Defendant was given a probationary sentence.…
November 13, 2011
DUI Charge Reduced To Reckless Driving After Blood Draw Was Challenged
Posted By 1 800 FIGHT IT
DUI Charge Reduced To Reckless Driving After Blood Draw Was Challenged
2009 CT 015280 SC
Our client was involved in a single vehicle accident. Police arrived on the scene while the Defendant was in the back of an ambulance. The Police requested a blood draw prior to getting to the hospital to which the Defendant agreed. The blood came back positive for marijuana and controlled substances. Darren Finebloom filed a motion to suppress the blood results because the police did not lawfully request a blood test as the Defendant was not at the hospital for treatment. The State agreed to reduced the DUI charge to Reckless Driving and no conviction.…
November 13, 2011
Felony Drug Possession Reduced to Misdemeanor Charge
Posted By 1 800 FIGHT IT
Felony Drug Possession Reduced to Misdemeanor Charge
Case# 10-000378CF
Our client was stopped for a traffic infraction. According to the police he was acting nervous and suspicious. The police searched his vehicle and found 528 grams of Marijuana and a shotgun. AnneMarie Rizzo got involved and began investigating the case on behalf of her client. After intense negotiations with the Prosecutor AnneMarie was able to convince the Prosecutor to reduce the felony drug charges to Possession of Marijuana under 20 grams, a misdemeanor. Additionally, AnneMarie was able to keep her client from having to serve any time in jail and the Court Withheld Adjudication, meaning no conviction and saving her client from losing his license for 2 years.…
November 13, 2011
Manatee County DUI Drug Case Dropped Before Trial
Posted By 1 800 FIGHT IT
Manatee County DUI Drug Case Dropped Before Trial
State v. J.W. (Manatee) 2010 CF 002819
The Defendant was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and DUI. Darren Finebloom immediately began to investigate and prepare his defense. It turns out no urine sample was requested and no evaluation was done of the Defendant for impairment by a controlled substance. Furthermore the controlled substance found in the car belonged to another party with a valid prescription. This information was revealed to the State and all DUI and drug charges were dropped.…
