Jacksonville Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog

Yesterday, two robbery suspects were arrested in connection with the armed robbery of a store in Jacksonville, Florida. Edward Littleon, age 22, and Frederick Jennings, age 17, are being held in Duval County, Florida. News4jax.com has reported that the Jacksonville Criminal Defendants are accused of stealing "money from the Family Dollar cash office and [making] the employees lie on the floor." An off-duty officer, G.W. Germann, confronted the two suspected robbers. Jacksonville police have reported that "Germann shot [Littleton] in the shoulder, because he was carrying an AK-47 assault rifle," and "Jennings was armed with a loaded revolver."

Although the Jacksonville Juvenile Robbery Defendant, Jennings, is only 17 years-old, he will likely be charged as an adult, due to the severity of the crime, and his co-defendant will be charged in adult criminal court. Since they both were armed with firearms, they are facing the Florida 10-20-Life Statute. Therefore, they are facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in the Florida State Prison. However, a Youthful Offender Sentence may be available, depending on the circumstances.

Yesterday, a man robbed a Walgreen's Pharmacy in St. Augustine, Florida. According to the Florida Times Union, he walked in to the store's pharmacy and handed the pharmacist a note demanding medications, threatening him if he didn't comply. He lifted his shirt to show a handgun tucked in his belt, so the pharmacist complied with the demand, and the man left.

When people think of an Armed Robbery in St. Augustine, Florida, a man with a ski mask, pointing a gun in a gas station often comes to mind. This "traditional" armed robbery is not always the case. As in the St. Augustine Walgreen's robbery, an armed robbery can be less aggressive. However, the penalties are just as heavy. Merely carrying a firearm during the commission of a robbery subjects the robber to Florida's 10-20-Life Statute.

On Thanksgiving morning, Jacksonville resident, Kyle Davis, witnessed a burglary occurring at his next door neighbor's house. He confronted the burglar and discovered that the burglar was armed with a gun. Burglary to a Dwelling that is in unoccupied is a second degree felony in Jacksonville, Florida. Under the Florida sentencing guidelines, this crime will usually carry a minimum guideline of 21 months in Florida State Prison or higher. Due to the fact that the burglar was armed with a gun, this offense will carry a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years in prison.

If you have been charged with burglary, contact a Jacksonville Burglary Attorney.

To read more about this story, visit News4Jax.

A Jacksonville criminal sentence can be concurrent or consecutive. A concurrent sentence it one that runs at the same time as another. Consecutive sentences run one after another. For example, imagine a Jacksonville criminal defendant is convicted of aggravated battery and possession of marijuana. She is sentenced to one year in the Duval County jail on each charge. If her sentence is concurrent, she will serve a total of one year, less any gain time. If she is sentenced to consecutive time, she will serve a total of two years in jail (one year for each charge).

Obviously, a Jacksonville criminal defendant in this situation would seek concurrent sentences. However, there are offenses that may mandate consecutive sentences, such at the 10-20-Life Statute.

Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon is a second degree felony in Jacksonville, Florida. As a second degree felony, this crime is punishable by up to 15 years in Florida State Prison. In a Jacksonville Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon Case, it is important to distinguish wether the defendant was in actual or constructive possession of the firearm. If the Jacksonville criminal defendant is in actual possession, there is a minimum mandatory prison term of three years, pursuant to Florida Statute 775.087 (Florida's 10-20-Life Law). If the Jacksonville criminal defendant is in constructive possession of the firearm, this minimum mandatory sentence does not apply.

In Jacksonville, Florida, a defendant that commits certain crimes while using a firearm. In 1999, Florida enacted the 10-20-Life Law. The 10-20-Life statute mandates the following minimum mandatory sentences:

1. 10 years in prison for certain felonies, or attempted felonies, in which the offender possesses a firearm or destructive device;
2. 20 years in prison if the firearm is discharged; and
3. 25 years to Life in prison if someone is injured or killed.

The Florida 10-20-Life Law requires that a felon found in possession of firearm serve a minimum 3 year prison term. Any 10-20-Life Sentence is to be served consecutively to any additional prison term.

If you have been charged with a crime in Jacksonville, contact a Jacksonville Criminal Lawyer.

See the Department of Corrections website for statistics.

On Saturday night, December 19, 2009, Jacksonville police officers found Jacksonville resident, Corey Formey, dead in his home near 103rd Street. Two suspects have been arrested in connection with this case. Jerry Drake was arrested for the murder, while Valorie Grant is being charged as an accessory after the fact. Both defendants lived in Chase Ridge Apartments, the same apartment complex as Mr. Formey.

Police believe that the Mr. Drake committed the Jacksonville home invasion armed robbery in order to obtain drugs and money. According to Jacksonville media reports, Mr. Formey was a drug dealer. His apartment was found in disarray, so it is likely that a struggle may have occurred, or the culprit searched the home for drugs and money.

Mr. Drake will be charged with first degree murder in Jacksonville, Florida, because the murder was committed while engaged in a robbery. According to Florida Statute Section 782.04, this is a capital felony punishable by death or life in prison. If Mr. Drake used of a firearm, he will be subject to Florida's 10-20-Life Statute, resulting in a minimum mandatory sentence of life in prison. Since Ms. Grant is charged an accessory after the fact for first-degree murder, she will be charged with a first-degree felony, pursuant to Florida Statute Section 777.03. She can receive up to thirty years in Florida State Prison.