DUI & Criminal Division

RECENT COURT VICTORIES

To protect our clients privacy, incomplete case numbers are provided.

Case Summary

Date: 06/05/2023
Case #: 2023CTXX7 – DUI Dismissed
Charge: DUI
DUI
Our client was charged with one count of driving under the influence in Bradford County. When speaking with the client he voiced concerns about the procedure the officers followed while executing the DUI investigation. Our Gainesville office filed on the case, and at the same time demanded the evidence  the State possessed. The State didn't provide the evidence but what they did do was file a no information. CASE CLOSED!

Case Summary

Date: 05/25/2023
Case #: 2023mm######### – Battery Case Dismissed
Charge: Battery
Felony/Other
The client was involved in a domestic dispute with his wife that became physical.  Both the wife and the client were charged with battery. The firm was hired for the case and immediately contacted the state attorneys office to inform them that because there was no clear aggressor in the case that both defendants could claim self defense. The state agreed and dismissed both our client’s case and the his wife’s case.

Case Summary

Date: 05/25/2023
Case #: 2023ct####### DUI Dismissed
Charge: DUI
DUI
The client was stopped for expired tag by law enforcement.  Once stopped the officer noticed the client seemed impaired by alcohol and asked the client to perform field sobriety exercises. The client performed poorly and as a result was arrested for DUI and taken to jail. At the jail the client provided a breath sample nearly twice the legal limit.  The firm was hired for the case and it began negotiating with the state attorney’s office. It was argued by the firm that the client was extremely cooperative in the case, the client had no previous criminal charges, and that there was no dangerous driving pattern. The State agreed and dismissed the DUI.

Case Summary

Date: 05/15/2023
Case #: 22******0 DUI Dropped
Charge: DUI
DUI
Our client was arrested and charged with DUI involving a crash. He provided a breath sample at the time of his arrest and was over the legal limit. He came to us looking for a way to defend his case as he did not believe he was DUI at the time he was driving. We came up with a plan to show the jury that he under the legal limit at the time of driving. We retained an expert witness who reviewed the case and agreed with our theory. The expert drafted a report and we proceeded to set the case for trial. We proceeded to a pre-trial hearing and announced that we were ready for trial. On the day of trial, the State dropped the DUI charge.

Case Summary

Date: 05/15/2023
Case #: CT-****91 – DUI Dropped
Charge: DUI
DUI
Our client allegedly ran his car into a light pole and multiple mailboxes. When officers arrived, our client was in the driver's seat. However, they neglected to check with witnesses who said that several people fled the scene after the crash. None of the witnesses identified our client as the driver. Further, no consideration was taken into the fact that our client likely suffered a concussion after the crash. He was arrested and charged with DUI, with Property Damage. These issues were presenteed to the prosecutor.  Ticket Clinic lawyers pushed for a jury trial.  Eventually the prosecutor agreed to drop the DUI.

Case Summary

Date: 05/05/2023
Case #: 2022-CF-**** Fleeing/Attempting to Elude
Charge: Fleeing and Eluding
Felony/Other
While conducting proactive patrol, two law enforcement officers observed a vehicle traveling approximately 40 mph over the speed limit. While stopped with the vehicle at a red light, law enforcement ran the tag, and identified the driver as the registered owner through the open windows. When the light turned green, the vehicle burned out, and sped away at a high rate of speed (approximately 45 mph over the speed limit). Law enforcement activated their lights and sirens, and the vehicle sped away at an even high rate of speed. A warrant was issued for our client, the driver of the vehicle observed charging our client with Fleeing/Attempting to Elude Law Enforcement - a felony that carries a mandatory felony conviction on someone's record, as well as a mandatory Driver's License suspension upon conviction.
After receiving the case, our attorneys went to work reviewing the evidence. Of particular importance was the Body Worn Camera that was provided by the State. This video created more questions than it did give answers as to what actually happened. Based on the questions created by the State's own evdience, our attorneys were successfully able to negotiate this case to resolve to a misdemeanor offense, sparing our client from becoming a convicted felon and avoiding a license suspension.

Case Summary

Date: 04/17/2023
Case #: 2023CT0XXX7 – DUI Reduced Charge
Charge: DUI
DUI
The client was arrested by the Indian River County Sheriffs office after allegedly almost striking a Deputy during a road stop. Upon contact, they found an open beer and our client admitted to drinking 6 beers in the course of the night. However, the officers did take into account it was over a 12 hour day, not just a short night. In addition, they failed to get a Spanish translator. Despite the language barrier, we argued that our client actually passed the field sobriety tests based on his performance. Coupled with video, we argued our client was not impaired, and the officers rushed the investigation.  The State agreed and reduced the DUI to a wet-reckless.

Case Summary

Date: 04/10/2023
Case #: 23CT-**** – Racing on the Highway Reduced
Charge: Racing
Traffic
Our client was charged with Racing and driving 50 mph over the speed limit. The Trooper observed two vehicles in her rear-view mirror approaching at a high rate of speed. Both vehicles were side by side, with the vehicle on the left just slightly ahead. She clocked one of the vehicles at 123 mph and she observed the vehicles staying side by side as they passed her. We closed his case with only a careless driving, minimum fine, a driving school, no suspension and no points on his license. The 50 over speeding ticket was dismissed.

Case Summary

Date: 04/10/2023
Case #: 23-XXXX DUI Case Dismissed
Charge: DUI
DUI
Our client was charged with DUI and Refusal to Submit to a Breath Test. An Officer responded to a noise complaint in an apartment complex parking lot. He observed a group of males standing next to the vehicle and he ordered them to turn down the music. Our client sat in the driver's seat and turned down the music. The officer told him to keep the music down and not to drive because he smelled the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath. The officer realized that he only spoke Spanish and used a translation app to repeat the warning. Several minutes later the officer observed our client in the same vehicle drive pass him, while playing loud music. He watched him park and walked up to him. The music was still playing loud as he exited the driver seat. After the officer observed him staggering and swaying, he detained him and requested that he perform Field Sobriety Exercises. Our client walked away and was placed under arrest for DUI. He refused the breath test. The State initially offered him pretrial diversion but we advised to wait and allow the attorney to do a full review of the case.  After working the case and speaking to the prosecutor on multiple occasions, the charges were dismissed.

Case Summary

Date: 04/04/2023
Case #: 22CT-****7^
Charge: Racing
Traffic
Our client was charged with Racing and driving 123 mph in a 70 mph zone. The roadway was wet and heavy traffic due to Christmas holidays. The Trooper was in the far right lane. She observed two vehicles in her rear view mirror approaching at a high rate of speed. Both vehicles were side by side, with the left vehicle just slightly ahead. She visually estimated the vehicles at 120 mph and she used radar to obtain a target reading of 123 mph. The vehicles stayed side by side as they passed her. On the in car video, you can see her jerking her car to the right to avoid a rear end collision from the right vehicle. The State amended the criminal charge to a careless driving and we closed his case with a minimum fine, a driving school, no suspension and no points on his license.

Case Summary

Date: 03/23/2023
Case #: 22XX-XXX Accident W/Fatality – NOT Guilty
Charge: Accident/Fatality
Traffic
Client southbound on Hwy 301 when school bus crossed in front of her and she collided with side of bus between rear wheels and back bumper.The front seat passenger in Ms. Griffis' car was killed. She was alleged to have been speeding by FHP and given a ticket for violation of a TCD causing a Fatality. She was facing a 6 month DL suspension and minimum $1000 fine. At trial, we argued bus was at fault for accident and that Ms Griffis should have been cited for speeding and not TCD since law requires a specific statute to be used if applicable rather than a general statute like TCD. Judge found her Not Guilty.

Case Summary

Date: 03/23/2023
Case #: 2022CT######2## DUI Dismissed
Charge: DUI
DUI
The Client was involved in a serious vehicle accident when she went the wrong direction on an interstate exit ramp.  Law enforcement was called to the scene where they discovered that not only was the Client injured but she also smelled of alcohol.  She was transported to the hospital for treatment.  Once at the hospital, law enforcement determined that the Client would be in the hospital for quite some time and as a result a blood sample was requested in order to determine the Client's blood alcohol level.  The Client initially refused but later recanted the refusal.  The Client was then charged with DUI.   The Firm was hired to represent the Client and began gathering all the relevant evidence.  There was no video of the incident or of law enforcement's interaction with her, however there was an audio recording.  On said audio recording the Client's speech pattern sounded extremely slurred and impaired.  The Firm set the case for trial based on the fact that the State had limited evidence, other than the audio recording.  The State agreed that the case was weak and dismissed the DUI charge.
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Rolando A. Sanchez, Esq.

Originally from Miami , grew up in Central Florida.  After high school, he joined the U.S. Air Force where he worked on F-15E fighter jets as an Avionics Technician.  He was Honorably Discharged. Afterwards, he attended University of Central Florida and received a BSBA Finance Degree, cum laude.  Next, he attended Barry University for law school and among other things, served as V.P. of the Veterans Legal Society.  Since graduating in 2016, Mr. Sanchez has dedicated his career to helping those charged with criminal matters.  These cases include traffic, misdemeanors and felonies, including trials and post-conviction relief. Mr. Sanchez is the lead attorney in Ticket Clinic’s Kissimmee office, handling cases in Osceola, Polk, Hardee and Desoto Counties.