DUI & Criminal Division

RECENT COURT VICTORIES

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

Case Summary

Date: 02/22/2022
Case #: XXXXXMU10A – DUI & Criminal Charges Dismissed
Charge: DUI
DUI
Our client was involved in a traffic crash on February 12, 2021. When officers arrived, they noted that they observed our client to have slurred speech, an odor of alcohol on her breath, and that she was incoherent. When questioned by officers, our client admitted to consuming a bottle of pink moscato approximately 30 minutes before the accident. During the DUI investigation, officers alleged that our client displayed horizontal gaze nystagmus in both eyes, was unable to keep her balance, swayed while standing, and was unable to follow instructions. After completing the investigation, she was placed under arrest and agreed to provide a sample of her breath to determine the alcohol content of her breath. After the results of this test showed that our client did not have any alcohol in her system, officers requested that she provide a urine sample to test for the presence of controlled substances. The urine test revealed the presence of several controlled substances and our client was charged with DUI causing property damage. The Public Defender assigned to her case filed several motions to suppress, but never attempted to have the result of the urine screening suppressed. After observing, the Ticket Clinic attorney litigate another case while she was waiting for her public defender to address her case, she decided to hire our firm to represent her. Within 2 weeks of hiring our office, the Ticket Clinic attorney was able to convince the state to drop all criminal charges against her because the officers did not have probable cause to request a urine sample, and without the urine sample, the State of Florida had no evidence showing that our client was impaired at the time of the crash.

Case Summary

Date: 02/18/2022
Case #: 2020CT#####5### DUI Dismissed
Charge: DUI
DUI
The Client was found asleep in his vehicle in the middle of the roadway.  Law enforcement began a DUI investigation, but the Client refused to cooperate and did not perform sobriety exercises and refused to give a breath sample.  The Client's was arrested prior to the pandemic and as a result was unable to go to a jury trial for more than 1 year.  During the time that the Client was waiting to go to trial the State refused to dismiss the DUI charge.  However, when the case was ready to be set for trial, the State finally agreed to dismiss the DUI charge.

Case Summary

Date: 02/16/2022
Case #: 2021CT########8# DUI Dismissed
Charge: DUI
DUI
Police were called to the scene of an apartment complex in reference to an impaired person getting into a vehicle.  Once the police arrived on the scene they made contact with the driver of the vehicle, who was actually not impaired and was driving the Client home.  Subsequently the police left and the Client then attempted to drive his vehicle again.  The previous designated driver for the Client then called law enforcement to inform them of the problem.  Law enforcement had yet to leave the scene and made contact with the Client.  The Client appeared impaired and submitted to sobriety exercises.  After the exercises the Client was arrested for DUI and transported to the Breath Alcohol Testing facility, where he refused to provide a breath sample.  The Firm conducted an investigation into the case and argued to the Assistant State Attorney that the stop of the Client's vehicle was somewhat weak.  This fact combined with the fact that the Client had a lack of  prior criminal history led the State to agree to dismiss the DUI charge.

Case Summary

Date: 02/12/2022
Case #: 12XXXX168XXX10A NO CONVICTION AS CHARGED
Charge: Possession of Cannabis / Drug Paraphernalia
Uncategorized
The Police conducted a traffic stop of the Defendant’s vehicle for not having brake lights and noticed the strong smell of burnt cannabis within the vehicle. The Defendant admitted that he had some marijuana and a pipe on him. The officer arrested the Defendant for possession of a controlled substance. The attorney for the firm investigated the case, and was able to get the Defendant into a drug treatment program. Upon completion of the program, the attorney for the firm was able to get the prosecutor to drop the case completely.

Case Summary

Date: 02/02/2022
Case #: 200XXXCTXXX1164AXX NO CONVICTION AS CHARGED
Charge: DUI
Uncategorized
While following the defendant’s vehicle, the officer witnessed it changing from lane to lane without signaling. The officer also witnessed the defendant\'s vehicle almost hit a post on a bridge and nearly hit a car when stopping at a red light. The defendant was stopped by the officer and admitted to taking sleeping pills. The defendant submitted to sobriety tasks and during the walk and turn she paused to regain her balance, stepped off the line 2 times and used her arms to balance. During the one leg stand she used her arms for balance and swayed from side to side. She also put her foot down on more than one occasion. When asked to recite the alphabet, she did not close her eyes as instructed several times and stated H, H, Y, U, B, Z. During the finger to nose task she did not keep her eyes closed as instructed, failed to return her arms to her side and used the wrong hand as well as the wrong finger as instructed. The defendant\'s vehicle also had yellow paint on it and when asked about it, she told the police officer that “I hit a pole”. A urine test was conducted, the sample came back positive for Cocaine and Lorazepam. Result: DUI Charge was dismissed.

Case Summary

Date: 01/24/2022
Case #: 2018ct###### – DUI & Possession Charge Dismissed
Charge: DUI
DUI
The client was charged with DUI after being stopped for swerving his vehicle across the roadway and almost hitting surrounding vehicles. The officer observed an odor of alcohol and marijuana in the vehicle and found marijuana in the vehicle as well. The client was asked to submit to sobriety exercises which he performed well. The officer arrested the Client anyways and had him submit to a breath sample, which resulted in a negative reading. The client was then asked to submit to a urine test, which showed multiple drugs in the clients system.  The client also admitted to being impaired at a 5 on a scale of 1 - 10. The firm set this case for trial multiple times over the course of the pandemic based on the fact that the video of the client looked good, despite the evidence that he was under the influence of drugs. The State consistently refused to dismiss the DUI on multiple instances. Finally, when the case was set to have a trial date, after almost four years, the state dismissed the DUI and the possession of marijuana charge.

Case Summary

Date: 01/20/2022
Case #: 21-323xxxxxx – DUI Charge & Leaving The Scene
Charge: DUI
DUI
The Defendant was involved in a rear end accident and allegedly did not remain at the scene after attempting to drive away. Due to traffic in the area and the other party getting her license plate number, she was located. Upon making contact with the Defendant, a Police Officer observed signs of impairment including the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from her breath. The Defendant performed field sobriety exercises poorly and was arrested for DUI. The Defendant was charged with DUI and Leaving the Scene of an Accident. The Defendant refused to submit to a breath test after the arrest. Result: Based on information provided to the State by the firm, the State dropped both the DUI and leaving the scene charges.

Case Summary

Date: 01/14/2022
Case #: XXXXCF000X50 – Burglary & Felony Battery
Charge: DUI
DUI
Our client was arrested for Burglary, Felony Battery, and a violation of Pre-Trial Release. For these charges, our client was facing life in prison if the State could prove the case. Because of the seriousness of the charges, the client would have been incarcerated until the date of his trial. After several months of negotiating with the State to no avail, the firm's attorney had insight to file a motion to dismiss and set the case for trial seemed to move the needle. However, for a couple months the State would not budge in wanting to send the client to prison for a substantial amount of time. After realizing the State's position, we elected to Demand a Speedy Trial. This strategic decision leveraged the State in making them prove the case within 45 days of the Demand. They could not do so, and the State dropped the case on January 13, 2022 allowing our client to avoid a life sentence.

Case Summary

Date: 01/06/2022
Case #: 20-00XXXXMU10A – DUI Charge Reduced
Charge: DUI
DUI
Our client was found asleep in her vehicle on the side of the road near her ex-boyfriend's house after his mother called the police to report her for stalking. As officers approached the vehicle, they found her asleep in the driver's seat with the engine off and arrested her for Driving Under the Influence after our client refused to participate in a DUI investigation. The Ticket Clinic attorney filed a request for a formal review hearing with the DMV to challenge the suspension of her license. At this hearing, our attorney was able to pin the officers down on their story before their testimony could be coached. During this hearing, our attorney was able to get the officers to admit that they did not have any reason to suspect our client of DUI when they initiated what they referred to as a welfare check on the vehicle. Our attorney prepared a motion to suppress, arguing that because the officers did not have any reason to suspect our client of DUI and because she was alert in the vehicle and responded to the officers welfare check, they had no reason to continue the investigation or order her out of the car. As a result of our efforts, the State changed the charge from DUI to Reckless Driving and our client received a withhold of adjudication which will allow her to seal and expunge this case from her criminal record.

Case Summary

Date: 01/06/2022
Case #: 2003-CT-27XX18-0 NO CONVICTION AS CHARGED
Charge: DUI
Uncategorized
The defendant was pulled speeding and blew .079 and .064. DUI charge dropped.

Case Summary

Date: 01/04/2022
Case #: 21-009XXXMU10A – DUI Charge Reduced
Charge: DUI
DUI
Our client was pulled over after leaving the hospital where he had sought treatment for a bad reaction to a prescription medication. During the DUI investigation, our client advised officers that he had just left the hospital and explained that he was feeling tired and "off" from the prescription medication. Despite our client's statements, he performed well on field sobriety exercises. Unfortunately, performing well on field sobriety exercises is often not enough to avoid being arrested for DUI and our client was taken into custody. The attorney for the Ticket Clinic set the case for trial and explained to the State Attorney's Office that they cannot prove DUI for prescription medication if the medication is not a controlled substance. On the morning of trial, the State agreed and offered to change the charge to Reckless Driving and withheld adjudication, which will allow our client to seal and expunge this case from his criminal record.

Case Summary

Date: 01/01/2022
Case #: 09-1XXX34XXMM10A NO CONVICTION AS CHARGED
Charge: DUI
Uncategorized
The Defendant was stopped for speeding 88 mph in a 45 mph zone by a member of the DUI Task Force. The Deputy approached the vehicle and noticed the Defendant to have the odor of an alcoholic beverage, slurred speech, bloodshot watery eyes, and acted in a dazed and unresponsive manner when being spoken to. The Defendant admitted to consuming 5 to 6 drinks in the hour before being stopped as well. The Defendant refused to perform roadside exercises citing that “one leg was shorter than the other” and refused the breath test. The Defendant was arrested and was seen on video passing out in the back of the police car on the way to the jail. All DUI charges were dropped by the State of Florida.
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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.