DUI & Criminal Division

RECENT COURT VICTORIES

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

Case Summary

Date: 04/10/2018
Case #: 2017-CT-****
Charge: DUI
DUI
Our client was traveling down the road late at night when he rear ended the vehicle in front of him. After the police arrived to investigate the crash, the officers noticed our client swaying and the odor of alcohol from his breath. Our client admitted to consuming a few beers prior to driving. The officers requested our client perform field sobriety exercises and our client refused. The officers arrested our client and transported him to the jail where he would eventually supply breath samples of .303 and .313, nearly 4 times the legal limit. Our attorneys reviewed the crash report and body camera video and filed a motion to suppress and exclude evidence based on errors made by the arresting officer during the investigation. Prior to the start of the hearing, the State agreed to drop the DUI charge.

Case Summary

Date: 04/10/2018
Case #: 17-ct-xxxxxx
Charge: DUI
DUI
On January 30, 2017, a Hillsborough County Deputy conducted a traffic stop after he observed a substance being thrown form the driver’s window. The Deputy believed the substance to be a clear baggie with a green leafy substance. The Deputy approached the Defendant who was in the driver’s seat. The Defendant had slurred speech, glassy/watery eyes, and an odor of an alcoholic beverage. The Defendant was then asked to exit the vehicle and read her Miranda rights, which she waived. The Defendant admitted to 4 rum and cokes. She performed poorly on field sobriety exercises and was arrested for DUI. The Defendant provided a breath sample of .092 and .089. Result: the firm filed a motion to suppress and the State dropped the DUI charge.

Case Summary

Date: 04/06/2018
Case #: 2XXXXT018XXX1AXX NO CONVICTION AS CHARGED
Charge: DUI
Uncategorized
While conducting selective enforcement and pursusant to a saturation patrol, the Defendant was stopped for traveling 17 miles above the posted speed limit. The Defendant had a strong odor of alcohol coming from his mouth, his speech was thick and slurred, and his eyes were bloodshot and glassy. He admitted that he was coming from a concert and was lethargic while locating them. The officer could not understand the Defendant because of his low and slurred speech. He was slow to exit his vehicle and had to use both of his hands to assist himself in getting out. When out of the car, he was swaying side to side. When asked to walk around the vehicle, the officer observed the Defendant lose his balance. He denied consuming any alcohol and refused to perform roadsides. After being arrested, he refused to give a sample of his breath. After reviewing the case, the State declined to file any charges against the Defendant.

Case Summary

Date: 04/04/2018
Case #: 18-ct0xxxxxxx
Charge: DUI
DUI
On November 9, 2016, the Defendant was involved in a crash. A Florida Highway Trooper arrived on the scene and began a DUI investigation. The Defendant had to be transported to Tampa General Hospital as a result of injuries sustained in the accident. While in the hospital, the Trooper issued the Defendant a careless driving and DUI ticket. The Defendant refused to provide a breath or blood sample. The State Attorney’s Office in December 2017 issued a subpoena for the medical records of any blood alcohol testing done by Tampa General Hospital when the Defendant was treated for his injuries. The Defendant then retained the firm to assist him after an information was filed charging him with DUI with property damage involving a blood alcohol level over .15. Results: The firm filed a motion for discharge of the DUI charge which was granted. The DUI was dismissed.

Case Summary

Date: 04/02/2018
Case #: 2017CT0#####
Charge: DUI
DUI
The Client was arrested for DUI after she was found in her vehicle sleeping in her vehicle, with the engine running, in the middle of I-95. The Officer observed signs of impairment and ordered her out of the vehicle. At this point the Officer requested that she complete field sobriety exercises. The Client performed poorly on the exercises and was then arrested for DUI. Once at the Breath Alcohol Testing facility she gave a breath sample over twice the legal limit. The Firm immediately began an investigation into the case looking for any issues that may help the client's case. The Firm spoke with the State Attorney's office and pointed out that the Client was exceptionally cooperative and also did not have any prior criminal history. In addition, it was up to the jury to determine whether the Client was in actual physical control of the vehicle, and because the Client was sleeping there was an argument to be made. The State agreed and dismissed the DUI charge.

Case Summary

Date: 03/28/2018
Case #: 2018CT*0***8
Charge: DUI
DUI
Our client was arrested for DUI, however due to an error on the citation, a different crime was charged. Our office kept significant pressure on the State Attorney's office, resulting in their dismissal of the charge. Our client was never charged with DUI and never had to appear in court.

Case Summary

Date: 03/28/2018
Case #: 17-XXXXXXXXA
Charge: DUI
DUI
Our client was pulled over for driving 78 mph in a 45 mph zone. After stopping him, officers claimed that they could smell alcohol on his breath and observed other signs of impairment. Our client refused to participate in the DUI investigation and refused to provide a breath sample. He was arrested and charged with DUI. The lawyers at the firm prepared and set the case for trial. On the day of trial, the prosecutor agreed to drop all DUI related charges.

Case Summary

Date: 03/22/2018
Case #: 2XXXCXXT00XX67 NO CONVICTION AS CHARGED
Charge: DUI
Uncategorized
The defendant was charged with Driving Under the influence of Alcohol. The defendant was driving his motorcycle after leaving the bar and crashed. He had road rash and admitted to drinking a bucket of beers. The officer in the case stated that the defendant was slurring his speech, was disoriented, was staggering while he was walking, and allegedly told the officer that he probably should not have been driving. The defendant then gave a breath sample over the limit. The firm set the case for trial. On the day of trial, the Firm showed where the officer’s credibility was impeached by showing that the video in the case showed none of the signs of impairment that the officer alleged. In addition, the Firm located the EMT who treated the defendant’s wounds, and the EMT testified that he was alert and well oriented and if he had had a drink or two he could have fooled him. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty.

Case Summary

Date: 03/22/2018
Case #: 09-2XXX19XXXXM10A NO CONVICTION AS CHARGED
Charge: Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor
Uncategorized
Two weeks prior to September 13, 2009, the defendant’s step daughter ran away from home. On September 13, 2009, the child was found by officers of the Sunrise Police Department trespassing in an abandoned home. The child has an extensive juvenile criminal history as well as a history of running away from home. The child was taken to the Sunrise Police Department and the Defendant and his wife were contacted to pick-up the child, which they did. Upon arrival at the Police Department, the child refused to leave with the Defendant and his wife, the child’s biological mother. The Defendant and his wife were advised by Sunrise Police that they would be arrested if they left the premises. The Defendant and his wife left the premises and told police to call the child’s father, which they did. The Defendant’s exited the police department parking lot in their car and were arrested for Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor. The Firm was able to provide the State with proof from child services that the child was ungovernable. All charges were dropped.

Case Summary

Date: 03/21/2018
Case #: 20XXXT01XX1AXX NO CONVICTION AS CHARGED
Charge: DUI
Uncategorized
The Defendant crashed her car into a median and scraped the underside of her car and popped her tire. The car was not drivable. An officer arrived on scene and noticed that she had an odor of alcohol coming from her. She told the officer she was texting her boyfriend and crashed into the median. A DUI unit was called and arrived on scene to conduct an investigation. He noticed that her eyes were glassy and bloodshot and that her speech was slurred. She performed poorly on roadside exercises and had admitted on the video at the jail to drinking and taking controlled substances which impaired her. The Firm took a deposition of the stopping officer and secured testimony under oath that he did not notice any other factors of impairment when he contacted a DUI unit other than an odor of alcohol. The Firm then filed a motion to suppress arguing that the defendant was detained without a “reasonable suspicion” for driving under the influence. The State Attorneys Office would not offer a reduced charge for reckless driving before the hearing. At the hearing, the officer who called for the DUI unit was impeached multiple times with his sworn depositions testimony. The court granted the motion to suppress and signed a three page order holding that a minor crash coupled with a simple odor of alcohol was not enough to detain the defendant. After the State Attorneys Office brought it to their appellate department, they dismissed all charges against the Defendant.

Case Summary

Date: 03/16/2018
Case #: 2017CT 0*0***8
Charge: Racing
Traffic
Our clients were boyfriend and girlfriend who were charged with racing their motorcycles at over 100 mph against each other. A portion of the event was captured on the police dash-cam. Prior to retaining The Ticket Clinic, a law firm, they each faced a case resolution that included a conviction, probation, a license suspension and a substantial fine. Our lawyer was able to intervene in the case and point out serious holes in the State's case. The state agreed to reduce the criminal charge.

Case Summary

Date: 03/16/2018
Case #: CW18-xxxxxx
Charge: DUI
DUI
On February 11, 2018, The Driver was operating a pickup truck and attempted to leave the Pelican Point Garage without paying. The garage attendant called for police assistance. The Officer walked over and saw the truck stopped in one of the exit lanes, behind the gate that was down. The Driver had bloodshot eyes and appeared confused. The officer detected an odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath and his speech was slurred. A DUI investigation was conducted and the Driver was arrested. The Driver provided the breath results of .192/.202. The case was set for a formal review hearing and the firm's motion to invalidate the suspension based on issues with the evidence was granted.
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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.