December 17, 2009

Palm Bay, Florida – Man (Christopher Alan Lynch) Holds Estranged Family Hostage

PoliceCar.jpgChristopher Alan Lynch of Palm Bay Florida, was reportedly angry about learning that his estranged wife had found a new boyfriend, and responded by holding the woman and their two children, aged eleven and fourteen, hostage at gunpoint. Police were alerted to the incident by a 911 call from the woman’s new boyfriend. The Palm Bay SWAT team was called out to the house.

The wife managed to escape around midnight and the children escaped sometime later; Lynch was apparently falling asleep intermittently. He surrendered to police in the early morning hours. He appeared to be under the influence of alcohol or narcotics, and was taken to the hospital. He has been charged with false imprisonment, child abuse, aggravated assault with a firearm and battery by strangulation. Police reported that they had been called to the house about domestic violence when the couple was still living together but that the wife had not pressed charges.

Even though this couple was not together any longer, people can become very irrational when they are hurt or angry, especially if they are using drugs or alcohol. It happens all too often that a former husband or boyfriend becomes violent when he learns that his former partner has moved on without him. If you are the victim of domestic abuse, you should seek help immediately, and then contact our firm for expert legal counsel.

Read all the details of this terrifying standoff at Father's arrest ends standoff in Palm Bay.

November 9, 2009

Sparks, Nevada - Man (Eric Cross) Mistakenly Plunges Car through Wrong House After Breakup

DrunkDriving.jpg A Nevada couple recently woke up with a car on top of them in their own bedroom. After an hour of being pinned down to the bed with motor fluid raining into their faces, the two college students, Kristin Palmer and Trent Wood, were rescued by emergency workers. They suffered remarkably minor injuries. The man driving the car, Eric Cross, allegedly slammed into the house not only because he was drunk but also because he thought the house was that of his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend. Cross has been charged with battery with a deadly weapon, possession of a stolen vehicle, driving without a license, and careless driving. According to the Washoe County Sheriff’s office, Cross was also drunk at the time of the accident.

The end of a relationship is a difficult time, and people often let their emotions and pain get the best of them during the dissolution process and do things to harm their own case, especially when child custody is involved.

If you are having marital or criminal problems, and would like to find out about your options, please contact our firm for expert, compassionate legal counsel.

Find out more about this horrific accident and the couple’s ordeal at Couple alive after car pins them to bed for almost an hour.

March 23, 2009

Florida vs. Common Sense: Florida Criminal Law

table.jpgAs a Jacksonville, Florida Family and Criminal attorney, I get to see Florida law from a different angle and I have noticed, when it comes to Florida criminal law, common sense seems to have left the building. At least thats the way it appears sitting from my defense table. Defendants are often misinformed that the State is going to see them as a person instead of as a case number and that mitigating factors that make each case different are going to be considered. Not true.
Look at Genarlow Wilson from Georgia.
Genarlow Wilson was convicted by a Georgia jury of aggravated child molestation for receiving oral sex from a consenting 15-year-old at a New Year’s Eve party. For this action, he was convicted and sentenced to a mandatory state prison term of ten years.

Continue reading "Florida vs. Common Sense: Florida Criminal Law" »

March 13, 2009

Florida Divorce: Why Custody Plan Evaluations Are Important

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First, the Florida legislature changed child custody to "primary timesharing parent" in October, 2008. However, since most of us are familiar with child custody and custody issues, this article will still address the issue as the historic term, "custody."
In dealing in Florida Family Law, paternity cases and divorces with children, custody issues often arise and the Custody Evaluation is the single most important factor. In Jacksonville, Florida, many judges are relying completely on custody evaluations to determine who should get the majority of the time with the kids. Some Judges only read the conclusions of the custody evaluation to make their decision.
The evaluation is conducted by a professional, (usually someone with a psychology and law background) who will interview the parents, speak with witnesses, talk to the kids, look at school records, etc. Then the evaluator writes a recommendation which is usually quite lengthy if done correctly.
So how do you present well in the custody evaluation? Extend a mental olive branch to the other party. During your interview with the evaluator, do not destroy the other parent with disparaging remarks. Describe the parts of parenting that the other parent does well and be honest in your comments about the children's relationship with their other parent. Then share the things that do concern you because even though the other parent is an overall good parent, tell the evaluator why the children are better off having more time with you.
If there are serious "concerns" such as child abuse, molestation, or similar behaviors, then you MUST disclose those to the evaluator. These concerns should be addressed in a professional manner with the evaluator, by giving examples or reasons for the beliefs. While those issues are difficult to remove yourself from emotionally, try to keep calm when discussing them so the evaluator has all of the pertinent facts and information to further his/her investigation.
Throughout the process, it is important to remain as calm and beievably positive as possible. You do not want to come across as "Donna Reed" when really you're just a working, single mom trying to make ends meet. That goes for you single dad's too, don't try to be Mr. Cleaver, be yourself, but also be the better part of yourself.