Anyone who finds themself in legal trouble might be worried about fines, probation, or jail time. They probably wouldn’t expect a judge to sentence them to watching a television show. But, that’s what happened in one Florida case… kind of.

The Inciting Incident

Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Luis Orlando Santos Santiago, 56, was leaving his home in Seffner, Florida, when he saw a Black teenager on a bicycle with a backpack.

Santiago pulled up to the teenager and began questioning him about what he was doing in the neighborhood. The man asked the teen to give him his exact address, which he did, but it wasn’t enough for Santiago.

Santiago started filming the teen, stepped out of the car, and called 911 to report that he had caught someone breaking into cars.

The video and the recording of the call both show that Santiago was convinced the teen was committing a crime, while having no proof. As reported by Tampa Bay Time, Santiago is heard saying, “I got it on video.” After the teen says something in the background, Santiago says to him, “Because you can’t be breaking into people’s places. We got you on video. So relax. Relax.”

The teen was neither relaxed nor committing a crime.

False Accusations Lead to False Imprisonment

The teen, who hasn’t been identified by name, was on his way to athletic practice. His backpack held a basketball, gym shoes, and jump rope.

There was no evidence that he had been breaking into cars. The neighborhood had no reports of crimes that day. In fact, there had been no reports of crime in that neighborhood in the first half of 2020.

Knowing that he was innocent wasn’t enough to make the teen feel safe. Police said the teen had his hands raised and was hyperventilating when they arrived. The teen told officers he thought Santiago had a gun because the man kept putting his hand near his pocket.

In a statement later released by the teen’s mother, she explains how stressful the situation was for her son.

“As an African American mother, we have to have difficult conversations with our Black sons, about defusing situations, about keeping your hands up if you are stopped, and complying even if you did nothing wrong,” the statement read.

Related: 7 Years Later, Movie Theater “Stand Your Ground” Case Still Waiting for Trial 

The Consequences of False Imprisonment Charges

Santiago thought he was going to get the teen in legal trouble, and instead, found himself with a charge of his own.

Santiago was arrested and charged with false imprisonment.

In Florida, “false imprisonment” is defined by Florida Statute 787.02 as “forcibly, by threat, or secretly confining, abducting, imprisoning, or restraining another person without lawful authority and against her or his will.”

It carries a possible penalty of up to five years in prison, five years probation, and $5,000 in fines.

Related: The Best Criminal Defense Attorneys Have These 7 Qualities

The Details of Santiago’s Plea Deal

In the end, Santiago made a plea deal with prosecutors. He pleaded guilty to a single charge of assault with prejudice, a lesser charge than false imprisonment.

As part of the plea deal, the Tampa Bay Times reported that Santiago:

• Must complete an anger management and implicit bias course
• Write an apology letter to the teen
• Complete 25 hours of community service — which can include watching the Netflix documentary, 13th.

Hillsborough Circuit, Judge Lyann Goudie, saw this incident as a case of racial profiling, which is why she encouraged Santiago to use some of his community service time watching the Netflix documentary, 13th.

Watching a Movie as Part of Sentencing?

13th is a 2016 documentary that explores the intersection of race, justice, and mass incarceration in the United States. Goudie thinks Santiago has something to learn from the movie.

“It is a very enlightening view of the Black experience in the United States of America,” Goudie said. “Unfortunately for Black people, this is a common occurrence. Which is why everyone is protesting. Rightfully so.”

While Goudie urged Santiago to watch the documentary, she didn’t sentence him to watching it. 

He can choose to watch it to earn community service hours or choose to do a different activity.

It’s not clear whether or not Santiago will watch the documentary as his attorney insists that the incident wasn’t a case of racial profiling.

The teen mother sees it differently. In her statement, she says, “This is absurd, but unfortunately necessary in our community. I hope people hear this and change the narrative of judging young Black men. My son is an intelligent, well-respected college athlete with a bright future ahead of him.”

Understanding the Potential Legal Consequences of a Criminal Case

If you have questions about possible sentencing in a criminal case, talk to an attorney right away. A criminal defense attorney can help you understand what potential consequences you face and work with you to ensure that there is a fair and just outcome.

Get legal advice for your case today. Talk to TJ Grimaldi. Schedule or call 813-226-1023 today.

Andy Dick is most well-known for his comedy roles, but he is gaining notoriety in another way. His long list of legal troubles is becoming more tied to his name than his stand-up shows and movies. Most recently, Dick made headlines when he was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon.

What happened to lead to this recent charge, and what potential consequences can you expect from an assault charge like this?

The Details of Andy Dick’s Assault Charge

On June 26, 2021, Dick was arrested in Hollywood for felony assault with a deadly weapon.

It is reported by Page Six that Dick got into a physical altercation with Lucas Crawford, a man who is said to have had an intimate relationship with Dick. The two men were joking around, play-fighting when it turned serious.

Dick claims that Crawford body-slammed him, broke his femur and ankle, and caused damage to his tendons and ligaments. At that time, Dick says he responded in self-defense by grabbing a metal chair, throwing it in Crawford’s direction, and hitting him.

Crawford was taken to Cedars-Sinai hospital, and Dick was later arrested.

Related: If You’re Arrested for a Crime, Immediately Take These 6 Steps

Dick’s Troubled Past

This recent incident is added to a list of legal troubles and bad behavior from Dick.

Dick, who has publicly battled with sobriety, has had run-ins with the law that include drug possession, indecent exposure, and multiple sexual assault and groping charges. While a few charges were dropped or dismissed, a drug charge resulted in three years probation, and a sexual assault charge led to a civil suit resulting in unspecified damages awarded to the victims.

As of now, the recent assault charge has left Dick with a $50,000 bail which was paid, and Dick was released from jail.

Related: What Does It Take to Be an Attorney for a High-Profile Case? 

The Consequences of Assault and Battery Charges

The assault incident involving Dick took place in Hollywood and will abide by California law. The consequences will be based on statutes outlined in California laws.

In Florida, the rules on assault and battery are outlined in Chapter 784.

Assault is defined as “an intentional, unlawful threat by word or act to do violence to the person of another, coupled with an apparent ability to do so, and doing some act which creates a well-founded fear in such other person that such violence is imminent.” It is considered a misdemeanor of the second degree and can result in:

• Probation up to sixty days
• Fines up to $500
• Up to sixty days in jail

Aggravated assault is defined as assault that includes the use of a deadly weapon without the intent to kill or with an intent to commit a felony. It is a felony of the third degree and can result in:

• Probation up to five years
• Fines up to $5,000
• Up to five years in prison

Battery is defined as when a person “actually and intentionally touches or strikes another person against the will of the other or intentionally causes bodily harm to another person.” It is considered a misdemeanor of the first degree and can result in:

• Probation up to one year
• Fines up to $1,000
• Up to a year in prison

If Dick’s incident had happened in Florida, he could be facing an aggravated assault charge, as it was deemed that he used a deadly weapon against Crawford. Dick may have also been charged with battery as he seemed to intentionally cause bodily harm to another person.

At this time, Dick’s charges stand with a felony assault with a deadly weapon in the California court system.

Related: The Best Criminal Defense Attorneys Have These 7 Qualities

Get a Criminal Defense Attorney for Assault and Battery Charges

Assault and battery charges are serious. They can result in fines, probation, and jail time. If you or someone you know has been arrested for or accused of assault and battery, talk to a criminal defense attorney right away.

An experienced attorney can guide you through a misdemeanor or felony charge to ensure that your case is processed fairly and that you reach a just outcome. Act quickly to protect yourself, especially if you feel you have been unjustly charged.

Get help today. Contact criminal defense attorney, TJ Grimaldi. Schedule your free consultation or call 813-226-1023.

Jared Drake Bell is known to many families and kids as one half of the “Drake & Josh” duo from the hit Nickelodeon show which began airing in 2004. Drake Bell was known for entertaining kids. Now, he may be known for endangering them.

The now 35-year-old actor recently plead guilty to felony attempted child endangerment and a misdemeanor charge of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles.

How did Bell go from entertaining kids to endangering them, and what does that mean for his future as a free man?

The Case Against Drake Bell

In October 2018, a 15-year-old girl contacted police in Toronto, Canada to report an incident that happened between her and Bell in December 2017.

The victim, who is now 19-years-old, told investigators that she and Bell had engaged in sexual conduct at a concert venue in Cleveland, Ohio. She told investigators she had a relationship with Bell that started when she was just 12. She believed Bell had been “grooming” her since she was a child, keeping in touch with her until eventually sharing explicit photos and becoming “blatantly sexual” with her after she turned 15.

The information that Toronto investigators uncovered led them to forward their findings to the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office in Cleveland, Ohio.

Under that jurisdiction, Bell, who is a California resident, was eventually charged for the incident occurring at the Cleveland concert. He was charged with felony attempted child endangerment and a misdemeanor charge of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles.

Drake Bell’s Changing Pleas

Bell originally pleaded not guilty to the charges. His attorney Ian Friedman disputed the girl’s claims that Bell sent her explicit photos and engaged in sexual conduct with her. Bell seemed to want to fight the charges with Friedman stating, “All facts will be revealed in a courtroom.”

But, Bell eventually changed his plea.

Bell plead guilty to felony attempted child endangerment and a misdemeanor charge of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles.

“I accept this plea because my conduct was wrong,” Bell said. “I’m sorry the victim was harmed. It was not my intention. I have taken this matter very, very seriously, and again I just want to apologize to her and anyone else who may have been affected by my actions.”

Related: What You Should Expect from Your Attorney in Every Case

What Consequences Does Bell Face?

Bell’s case was held in the Ohio court system. Under Ohio law, child endangerment can come with a range of penalties. Depending on the severity of the charges, penalties can range from a few months to a few years in prison as well as resulting in community service hours, fines, and probation.

But, Bell will face no prison time.

He was sentenced in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court by Judge Timothy McCormick to two years probation, 200 hours of community service, and have no contact with the victim.

Related: If You’re Arrested for a Crime, Immediately Take These 6 Steps

Taking a Plea Deal But Not Accepting Full Responsibility

While Bell may have faced less serious consequences by admitting fault and acknowledging some wrong-doing, his attorney continued to state that the charges weren’t warranted.

In a statement to NBC News, Friedman said, “The victim’s allegations that went beyond that which all parties agreed, not only lack supporting evidence but are contradicted by the facts learned through extensive investigation. As the court made clear, this plea was never about sexual misconduct or sexual relations with any person, let alone a minor.”

Regardless of what Friendman said after the hearing, Bell admitted to wrong-doing by making his guilty plea and will face the consequences laid out by the judge.

Related: The Best Criminal Defense Attorneys Have These 7 Qualities

How Serious Are Child Endangerment Charges?

In Bell’s case, it was said that he “violated his duty of care” for the young fan.

Child endangerment laws punish behavior that can endanger a child’s life, health, or emotional well-being. They refer to a range of activities that put a person under the age of 18 at risk. Child endangerment charges can relate to activities such as:

• Driving a car while intoxicated with a child in the vehicle
• Exposing a child to drug transactions
• Failing to secure a child in a car seat properly
• Having unsecured firearms near a child
• Leaving a child without supervision

There does not need to be intent in child endangerment cases. If a child is harmed or could have been harmed by the adult’s actions, the adult can face legal consequences. Child endangerment is a serious charge and can lead to serious consequences. If you have any questions about a criminal case, talk to an experienced defense attorney who can help you understand the full scope of the charges and potential outcomes.

Get answers and advice from an experienced criminal defense attorney. Schedule a free consultation with T.J. Grimaldi. Request your free consultation or call 813-226-1023.

The controversies and criminal charges against “19 Kids and Counting” star Josh Duggar have led to two canceled television series. But, will the recent charges also lead to a prison sentence? What can we expect in the trial of Josh Duggar?

What Are the Charges Against Josh Duggar?

At one time, Josh Duggar represented wholesome, middle America as the eldest child in a family of 19 living in Arkansas. Starring in the TLC reality TV show “19 Kids and Counting,” Duggar showed America what it was like to live a life filled with faith and close family ties and values. But, not anymore.

In April 2021, Duggar was arrested on charges of receiving and possessing child pornography.

Back in 2019, the Arkansas car dealership where Duggar worked was raided by Homeland Security. At the time, there wasn’t much information about the raid. Homeland Security only said it was a part of an “ongoing investigation.” It took almost two years for the results of the raid to lead to the arrest of Duggar.

A press release issued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Arkansas stated that Duggar used the internet to download material that depicts the abuse of children under the age of 12. Prosecutors estimate that Duggar had more than 200 images of children on his computer.

Related: What Does It Take to Be an Attorney for a High-Profile Case? 

A History of Bad Behavior

This isn’t the first time Duggar has made the news for bad behavior.

In May 2015, an uncovered 2006 police report revealed that Duggar had been investigated for inappropriately touching five underage girls when he was a teenager. Two of his sisters later came out as two of his victims.

A few months later, in August 2015, it was reported that the married Duggar appeared to have active accounts on Ashley Madison, a website designed to help spouses cheat on their partner.

Following both of these allegations, Duggar made a public apology on the Duggar family website and confessed to having a pornography addiction and cheating on his wife.

Duggar’s statement read, “I have been the biggest hypocrite ever. While espousing faith and family values, I have secretly over the last several years been viewing pornography on the internet and this became a secret addiction and I became unfaithful to my wife.“

Duggar faced no legal consequences for these incidents, and shortly after these reports, the TLC show “19 Kids and Counting” was canceled after airing from 2008 to 2015.

Shortly after the flagship Duggar show was cancelled, TLC launched “Counting On,” a show which continued to follow Dugger’s family and focused on his sisters. After the recent charges against the eldest Duggar, TLC also canceled the “Counting On.”

What’s The Current Status of Duggar’s Case?

Duggar was arrested for a crime, pleaded not guilty to the charges, and has been released on bond.

The father of six, with another child on the way, is said to be staying with family friends. Under the terms of his bail, he is not allowed to be around minors and can only see his children under the supervision of his wife, Anna Duggar.

He is now awaiting an upcoming trial.

The trial was scheduled for July 6 but was pushed back to November 30 at the request of Duggar’s attorneys. Duggar’s team said they need more time to get computer forensic experts to review the case evidence.

Related: Dealing With the Media During a High-Profile Case: What to Expect

What Are the Potential Outcomes for the Trial of Josh Duggar?

As of now, Duggar is standing by his statement that he is not guilty. This statement means he will likely go to trial in November.

Duggar faces two counts, each coming with a potential sentence of up to 20 years of imprisonment and $250,000 in fines. When combined, the charges mean Duggar could be facing up to 40 years behind bars.

One option for Duggar is to make a plea deal to try and get a reduced sentence. If Duggar aims to make a plea deal, he will need to:

• Admit that he understands the charges against him
• Admit that the conduct is punishable by law
• Give up his right to a jury trial
• Admit that he understands the consequences and accepts his sentencing

It remains to be seen how Duggar’s criminal defense team will approach his case. With the trial extension, they may be working on creating a defense to the charges. Or, they could also be working on making a plea that will try to limit Duggar’s time in prison.

Related: The Best Criminal Defense Attorneys Have These 7 Qualities

Awaiting Duggar’s Day In Court

Public cases like this are difficult. The circumstances are disturbing, and the case is often tried in the media and public opinion before a trial takes place. But, Duggar will get his day in court to have a fair trial to get to the truth and face the consequences of his actions.

Do you have questions about criminal charges? Talk to criminal defense attorney TJ Grimaldi. Request your consultation or call 813-226-1023 today.

On January 6, 2021, America watched as hundreds of pro-Trump protesters descended on the Capitol building and wreacked havoc. Since then, more than 500 people have been charged with crimes for their part in what is often referred to as the Capitol Insurrection.

While few people were arrested on the day of the incident, hundreds have been charged after the event due to an overwhelming amount of news and social media footage. The camera footage from the incident and an FBI investigation have led to hundreds of arrests. The FBI is still actively working on identifying even more people who were there.

Now, people are wondering what will happen to the hundreds of people involved in the incident. Let’s look at what charges and potential outcomes await the Capitol rioters.

What Charges Do People Face?

A database by NPR lists 517 people who have been charged in the Capitol insurrection. It includes each person’s name, home state, and charges. The listed charges include a variety of crimes. Most people are charged with more than one offense and have already been arrested for their crimes.

The lesser charges include:

• Knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority
• Disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds
• Disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds
• Parade, demonstrate, or picket in any of the Capitol buildings
• Theft

The more serious charges include:

• Obstruction of justice/Congress
• Engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds
• Physical violence on Capitol grounds
• Obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder
• Commit or attempt any act to obstruct, impede or interfere with law enforcement in performance of his official duties
• Assault, resisting, or impeding certain officers
• Forcible assault, resist, oppose, impede, intimidate, or interfere with law enforcement
• Assault on federal officer with dangerous weapon
• Conspiracy to injure an officer
• Conspiracy

The most serious charge is conspiracy, which at least 40 people are accused of, according to NPR. Another ninety-nine people are accused of committing acts of violence.

Related: Dealing With the Media During a High-Profile Case: What to Expect 

Where Will People Face Charges?

In the list of 517 people facing charges for their role in the insurrection, 49 people are from Florida. But, these people will not face state charges in Florida. They will face federal charges.

Because the crimes occurred on a federal property, the charges are Federal. They will be litigated in federal courts.

Can People Be Charged With Terrorism?

One charge that is exempt from the list is terrorism. While some people and politicians look at what happened and see a connection to terrorism, there is no legal ground to make a terrorism charge.

As FBI Director Christopher Wray told the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this month, there are no federal laws against domestic terrorism. While some states have anti-terrorism laws, there is no federal law that can classify the crimes of January 6th as such.

Related: The Best Criminal Defense Attorneys Have These 7 Qualities

So, What Happens Next?

So far, no cases in the Capitol Insurrection have been brought to trial. Hundreds of people have been charged and arrested, and many have already appeared in court.

Many of the people involved with the Capitol Insurrection have pleaded not guilty. They are hiring criminal defense attorneys and making their case that they didn’t do anything wrong on January 6, 2021. Some are working with the court to create plea deals that could keep their case out of the court system and lead to a sentence reduction.

As far as potential sentencing:

• As of May 13, 2021, 44% of defendants were charged with low-level crimes that will likely result in no jail time if it is a first-time offense.
• Those charged with higher-level crimes may face prison time ranging from a few months up to twenty years. Violent crimes, such as assaulting a police officer, could end with eight to twenty years in prison.
• The length of sentencing will depend heavily on the seriousness of the crime and the person’s criminal history. Those with no record will likely receive lesser sentencing.

People charged with crimes will also likely seek attorneys who can manage a high-profile case due to the newsworthiness of the case. The news has been involved since the rioters broke through the first barricade and will be following the case until its conclusion.

If you have been charged with a criminal offense, a proper defense is essential to ensure that your rights aren’t violated and that you get the best possible outcome. If you have been charged with a crime, see how TJ Grimaldi can help. Request your consultation or call 813-226-1023.