DUI & Criminal Division

RECENT COURT VICTORIES

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

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: 05/05/2023
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 #: 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.

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: 03/22/2023
Case #: 2022CT######5XX
Charge: DUI
DUI
The Client was stopped for speeding and once stopped Officers smelled an odor of alcohol and believed the Client to be impaired.  A DUI investigation was conducted and the Client performed poorly on the field sobriety exercises.  The Client was arrested for DUI for the second time and subsequently gave a breath sample that was barely over the legal limit.  The Firm was hired to investigate the case and discovered that not only was the Client's breath sample just above a .08, but the breath machine used was found to be giving results that were not accurate.  As a result the case was set for trial.  The day before the trial the State agreed to dismiss the DUI charge.

Case Summary

Date: 03/10/2023
Case #: 2022CF*****6AK – Fleeming or Attempting to Elude Case Dismissed
Charge: Fleeing and Eluding
Traffic
Our client was charged with the felony offense of Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Marked Police Car. The vehicle the officer said our client was driving initially passed the officer going southbound into Key West. This was captured on the officer's dash cam. The Officer initiated his overhead lights and turned around to pursue the vehicle. Officers later stopped our client while searching the area for the car that was captured on the Officer's dash cam. Our client and his passenger were removed from the car, the car was searched, and they were arrested. We later viewed the dash cam, reviewed the reports, and presented legal argument and caselaw to the prosecutor arguing why the case should be dropped. The prosecutor agreed and dismissed the case.

Case Summary

Date: 03/06/2023
Case #: 2022-CT**** Racing On Highway charge Reduced
Charge: Racing
Traffic
Our client was stopped and charged with Racing on the Highway after law enforcement witnessed him, and another vehicle, revving their engines at a red light. Once the light turned green, both vehicles took off at a high rate of speed. Our client was stopped, the other vehicle was not. Our client, a nursing student, was facing a $500 fine, one year Driver’s License revocation, and potential career ending consequences for having a criminal charge. Our attorneys managed to point out the weaknesses in the State’s case and negotiate a disposition of a Civil Citation, no longer a criminal offense, and no points on his license.  

Case Summary

Date: 02/15/2023
Case #: 2021-CT-***4* – Dismissed Pending DUI Diversion Completion
Charge: DUI
DUI
Law Enforcement was dispatched to the scene of a motor vehicle crash. Our client was found to be involved in the accident. Law enforcement made observations of our client including red, bloodshot, watery eyes and an overwhelming odor of alcohol from her breath. Based on these observations, plus the crash, our client was asked to participate in Field Sobriety Exercises. She performed poorly - unable to follow the instructions of the law enforcement officer. Eventually she refused to further participate in the exercises and was placed under arrest for Driving Under the Influence. After her arrest she was asked to provide a breath sample. She refused. When our attorneys received the case, we began an in-depth analysis of the facts and investigation conducted by law enforcement. Our attorneys, using their reputation in the community, were able to successfully negotiate with the State to allow our client to be admitted into Orange County's DUI Diversion Program - which she would not normally have been qualified for based on the crash involved. The State allowed her entry into the program. After the completion of the program, the charges were dismissed against our client.
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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.