According to the Naples Daily News, Richard W. Mitchell, 35, who was convicted in 1996 of DUI manslaughter for the death of one of his passengers after a crash, was arrested for another DUI after deputies with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office found him passed out behind the wheel of his running car. 

Deputies first noticed Mitchell’s car parked next to a closed gas station at the intersection of US41 and Lakewood Boulevard with two blow out tires and foliage stuck to the left front.  It took several pokes to Mitchell’s ribs to wake him. 

Mitchell served a little over eight years for the DUI manslaughter conviction from 1996. 

If you or a loved one has been arrested for drunk driving or DUI, contact former driving under the influence prosecutor Justin Caldarone at (239) 537-0439 for a free consultation.

Joshua Moll, the father of a five-year-old who was seriously injured in an accident with a DUI driver, was, himself, recently arrested for DUI in Tampa, Florida after police responded to a disturbance at a drinking establishment. 

Moll’s daughter suffered a fractured skull and other serious injuries in a car accident that killed her mother.  They were struck head-on by a DUI driver.  After the accident, Moll moved from Texas to Florida to pursue custody of his daughter.

Recently, the Tampa police responded to The Rack in the early morning hours.  Witnesses said that Moll was harassing women inside of the establishment and causing a scene before security asked him to leave the bar.  He allegedly drove his truck in an erratic manner before being stopped by the police.  After exhibiting signs of impairment, he was arrested for DUI.

If you or a loved one has been arrested for driving under the influence or DUI, contact former DUI prosecutor Justin Caldarone at (239) 537-0439 for a free consultation.

The Naples Daily News is reporting that Pauline Rohrich of Estero, 87-years-old, was involved in an accident with FHP trooper Robert Crouch, 54.

Ms. Rohrich was leaving Corkscrew Village Plaza at about 3 p.m. on Saturday when, after stopping at a stop sign near the intersection with US41 and Corkscrew Road, misjudged the distance and speed of the cruiser.  Both vehicles sustained minor damage.  No injuries were reported.  Ms. Rohrich was cited with failure to yield right of way.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident or charged with a criminal traffic offense like driving under the influence (DUI) or driving with a suspended driver’s license, contact former prosecutor Justin Caldarone today at (239) 537-0439 for a free consultation.

The Naples Daily News is reporting that David S. Garvey, 26, was sentenced to 30 days in jail, fined $500, and his driver’s license was suspended for six months after being convicted for reckless driving by a jury that included baseball great Johnny Bench. 

Deputies from the Collier County Sheriffs Office and officers from the Naples Police Department testified at trial that Garvey and a friend were going more than 100 miles per hour on US41 on May 7th of this year.  Both were arrested and charged with reckless driving. 

Bench, a Naples resident, served as an alternate on the jury panel, meaning that he did not join in the actual deliberations.  While he did not take part in the deliberations, he did sign autographs for his fellow jurors, bailiffs, lawyers and even the defendant. 

If you or a loved one has been charged with reckless driving, driving under the influence (DUI) or any other criminal traffic offense, call former prosecutor Justin Caldarone for a free consultation at (239) 537-0439.

The Naples Daily News is reporting that a 47-year-old Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputy, Todd D. Brownson, has been fired after his arrest for crashing his car while driving under the influence. 

Mr. Brownson was fired on August 6th at the conclusion of an internal affairs investigation.  He had been arrested on July 22nd after rear-ending his pickup truck into a car stopped at a red light in Fort Myers. 

He was charged with one count of DUI, two counts of driving under the influence with property damage, and a careless driving citation.  Prosecutors dropped the three criminal traffic charges on August 5th due to insufficient evidence. 

A spokesperson for the State Attorney’s Office said the crash report noted that Brownson’s color and pupils appeared normal and that his condition was “orderly,” none of which suggest that he was drunk. 

If you or a loved one has been charged with DUI (driving under the influence), contact former DUI prosecutor Justin P. Caldarone for a free consultation.

The Naples Daily News is reporting that a Golden Gate Estates couple, Juan Desperito and Kristee McArdle, both 18-years-old, have been charged with burglary, grand theft and dealing in stolen property after the two allegedly broke into a home owned by Dorothea Biela and stole a rare coin collection valued at $250,000 and a flat screen television. 

Ms. Biela called the police after she returned home to find her house had been burglarized.  As the police drove to the scene, deputies noticed a vehicle matching the description of the one leaving the scene and pulled it over.  Deputies found the two suspects inside the vehicle but no stolen merchandise. 

Later that night, police received a call from the victim’s son, who stated that he was at a Publix where store employees reported a couple cashing silver dollars at the customer service desk.  Detectives later searched the couple’s home and discovered Ms. Biela’s television.

If you or a loved one has been arrested or charged with burglary, grand theft or dealing in stolen property, call former prosecutor Justin P. Caldarone for a free consultation.

The Naples Daily News is reporting that Mark McAlear,48, of Naples was arrested in Fort Myers after picking up two packages containing 10 pounds of marijuana from undercover detectives at a packing and shipping facility.

The packages attracted law enforcement’s attention because the sender’s address appeared to be fake, the boxes were sealed with an unusual amount of tape and the boxes smelled like glue and spray foam, commonly used to mask the odor or marijuana.

McAlear paid the undercover detectives $100 for the packages and the detectives left.  The detectives then watched as McAlear went through the boxes.  He was then arrested and charged with felony possession of marijuana and sale or delivery of marijuana.

If you or a loved one has been arrested or accused of possession of marijuana or another drug, contact former prosecutor Justin Caldarone at (239) 537-0439 for a free consultation!

The Naples Daily News is reporting today that Timone Youngblood, 29 years of age, led police on a wild chase after a deputy noticed Youngblood’s car with improperly displayed tags near the intersection of 47th Street SW and Golden Gate Parkway. 

When the deputy attempted to stop Youngblood, he took off.  Youngblood eventually bailed out of his car after a lengthy pursuit, hopped a fence and was arrested about a half mile from where he ditched the car. 

Youngblood was arrested and charged with grand theft auto, fleeing and eluding and reckless driving. 

If you or a loved one has been accused of a felony or a misdemeanor, contact former prosecutor Justin P. Caldarone now for a free consultation at (239) 537-0439.  Do not delay!

The Naples Daily News is reporting this morning that a 42-year-old mother with her children, ages 4 and 7,  in the back seat and a blood alcohol level almost twice the legal limit of .08 rear-ended another vehicle early Saturday at the intersection of Vanderbilt Beach Road and Livingston Road in Naples, Florida.

Mireille Zappulla, the driver of a Volkswagen, collided with the rear-end of a Toyota that had been stopped at a red light at the intersection.  She was arrested for drunken driving  with a blook alcohol level in excess of .15 with minors in the car and child neglect.

DUI drivers who have minors in the car face enhanced penalties.  If you or a loved one has been arrested for driving under the influence with a minor in the car or just driving under the influence, contact former prosecutor Justin P. Caldarone immediately for a free consultation at (239) 537-0439.

The Naples Daily News is reporting that the United States Supreme Court, in a recent decision, has limited Miranda rights, otherwise known as the right to remain silent, for criminal suspects.  In a split decision, the Court ruled that suspects must break their silence and tell police they are going to remain silent to stop an interrogation, just as they must tell police that they want a lawyer.

This decision means that police can continue to question a suspect that refuses to talk as long as they want in hopes that the suspect will eventually make an incriminating statement. 

This case is a blow to criminal defendants in Florida and across the country.  In the event that you are asked to make a statement to a police officer after Miranda warnings are read to you or even before the warnings are read to you, you should tell the police officer that you do not wish to make a statement and would like to speak to a lawyer.  The police officer must terminate the questioning at that point.  Very rarely does it benefit you to make a statement to a police officer who is investigating a potential crime.

If you or a loved one has been accused of crime, call former prosecutor Justin Caldarone at (239) 537-0439 for a free consultation.  Do not delay!