The Dangers of a BUI

Boating can seem like the perfect time to celebrate a little and the consequences of a few drinks one day on the water can seem miniscule.  They aren’t.  Recent reports show that alcohol is one of the top five contributing factors in boating accidents and roughly half of all boating accidents are linked to drug and alcohol use.

Few people are aware how dangerous boating under the influence can be and even fewer know how to fight a BUI in the courts.  A good BUI lawyer is hard to come by.

Boating under the influence carries strict penalties such as:

• Suspension or revocation of licenses
• Steep fees
• Jail Time
• Probation
• Community service,
• Alcohol counseling
• And potential Civil Liability.

Law enforcement is clamping down on BUI offenders and there aren’t enough BUI lawyers are out there to meet the rising demands.  The charges are serious and your freedom is on the line.  Musca Law will defend that line and ensure your safety and peace of mind.  Get the experts that can help you swiftly and professionally.

BUI Lawyer in New Port Richey

Musca Law offers sound legal advice and top-tier BUI defense.  Our staff has experience and knowledge well above its peers.  From a mild first time offense to a fatal accident, we offer help to those who need it.  Act while you still can and get the Drunk Boating lawyer you need to protect you or your loved ones.  Call us today and receive professional consultation about your options.

Our offices serve Wesley Chapel, Land O’ Lakes, New Port Richey, Bayonet Point, Holiday and we can be reached at (727) 324-4531

Our office address is 6328 U.S. Highway 19, Suite F New Port Richey, Florida 34652

Over 36 hours, law enforcement officers arrested a total of 244 people in what’s being called the largest warrants sweep conducted in the county.

The multi-agency sweep, dubbed “Operation Law and Order,” flooded parts of Pasco with nearly 110 law enforcement officers from noon to midnight, Tuesday through Thursday of this week.

“Our citizens saw an overwhelming force of presence out there, and they deserve that,” said Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco.

The sweep included law enforcement involvement from the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Marshals, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the U.S. Postal Service and the New Port Richey, Dade City, Port Richey and Zephyrhills police departments, among other agencies.

Law enforcement personnel attempted to serve 1,053 warrants. A total of 302 warrants were served, including 130 felony warrants and 172 misdemeanors.

Of the 244 total arrests, 68 were on probable cause.

The arrests were made in the county, but some were of warrants from other jurisdictions that listed their subjects’ residences as being in Pasco.

There were warrants issued for drug crimes. Officers found marijuana, methamphetamine and prescription pills.

The most violent of the crimes people were served warrants for were aggravated assaults, batteries and domestic violence offenses, said Sgt. Dan Olds, head of the sheriff’s office’s warrants unit.

At the point of the sweep, Pasco had accumulated 22,000 outstanding arrest warrants, the oldest on file dating back to 1972, Olds said. He did not know if that one was worked.

The largest warrant sweep in the county before this was in the late 1980s, he said.

Nocco said that he remembered that one warrant officers were working dated all the way back to 1988.

“We were driving down some streets, and there was probably about seven houses that had possible warrants,” he said.

The Pasco Sheriff’s Office receives about 1,000 warrants a month on average, said Capt. Michael Ferrantelli and serves about 800 of them.

A key component of Nocco’s administration is fighting pill crime in Pasco.

“Make no mistake about it; we arrested a lot of people in the past three days that were addicted to prescription pills,” Nocco said.

In one incident, officers arrived at a residence to serve a warrant and found the intended recipient absent, Nocco said. What they did see there was a female with a year-old baby in bed with her. She had black and blue marks on an arm, needle marks on her legs and pills on her. Nocco said she had warrants out on her.

“It breaks your heart when you see that little baby,” he said.

Nocco said he plans to continue sweeps.

“We feel the pain of our citizens in those neighborhoods that are crime-ridden,” Nocco said. “We hear them, we understand them and we’re going to rescue them from the situations they’re in.”

Legal troubles in Pasco? Contact a Pasco Defense attorney at Musca Law right now for a free consultation.

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This crime is somewhat common, authorities say. But Gary might be a piece to a larger case:

He is suspected of being part of an organized fraud ring filing fraudulent tax returns in the Tampa Bay area, a report states. The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office has been working with the U.S. Secret Service, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and the Tampa Police Department for three months on a task force investigating these rings, the report states.

Pasco authorities referred all questions about Gary and the fraud rings to the Secret Service, which declined to comment.

“It is ongoing,” Special Agent in Charge John Joyce said of the case. “It is very active. I can’t comment on it at all.”

In Gary ‘ arrest report, Pasco Detective Justin Ross said Gary, along with those involved in the organized fraud rings, have been finding personal identification of the deceased through genealogy websites. Ross said the criminals file the returns through Turbo Tax and have the funds placed on credit cards that require no bank account or credit check.

“The tax returns are placed onto Green Dot credit cards and sent out to the suspects who filed the tax returns,” Ross wrote. “The suspects are able to have full access to the Green Dot accounts and can spend the money on the cards at their discretion.

“IRS tax fraud has become an epidemic in the Tampa Bay area,” he wrote.

Gary, of Tampa, was picked up by Pasco deputies in an unrelated case about 1:20 a.m. Monday in Wesley Chapel, after an ex-girlfriend accused Gary of stalking her. While he was being searched, deputies found two credit cards in his backpack that did not have his name on them, a report states. A search of his car led to a list of 22 names, dates of birth and Social Security numbers of citizens — many of whom were deceased, authorities said.

Gary is charged with 22 counts of fraudulent use of personal identification and one count of stalking. He is being held at the Pasco County jail in lieu of $57,500 bail.

If you’ve also been charged with a fraud crime in Florida, or another type of criminal offense entirely, it’s vital that you quickly contact a Pasco criminal defense lawyer at Musca Law to go over your legal options. Call 727-480-9675 right now to schedule a free phone consultation.

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Addressing members of the Land O’ Lakes Rotary Club on Monday, Sept. 12, Nocco said law enforcement agencies and residents throughout the county need to work together to tackle crime.

“Criminals don’t know any boundaries,” he said. “Criminals don’t care what ZIP code or area code you’re in.”

With that in mind, Nocco’s agency has been working with others throughout the county to share intelligence about crime on a regular basis. The county’s SWAT team also recently combined with New Port Richey’s to provide better overall coverage, Nocco said.

Through Intelligence Led Policing, the agency is also concentrating its efforts on more strategic coverage of crime hot spots in the county. The idea is to root out career criminals and to deploy forces where they are critically needed.

“Six percent of the criminals commit 60 percent of the crimes,” Nocco told Rotary members.

Concerning Issues

Pasco County is facing a number of pressing law enforcement issues, Nocco said, that require a full county effort tamp down on.

Illegal use of prescription pills is a major issue that’s affecting the county from one end to the other.

“We’re number two in the state for (pill-related) deaths,” he said. “(And), we’re number two for babies being born addicted. If we don’t stop this epidemic now, we’re not going to have (a next generation), they’re all going to be addicts.”

While big crimes such as prescription pill sales are pressing, Nocco said the small issues aren’t flying under the radar in Pasco. His deputies are placing an emphasis on everything from cracking down on panhandling to citing unlicensed contractors.

“I want that mentality — you don’t commit a crime in Pasco County,” he said.

Get Involved

Residents can get involved in helping the sheriff’s office crack down on crime by keeping their eyes and ears open, Nocco said. The agency is also looking for feedback on priorities for the sheriff’s office.

Anyone can voice their opinion about priorities by taking an online survey available on the sheriff’s office website. The results will be used to help put together a five-year strategic plan for the agency. Nocco hopes to have this ready in February.

Residents can also get more involved by reporting crimes. The sheriff’s office has an anonymous tip form on its website.

If you’ve been accused of a crime, of any type, in Pasco County, there are things that can be done in your legal defense. Contact a Pasco County criminal attorney at Musca Law today to discuss this matter.

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Nocco is asking for 23 new staffers, most of whom would combat prescription drug abuse. Besides two new teams of deputies, he also wants three crime analysts and eight nurses to deal with inmate addiction issues at the county jail.

Several commissioners said on Tuesday they were open to his request.

“It is an epidemic that is affecting all aspects, all walks of life in Pasco County,” said Commissioner Ted Schrader. “This is quickly getting out of control. They’re obviously short-staffed in that regard. I’m inclined to give him what he’s asking for.”

Those new employees would cost $1.6 million and would be paid for with savings from pension costs. The Legislature this spring required all state employees to begin contributing 3 percent of their salary toward their retirement, saving the Sheriff’s Office $4.7 million.

But besides continuing to pay salaries for the new deputies, commissioners will face additional law enforcement costs a year from now, when the county begins paying for 24 other deputies that were hired a couple of years ago with a grant from federal stimulus money.

The county has been socking money away for the past three years to pay the first year’s $2.4 million cost. But commissioners will have to find money to pay those deputies starting the following year.

“Does anybody on the board think that the financial conditions are going to be greatly improved next year?” said county budget chief Mike Nurrenbrock.

At a budget hearing Tuesday night, commissioners gave tentative approval to the upcoming year’s $1 billion county budget that leaves the property tax rate the same as this year: $7.68 for every $1,000 of assessed value. The budget year begins Oct. 1.

Commissioner Jack Mariano cast the lone vote against the spending plan, citing insufficient funding for parks. He has been crusading against new fees for parking, boat launches and youth sports from the moment they were adopted last September.

The fees were billed as a way to offset proposed cuts to the parks budget. They were supposed to raise $876,000, including $656,000 from parking fees alone. But a bungled roll out of the parking fees means collections are currently about a third of that figure.

Mariano even floated a slight increase in the property tax rate as a way to end the fees. For a homeowner, that would mean an extra $2 in taxes for every $50,000 in assessed value.

On Tuesday, Mariano said he ran the plan by several of Pasco’s top commercial taxpayers, including east Pasco egg farmer Wilton Simpson, major car dealerships and the Shops at Wiregrass.

“They all firmly believe we need to really promote the parks,” he said. “They would pay extra taxes. They don’t mind the extra money.”

Mariano’s idea couldn’t take effect this coming year, as commissioners voted to keep the property tax rate the same as this past year. He has said he is laying the groundwork to eliminate the fees with a future tax rate increase.

For next year’s budget, commissioners have roughly $1.3 million to play with. They’ve already spent about $230,000 for various expenses, such as continued operations of the two county swimming pools and an extra veterans resource officer.

Whatever money is left over would go into reserves. Nurrenbrock said the county wants to boost reserves from $24 million to $32 million to help the county continue operating during a disaster such as a hurricane.

Commissioners are scheduled to discuss the sheriff’s budget next week at a budget workshop, and they will hold a final public hearing on the county budget at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 20 in New Port Richey.

Has an existing Pasco police officer already charged you with a crime? If so, you have the right to stand up for yourself in court. Contact our Pasco County defense attorneys today to discuss your options.

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“That’s what we get rid of a day,” said one the men in the video as he showed piles of pills spread out on a floor.

The footage goes back to a 2009 case and was confiscated by the Sheriff’s office after the suspects were arrested.

One of the suspects bragged that he was a fugitive, wanted by the FBI and DEA.

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco says these are the type of people that are destroying our community.  “You can see in this video, he could care less about the families he’s destroying. He doesn’t care about the children in school that are taking these pills. For him it’s about money and glory.”

“Look at that. Skittles, taste the rainbow,” said one of the suspects, as he showed off a pile of colorful pills.

Nocco says he will show this video to citizens at Monday’s crime-fighting workshop. It’s a chance for people to tell the sheriff about the problems in Pasco County. He says so far their main concern is about the pill problem.

“It affects their family. It affects their loved ones. It affects their community. And they want to see us go out there and be more aggressive with it,” said Nocco.

Nocco says they are seeing more violence, especially around pain management clinics. He says the Sheriff’s office is concentrating in those areas. He also says people with prescriptions need to be keep their pills secured.

“We tell people when they leave a bank, don’t walk out with a roll of twenty dollar bills in your hand. The same thing with that little white bag. Wrap it up in a brown bag. Put it into a larger container, so people don’t see that you are leaving the store with prescription pills,” said Nocco.

The crime-fighting workshop is Monday at 7 pm at the St. George Community Center in Port Richey.

From a legal standpoint, not the smartest move. However, drug offenders deserve every right to a fair trial when charged with a crime. For this reason, our Pasco County drug crime attorneys offer a free legal consultation to discuss your drug offense. Call 727-480-9675 right now.

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Deputies say they already have the getaway driver involved in at least one of the thefts, on Aug. 4. Marylynn Maldonado, 23, was charged with criminal mischief, grand theft and dealing in stolen property because she allegedly drove Joshua Lee Petty and Donald Rebston to the substation at 17029 East Road, near the Hernando County line.

The men stole about 200 feet of copper wire, valued at about $1,196, deputies said. The theft caused thousands in damage and will directly affect co-op members’ electric bills, said Withlacoochee spokesman David Lambert.

Authorities believe the trio also hit another WREC substation at 16540 Old Dixie Highway on Aug. 16, stealing a large spool of wire worth about $800 and causing thousands of dollars in additional damage.

Lambert said the East Road substation had been hit by thieves last August. They stole copper ground wire, which protected the plant against lightning. It was subsequently struck by a bolt that caused thousand of dollars in damage.

Copper thefts are common, though people don’t understand how dangerous it is, Lambert said. People have been electrocuted and severely injured trying to steal copper.

If you’re charged with a theft crime in Pasco County, don’t waste time contacting a Pasco County defense lawyer at Musca Law.

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It may look like your everyday neighborhood, but a neighborhood in east Pasco has had the most car thefts in the city so far this year.

“I’m not surprised because in the Tri-Cities it happens all the time,” said Terry Martinez.

Terry Martinez has lived in Pasco her whole life. She says a friend just had his car stolen a few weeks ago. Her brother was also a victim of theft. His car was later found at a chop shop.

“He reported it and they found it in Yakima that was months later and it was junky and stuff,” said Martinez.

KEPR pulled the numbers from Pasco police and found in the first half of last year there were 44 stolen cars. For the same period this year, it nearly doubled. 75 were taken. We took it one step further to narrow down the five streets that had the most hits:

1. North 24th
2. North 4th
3. West Bonneville
4. West Lewis
5. West Shoshone

All in the east part of town right where Karina and her mom live.

“We know they’ve stolen her stereo out of her car once or twice, they repaired the windshield and they broke it again. I’m very surprised,” said Karina Centeno.

We walked up, down and in between W. Lewis and W. Shoshone, the were the main streets that were hit this year, but most people we talked to here don’t leave their car doors locked or windows rolled up because they think someone can’t do something as simple as this.

Despite the stats, Karina doesn’t think she lives in a more dangerous area than others.

“Maybe it’s just the area where you live you probably don’t hear about it, on 68 or Richland, but it happens anywhere, people want to steal their going to steal,” said Karina.

Police say you can avoid most of these attempts by keeping your doors locked and windows rolled up, even when it’s hot outside.

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A report released Tuesday recommends that Pasco County Deputy Ashley G. be suspended for violating prisoner custody and transport regulations.

The report said the 23-year-old Ashley left a window of her patrol car down while Brittany M. was in custody in the back seat after a May 10 traffic stop. Deputies say the 21-year-old Brittany got one hand free of her cuffs and escaped, speeding off in her pickup truck and injuring Ashley when the deputy tried to stop her.

Deputies say Brittany blew through a red light at an intersection and killed a man riding a motorcycle. She is now charged with his murder.

Facing DUI charges in Pasco? If so, contact a Pasco County DUI defense attorney at Musca Law today for a free legal consultation.

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A U.S. magistrate judge on Thursday issued arrest warrants for Ryan D., 21, Dylan S., 26, and Lee Grace D., 29, in connection with the August 2 robbery of a bank in Valdosta, Georgia.

“Understand that these fugitives are on a violent mission and must be stopped by any means possible before they harm another innocent person or a law enforcement officer,” a Florida sheriff and police chief said in a joint statement.

In Georgia, one of the suspects carried an AK-47 assault rifle as they entered the bank dressed in black and wearing masks, a statement from the FBI in Atlanta said.

Shots were fired at the ceiling, and everyone in the bank was ordered to get down. The three suspects escaped with an undisclosed amount of cash, the FBI said.

They were last seen in a white, four-door 2006 Subaru Impreza, with the New York license tag FBE 5900, the FBI said.

The siblings are also suspected of shooting at a Zephyrhills, Florida police officer’s patrol vehicle earlier that same day.

The officer was in pursuit of a white, four-door car for speeding when suspects inside the car shot at the officer and disabled the patrol vehicle. The officer was not hurt.

The FBI said the siblings should be considered armed and dangerous.

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