Florida Criminal Lawyer Blog

Our South Florida criminal defense attorneys have been reading about crime statistics released by the FBI earlier this week. According to the stats, crime decreased nationwide in 2008. However, while violent crime in South Florida has declined, Florida Department of Law Enforcement statistics from earlier this year show that property crimes such as auto theft, larceny, and burglary are actually increasing in some parts of Florida.

In Broward County, property crimes increased by 4.32 percent, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Dania Beach, Deerfield Beach, and Tamarac saw double-digit increases in property crimes. Most agencies in Palm Beach County saw decreases in violent and property crimes, but violent crime in Boynton Beach increased by 2.7 percent.

Law enforcement officials in Broward and Palm Beach cited the economic downturn as a motivating factor for property crimes, because some people are becoming increasingly desperate.

Broward, Palm Beach County violent crime drops in 2008, South Florida Sun Sentinel, September 14, 2009

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Today, a St. Lucie County Fire District firefighter who had originally faced up to 60 days in jail for second-degree petit theft charges was sentenced to six months probation. Cynthia "Cyndy" Economou, 38, admitted to taking the severed foot and part of a leg from a man who was seriously injured in a car crash on Interstate 95 last year.

The Assistant State Attorney had asked that the firefighter be sentenced to five days in jail for the five days that the defendant had the severed foot before giving it to authorities. The defendant discovered the foot an hour after the accident victim was transported to St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach. She said she did so to help train her body-recovery dog.

The judge called the case "highly unusual" and said that the defendant's other accomplishments, including founding an organization to train physically, emotionally, or mentally challenged people to compete in Special Olympics equestrian events, outweighed her bad judgment in this case.

St. Lucie County firefighter who took severed foot gets probation, South Florida Sun Sentinel, May 29, 2009

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Last week, the Broward Sheriff's Office announced that they believe the 28 robberies of 7-Eleven and other stores were all committed by the same suspect, an armed man wearing saggy pants and a green mask.

The robberies date back to November, but the most recent incident occurred at 4am on Thursday at a 7-Eleven in Oakland Park. No one was injured, but the Broward Sheriff's office said it has had enough.

Over half of the robberies in Broward County and West Palm County were at 7-Eleven convenience stores. The robber also held up a Subway, a Walgreens, and KFC. 7-Eleven has offered a $10,000 reward for the suspect's arrest and Crime Stoppers is adding an additional $2,500, bringing the total to $12,500.

Most of the incidents occurred during the early hours of the morning. Surveillance videos show a male between 5 foot 9 and 6 feet tall, weighing between 170 and 180 pounds.

BSO: Same robber responsible for 28 stickups of 7-Elevens, other stores in Broward, Palm Beach counties, South Florida Sun Sentinel, April 16, 2009

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A Palm Beach County Circuit Judge has sentenced an 81-year-old pastor at Delray Beach’s St. Vincente Ferrer to 14 months in prison, followed by seven years probation. Father John Skehan pleaded guilty to grand theft over $100,000 and showed remorse for stealing from his congregation. Another priest, Father Francis Guinan, already stood trial for grand theft and was convicted of a lesser charge.

Although Florida state’s minimum sentencing guidelines require 20 months of jail time, the judge reduced the sentence because of Skehan’s age, his admission of guilt, and the fact that he has made over $700,000 in restitution. The Diocese of Palm Beach and members of the church pleaded on Skehan’s behalf, but the judge refused to drop the jail time, calling Skehan’s crime “pure greed unmasked.”

Now Skehan must surrender himself to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office on or before May 1. His defense attorney said he was disappointed by the sentencing but not surprised because of the intense media scrutiny the trial has attracted.

Judge orders one Delray Beach priest to prison, calls theft 'greed unmasked;' second priest's sentencing today, Palm Beach Post, March 24, 2009

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