Clearwater Criminal Defense Law Blog

A Tampa man who allegedly fled the country to avoid responsibility for a deadly drunk-driving accident was sentenced to fifteen years in Florida prison last week.Hillsborough County authorities say Christopher Ponce was intoxicated while driving southbound in the northbound lanes of I-275 one summer day in 2012. According to investigators Ponce piloted his then-new Ford Fusion head-on into a 2000 Ford Mustang driven by William Angel.The accident, which took place near the I-4 interchange, killed the 20-year-old Angel instantly. Two of the Mustang's other three occupants were severely injured...

The proprietor of an East Tampa soul-food restaurant is accused by the Federal government of falsifying scores of tax returns using stolen identities and retrieving the fraudulent refunds via debit card transfers at her restaurant.Natalie Rene Panko pled guilty last week to one count of conspiracy to commit theft of government funds, three counts of theft of government property, three counts of access device fraud, and three counts of aggravated identity theft. According to federal attorneys, in late 2012 Panko and two other associates filed over six dozen federal tax returns in the name of...

A Ruskin man is in custody after authorities say he trapped another man with his vehicle and attempted to kill him with a firearm.Hillsborough County deputies say Earl Williams was in his black Cadillac sedan at a convenience store near North U.S. Highway 41 and Shell Point Road mid-morning on January 10 when a Ford Explorer driven by Derrick Javonte Gilghrest pulled in behind Williams' vehicle in a manner that made it impossible for it to leave.Upon coming to a stop, investigators say Gilghrest leveled a handgun at Williams' car and fired, striking him once in the back. Gilghrest...

A Naples man with a significant history of DUI convictions has been charged with several more after troopers say he caused an accident that led to the injury of three children.Per the Florida Highway Patrol, Jesus Sandoval was driving his 2004 Ford Explorer southbound on I-75 with his three children as passengers on the evening of December 28 when a Ford F-150 piloted by Billy Noel Catherwood struck its rear portion as it approached the exit to State Road 674.Troopers say the 35-year-old father was buckled in to the vehicle and was only lightly injured in the impact. Two of his children were...

A death by misadventure in the fall of 2016 is being laid at the feet of a Spring Hill man whom authorities arrested late last month, 453 days after the incident.Hernando County authorities allege Albert Henry Nickerson, Jr. was responsible for the September 2016 demise of his mother Beverly Ann Nickerson. Beverly passed away on the 26th of that month due to what was characterized in an arrest warrant as several blunt-force injuries. Also allegedly contributing to her passing was an inordinate amount of medicine administered to her, including morphine and other prescribed substances.Deputies...

Pinellas County authorities say a drug-fueled state of paranoia led a Largo man to take up a high-powered rifle and fatally shoot a pregnant stranger.Javier and Elizabeth Rosado were driving home from church in their Nissan Sentra with Elizabeth's younger brother and his 10-year-old stepdaughter on December 22 when a 2007 Buick Lucerne began to follow them down Woodlawn Street in Clearwater. Unconcerned with the vehicle at first, Javier's calm turned to calamity when the report of a firearm exploded from its back seat and Elizabeth was mortally wounded.Instantly realizing the dire nature of...

The discovery of a woman's body almost exactly one full year ago resulted in the arrest of several suspects last week, including the heir to a major St. Petersburg flooring chain.The remains of Tarpon Springs mother of three Taylor Anne McAllister were discovered on December 22 of last year in an alley in St. Petersburg by local authorities. Police say their investigation led them to believe that the 22-year-old was left there while still barely alive by Deonte Maurice Baker and Quran Maurice Archer, both of St. Petersburg as well. Investigators say they traced the trail back to the Palm...

Despite never having touched the murder weapon himself, a Tampa man is facing murder charges in the death of a friend.Hillsborough County authorities say Daundrea Lamar Butler and his friend Ecru Richardson were engaged in the sale of illicit drugs late last week when the sale took a turn for the worse. Authorities assert that the pair conducted the deal at a local apartment complex, with Butler at the wheel and Richardson his passenger.According to investigators, Richardson left the vehicle to approach his opposite number in the transaction. The party, who police as yet have been unable to...

Rather than facing the prospect of death at the hands of the state, a woman charged with four counts of murder pled guilty last week and was sentenced to two-and-a-half decades behind bars.Authorities say Dora Delgado, along with co-defendant Christopher Lee Duncan, together murdered three individuals and wounded a fourth at a residence in Moon Lake in what they say was an argument over illegal drugs. Delgado's participation allegedly involved cornering a victim in the bathroom and shooting her, leaving, then returning and shooting an already-deceased victim a second time. Though Delgado...