Brancato Law Firm, P.A. Recent Blog Posts

New Florida Law Creates Crime of Dangerous Excessive Speeding Effective July 1, 2025, a new Florida law—§ 316.1922, Florida Statutes—creates the criminal offense of dangerous excessive speeding. This change reflects a legislative effort to crack down on drivers who engage in extreme and unsafe speeding behavior. What Changed? The law introduces a new criminal offense for…

Is a Porch a Dwelling Under Florida Burglary Law?  That question was at the center of a recent Florida case, Krasner v. State, 4D2024-0355 (June 11, 2025). The Fourth District Court of Appeal ruled that a covered front porch can qualify as part of a dwelling under Florida’s burglary statute. This ruling has serious implications for…

Navigating Florida Sex Offender Probation: A Guide to Protecting Your Future A sex offense allegation in Florida leads to more than the threat of prison. It begins a lifelong battle with the severe and invasive terms of Florida sex offender probation. These conditions, governed by statute, can permanently alter your freedom, destroy your career, and…

Think you messaged a minor online in Tampa? If you’re reading this, a simple online chat may have turned into a moment of pure panic. You might have just realized the person you were messaging on a dating app or social media is underage. Their profile looked different, they lied about their age, or the…

A conviction for sexual battery in Florida carries life-altering consequences. In fact, one of the most severe is a law that can prevent early release from prison: the Junny Rios-Martinez, Jr. Act. If you or a loved one is facing a sex crime allegation in the Tampa Bay area, understanding this law is the first…

By The Brancato Law Firm, P.A. | June 2025 Why the Jimmy Ryce Act Is Florida’s “Hidden Sentence” Finishing your prison sentence should mean you get your life back. But under Florida’s Jimmy Ryce Act, the State can petition to keep you locked away long after your release date. It’s called “civil commitment,” but for…

Not All Defense is Equal: A Guide to Comparing Top Sex Crimes Attorneys in Tampa When you are facing a sex crimes accusation in Tampa, choosing the right attorney is the single most important decision you will make. Consequently, your freedom, reputation, and future are on the line. But with so many lawyers claiming to…

Florida’s Criminal Statute of Limitations: A Tampa Defense Lawyer Explains For anyone under investigation or fearing potential criminal charges in Tampa Bay, one question looms largest: How long does the State have to act? Our Tampa statute of limitations lawyer explains below. In Florida, the statute of limitations (§775.15, Fla. Stat.) governs this deadline, establishing the…

How to Hire the Right Tampa Criminal Defense Attorney: 6 Critical Red Flags When you’re facing criminal charges in Florida, choosing your legal representation is the most important decision you will make. A search for a Tampa criminal defense attorney will unleash a flood of slick websites and ads with bold promises. However, in the…

In most criminal cases, a confession by itself isn’t enough to convict you. The prosecution must first provide independent evidence that a crime was committed—a legal principle known as corpus delicti. However, Florida law has a critical and dangerous exception for sex crime allegations. In certain circumstances in sex crimes cases, a prosecutor may be…