Florida Child Injury Lawyer Blog

An Alachua County man (Keith Edward Olmeda) was recently sentenced to 150 years in federal prison for sexually abusing his former girlfriend's children and for videotaping these heinous acts. This acts of Olmeda are very disturbing and make this case or sentence ripe for the act of locking him up and throwing away the jail key. Olmeda is a sexual predator who is an absolute danger to society and children. Children should be protected, nurtured and educated by parents and other adults. Making them the subject of sex acts and videotapes is cruel punishment by a the acts of a selfish and sociopathic person.

You can read more about this story at Alachua Man Gets 150 Federal Prison Sentence.

Valeria Maxon and her husband lived in Mansfield, Texas, with their son, Alex. In 2006, Alex’s doctor told the Maxons that the child was developmentally disabled. The couple took the child to a Florida child therapy center.

It was at this time that Ms. Maxon started showing signs of mental illness, saying that Alex was dying and it was her fault because she was a bad mother. She was hospitalized for several days in Florida until her husband released her to return to Texas. After returning home, she became more delusional, saying that she was possessed by Satan and that their son was the Antichrist.

Both Ms. Maxon’s sister and one of her psychiatric doctors warned Maxon not to leave Alex alone with his mother. But in 2008 he left the house for an hour and half; when he returned home his wife informed him that she had drowned Alex in the hot tub. Ms. Maxon was arrested and charged with capital murder. She was found not guilty by reason of insanity, and was sent to a maximum security mental hospital.

That same week, Maxon was charged with abandoning his son and placing him in imminent danger of death or injury. Prosecutors argued that a reasonable person would not have left the baby with his mother when she was so clearly mentally ill. Jurors deliberated just over a half an hour before returning a guilty verdict. The maximum sentence for second degree murder in Texas is twenty years in prison.

Read more about this sad case at Mansfield father found guilty in wife's drowning death of baby.

Dr. Robert Davis Williams, an emergency room doctor, was arrested at his home recently by Jacksonville, Florida Sheriff’s office deputies. Williams, who earned his medical degree at the University of Florida, and completed his residency at Shands, Jacksonville, has been charged with possession of child pornography.

Reportedly, a woman living with Williams came across a video portraying child pornography and notified police. She told police investigators that she then looked further and found thousands of DVDs which could be classified as child pornography. Police have seized Williams’ computer and computer storage media along with several hundred VHS tapes and DVDs.

Williams is licensed to practice medicine in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Alabama, and was working as a travelling emergency physician with Team Health until he was fired on the same day that he was arrested. If he is convicted he could face up to five years in prison.

Read more about the arrest of a Jacksonville doctor at Hundreds of Discs, Tapes Taken from Jacksonville Doctor Facing Child Porn Charges.

If your child has been the victim of sexual abuse or the subject of exploitation or harm, contact a Florida Child Injury Lawyer for consultation as to your child's civil rights as they pertain to damages for medical bills, counseling, and related pain and suffering.

A Port St. John, Florida woman called the Brevard County, Florida Sheriff’s Office before noon on a recent Saturday morning, after finding an eighteen month old child in a diaper at her front door. According to Deputy Andre Walters, the woman was familiar with the child’s family, and directed police to the home of Sarah R. Petty, where they found a three year old at home alone.

Witnesses said that they had last seen Ms. Petty leaving her home at 8:00 p.m. the previous evening. After a few hours of searching, deputies located Ms. Petty at a friend’s home a few blocks away. According to officers, Ms. Petty was drunk when they found her.

Ms. Petty has been charged with child neglect and has been taken to the Brevard County jail. The two children are now with their father, who was out of town at the time of the incident, and the Florida Department of Children and Families has been notified about the situation. The Sheriff’s investigation into the matter is still ongoing.

Children need to be closely supervised at all times. Leaving two young children alone to go out drinking is a crime, and Ms. Petty will have her day in court to answer to these serious charges. Find out more details of this story at Tots found unattended; mother charged, jailed.

If your child has been injured due to someone else’s negligence, a Florida Child Injury Lawyer can provide guidance, counsel, and when supported by both the law and the facts representation to pursue damages for medical bills (past and future) and related pain and suffering.

In Florida, is it a parent's duty to protect a child from a dangerous person including boyfriends, girlfriends, and fiances? The simple answer is . . . Absolutely! Many parents often times may a decision to spend time with a boyfriend, girlfriend, significant other, or fiance rather than concentrate on the best interest of a child. If a person poses a danger to a child, a parent should keep his or her child out of harm's way. The safety a child is paramount to everything else. In Cape Coral, Florida, a 34 year old woman (Nicole Brewington) was recently sentenced to 30 years of prison time for her failure to protect her child who died as a result of a beating by her former boyfriend. You can read more about this story at Woman Gets 30 Years in Child's Death.

An apartment complex maintenance worker may have saved the life of an infant recently. The worker noticed an infant wrapped in blankets and locked in an SUV in the parking lot of the building complex where he worked. The window of the vehicle was cracked open about an inch, allowing the man to pry open the window and get the child out of the car. Other witnesses reported that the child had been locked in the car for about an hour before being rescued.

After deputies arrived at the scene, Latosha Yeadon returned to her car. She reportedly admitted to making arrangements over the Internet to commit prostitution with a man who lived at the apartment complex. The Hillsborough, Florida Sheriff’s office would not comment on whether the three month old child was Ms. Yeadon’s daughter or not. The girl was brought to Brandon Hospital and is in stable condition. Ms. Yeadon has been charged with aggravated child abuse, aggravated child neglect, prostitution and contributing to the dependency of a child.

Leaving a child unattended in a vehicle can be fatal. It is fortunate that an observant Samaritan noticed the child in the car and got her out before she was seriously injured. Find out more about this story at Deputies: Woman left infant in car to meet prostitution client.

If your child has been injured due to negligence or an accident, please contact our Jacksonville, Florida area law firm for child injury legal counsel.

Deputies from the Volusia County, Florida Sheriff’s Office were conducting a felony traffic stop when the possibly armed suspect began behaving irrationally. Jorge Garcia allegedly began yelling profanities at the deputies and then got in the back seat of his car and refused to get out. When deputies threatened to use a taser gun on him, the man allegedly got out of the car, grabbed a one year old baby from the backseat and held it in front of him, shouting “tase the baby” at the officers.

The deputies were able to remove the baby from Garcia’s arms without any harm to the child. A woman, Tangeca Garcia, who was a passenger in the car reportedly then got out and attempted to block officers from using their taser guns on Garcia. The deputies were eventually able to tase Garcia so that they could place him under arrest.

Garcia has been charged with child abuse and resisting arrest. Ms. Garcia has also been arrested and charged with resisting arrest. Of course, Mr. Garcia and Ms. Garcia will be entitled to defend themselves through representation from a Florida criminal defense attorney or a public defender. There may be legal defenses to the situation that should be explored by the defense attorney.

Unfortunately, children are put in danger every day by parents and caregivers who engage in reckless and careless activities. Parents and caregivers should to their best to think through the consequences of their actions. Of course, many parents and caregivers have mental health issues that complicate the situation. In these instances, family members, extended family members and when necessary the Court and Florida Department of Children and Families should step in when necessary to protect the interests and welfare o the children.

Read more about the arrest of Jorge Garcia at Cops: 'Tase the baby,' man dared them.

Wood, Atter & Wolf is a full service law firm based in Jacksonville Florida and Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Attorneys at the firm handle criminal, family law, business, probate, guardianship, and child personal injury matters. The above reported incident will involve issues involving criminal and family law.

Tempe, Arizona resident Elizabeth Johnson was extradited from Florida over the holidays after she failed to appear for a child custody hearing in Phoenix, Arizona. Her child, Gabriel Johnson was not with her at the time, and the child’s whereabouts are still unknown.

Elizabeth reportedly had tried to give the baby up for adoption in the past, turning her son over to a Scottsdale, Arizona couple she met in an airport several months previously. She later took the child back, and recently sent text messages to the child’s father, Logan McQueary, saying that she had killed the child. She now claims that she handed him over to a couple she met in a park in San Anonio, Texas. According to Ms. Johnson’s Grandfather, Bob Johnson, she was desperate to get the child adopted and may have tried to find a willing couple on Craigslist or some other online service. Police still do not know if the child is dead or alive, or if the child is in Texas, Florida or Arizona. Ms. Johnson has been charged with kidnapping, child abuse, and custodial interference. She is refusing to cooperate with authorities.

Find out more about this story at Missing Baby "Persons of Interest" Speak.

According to a Marion County, Florida Sheriff’s Office report, Nekisha Smith made a trip to the McDonalds drive thru one evening with her five year old son in the car. An employee of the restaurant became concerned after noticing that Ms. Smith was allegedly speaking with a slurred voice and smelled of alcohol. She also reportedly seemed confused about her order once she reached the window. The employee told Ms. Smith that her food was still being cooked, and asked her to pull forward to wait for it. He then called police.

When police arrived, Ms. Smith was parked in the McDonalds parking lot, eating her food. She reportedly told deputies that she was just tired from drinking the day before; she also said that she was taking several medications, including Zoloft. She failed field sobriety tests, including a breathalyzer that showed a blood alcohol level of .13. The child’s father was called to pick up the boy, and Ms. Smith was arrested. She has been charged with drunken driving and child neglect. Deputies have contacted the Florida department of Children and Families about the incident.

Read more about the alleged McDonald’s drunken drive-thru incident Mother arrested in McDonald’s parking lot, charged with child neglect, DUI.

If your child has been injured by a drunk driver, please contact our Jacksonville and Northern Florida law firm for child injury legal counsel.

Three small children may have saved their mother’s life recently. Their mother was washing dishes when her boyfriend and the children’s father, Jose Oliva, attacked her with a pocket knife. He reportedly threatened to take the children away from her and go back to Mexico if she ever tried to leave him. He then allegedly punched her in the back. The three children, all around pre-school age, then intervened to try to stop him from hurting her. Oliva apparently backed off. When he fell asleep sometime later, the woman escaped from the home with all three children and called the Hillsboro County, Florida Sheriff’s office.

The children suffered some bumps and bruises from the attack. Oliva was arrested without incident. He is being held on charges of domestic violence battery by strangulation, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, child abuse and tampering with a witness. His bail has been set at $57,500.

Domestic violence is far too common in Florida homes and throughout the United States. Unfortunately, children are often caught in the middle of domestic disputes. Parents should always act in the best interests of a child rather by responding to the heat of the moment. Children are harmed psychologically when they witness violent events or even threats of violence.

Mr. Oliva will be entitled to the services of a a criminal defense attorney or public defender. Of course, in many domestic violence situations, there are several versions of the events. This case will be handled in criminal court. It may also be dealt with in family law court in custody and visitation proceedings.

You can read more about these three brave children who stood up to their mother’s attacker at Plant City kids injured trying to save mom from dad's attack, deputies say.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a Vero Beach, Florida woman, Blanca Idalia Juarez, had two children with her in her car when she lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a canal. She refused to perform a sobriety test at the scene, but is reported to have told officers that she had consumed four alcoholic beverages before getting behind the wheel.

The two children were taken to a nearby Florida hospital for treatment. Their mother was arrested and charged with one count of driving under the influence, two counts of child neglect and two counts of battery on a law enforcement officer.

Ms. Juarez will be entitled to representation on this criminal matter by a Public Defender or a private criminal defense lawyer. In most cases, the interview of a suspected drunk driving suspect is recorded on video tape. Regardless of this evidence, Ms. Juarez can defend herself on these charges and her statements at the scene. The failure to submit to a field sobriety test and / or breath test can be used in the criminal case as evidence along with the fact that there was an accident.

Children are subject to the will of their parents, and as such parents have the responsibility to carefully watch out for their children’s well-being. Consuming four alcoholic drinks and then getting behind the wheel with your young children is not a recipe for a good parenting award. It is fortunate that no one was seriously injured in this accident. You can read more details of Ms. Juarez’ arrest and the charges against her at Woman charged with DUI, child neglect after crash.

A baby, who was not even 3 months old, suffered serious personal injuries while under the care of his mother - Madria Eyvette Roundtree. She has been charged with neglect after her baby suffered head injuries. From a story posted at The Palm Beach News Website, the baby may have suffered the injuries from a fall from bed. Thereafter, it appears that there was a delay in getting the baby medical attention. Other family members urged Ms. Roundtree to see more timely medical care and evaluation according to the article.

Of course, Ms. Roundtree is entitled to legal representation on this matter through a private attorney or through the public defender's office. Ms. Roundtree, through her attorney, will probably argue that there was no intent to harm her child and that she was unaware of the severity of the injuries until she took the child into the hospital. There may also be arguments that the delay or alleged delay did not cause any further injuries. Of course, there are a great many of details from a forensic and medical standpoint that will be developed by each side as this case progresses further.

Parenting certainly is not a part time job or responsibility especially when caring for infants and babies. Since children this young cannot communicate their needs or ailments, it is vital that a parent or caregiver is very diligent in getting a child medical care any time there is a doubt or concern about the health or well being of a child.

You can read more about this story at Boynton Beach Mother Charged with Neglect - Child Is Now Deaf and Blind from Head Trauma / Injuries.

Three children, one as young as two years old, escaped undetected from a Grace Community Schools daycare center in Cape Coral Florida. The children crossed a busy street where they were gathered up by concerned onlookers. Moments later a few of the school’s employees came outside to look for the kids. One of the onlookers, Nicholas Nuzzi, called the Cape Coral police department to report the incident. He also made a report to the Florida Department of Children and Families.

The Florida Department of Children and Families has confirmed that it is investigating the complaint, and that this particular incident is one of several charges of abuse and neglect made against Grace Community Schools’ schools and daycare center operators. Because the schools are run under a religious exemption, they are not licensed or inspected by the state. Read more about this daycare at Toddlers escape from Cape Coral daycare.

In Florida, a day care center can operate under a religious exempt status if the day care center is part of a bona fide religious institution. But even religious exempt day care centers have employment screening and background checks as well as other requirements. Parents should the take the time and effort to collect information and speak to the day care owners, day care workers, other parents, and the State regulatory agency about the day care center where they will be leaving their child, whether the daycare is state licensed or not.

If your child has been subject to abuse or neglect while in daycare or elsewhere, please contact our firm for expert advice from experienced child injury lawyers.

Sanchia Xavier-Velez gave birth to her daughter, Jazmyne Rayne Gowers-Velez, at home in early November. Ms. Xavier-Velez brought the infant’s body to the hospital the next morning, and reported to authorities that she gave birth to the child in a toilet, and that the child was stillborn. But police suspected that the child had been a victim of foul play.

A doctor has examined the child and found that she was breathing before she died and that she had water in her lungs – both indications that the child died by drowning. Ms. Xavier-Velez, who also has a seven year old daughter, has been arrested and charged with first degree murder and aggravated child abuse. She is being held without bond in the Orange County jail. Her seven year old has been placed in the care of the Florida Department of Children and Families.

In Florida and other States, a person, who is charged with a crime, is entitled to defend herself from the charges with legal representation by a private criminal defense attorney or, in the alternative, the public defender. Whenever there are medical issues involved, cases of this nature can be quite complicated especially when each side presents competent testimony from expert witnesses and medical providers.

Ms. Xavier-Velez told authorities that she was at home alone with her other daughter when she felt the urge to go to the bathroom, and unexpectedly delivered her child into the toilet. She claims that she then passed out for as many as three hours. When she awoke she went to sleep on the couch. She says that she did not take further action because she did not feel well enough to drive and her cell phone service had been turned off. Authorities report that Ms. Xavier –Velez has a history of unwanted pregnancies, having given one child up for adoption and aborting another two years ago. They also report that there were no baby items in the woman’s home. Ms. Xavier-Velez claims that she was laid off from her job recently and returned the baby items because she needed the money. She also had reportedly not told close friends or her former employer that she was expecting. Find out more about this sad story at Mother accused of drowning newborn in toilet.

Twenty one year old Jennifer D’Silva was convicted of leaving her infant alone in a car seat all night. Okaloosa County Cirtcuit Judge Thomas Remington gave Ms. D’Silva a two year suspended sentence. But prosecutors are not happy with the sentence; they had asked the judge for ten years in prison for Ms. D’Silva. The Florida State Attorney’s Office has decided to appeal the sentence. Ms. D’Silva’s lawyer has said that he is “disappointed” in the decision to appeal. He points out that Ms. D’Silva has shown her remorse by giving up custody of the child and by undergoing tubal ligation to prevent further pregnancies. She is also attending college in an effort to turn her life around.

Stories of parents, bus drivers, and other caretakers forgetting children and leaving them alone in car seats have become all too common. Leaving small children in a vehicle unattended for any reason is unacceptable and dangerous. In addition to the dangers created by unusually hot or cold weather, children are at risk for other injuries, wandering away, and abduction when left in a vehicle. Parents and other caregivers need to take the simple precaution of always checking the car seat before leaving their vehicle – whether they think a child is in it or not.

Read more about this Florida child left in a car overnight at Prosecutors appeal sentence in abandoned baby case.

Caroline Bramlet, aged twenty one, has been charged with aggravated child abuse, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia after leaving her six week old baby unattended to go chat with neighbors. According to Escambia County, Florida deputies, the child was burned by a fire that broke out some time after the mother left her alone in the apartment. Fire department officials have reported that Ms. Bramlet was using candles in the child’s bedroom. They believe that one of the candles fell off of the windowsill and onto the bed, starting a fire that burned the child’s scalp. The burns are considered minor.

When firefighters responded to the scene, they found drug paraphernalia in the home. The deputies, who arrested Ms. Bramlet, found that she was in possession of marijuana. The infant was treated for her burns and released into the custody of the Florida Department of Children and Families. Ms. Bramlet has been released from Escambia County Jail on $3500 bond.

This story was reported by the Pensacola News Journal. As with any other criminal case, Ms. Bramlet will be allowed to defend herself of these charges. She will be entitled to representation from a public defender or a private criminal defense lawyer. She may claim that she left the apartment for a good reason and that she was not the owner of the drug paraphernalia or did not know about the drug paraphernalia.

A mother who would leave her infant child alone in a room with burning candles certainly has some problems with judgment. Neither children nor burning candles should ever be left unattended. Find out more about this story at Pensacola mother faces child abuse, drug charges.

Thousands of reports of abuse coming in on the Florida Department of Children and Families abuse hotline are being rejected or ignored, thanks to a little known new screening practice recently undertaken by the department. Child welfare managers in Broward County, Florida, brought the new screening rules to light during a routine practice review.

The new screening procedures were put into effect to ease the burden on the overwhelmed child welfare system. The Department of Children and Families calls the new practice “necessary triage” that allows them to focus on the most at-risk children. They point to a number of frivolous complaints filed, but reports of abuse, kidnapping, rape, child abuse, neglect and domestic violence are now being routinely being labeled as “unworthy of investigation” as well. A spokesperson for the department said the new rules are a work in progress, which the department will continue to refine.

One of the new policies that was leaked to the press includes a revision of guidelines on what is considered abuse, and includes a directive to reject complaints about signs of a beating unless the child was taken to a doctor or the hospital or was permanently disfigured. This would basically rule out any signs of abuse reported by childcare workers. Child advocates are up in arms over what they call a “dangerous shortcut” that will leave many children at risk. A one year old child, Bryce Barros, has already fallen victim to the new rules; he was beaten to death by a family member even after a Broward County domestic violence judge contacted the hotline on three separate occasions on behalf of the child.

The economic downturn is being blamed for a large part of the problem; stress and loss of income within families has put more children at risk, just as funding for the Department of Children and Families is being cut by the state. An increase in frivolous complaints lodged by child care workers afraid of being prosecuted for failure to report suspected abuse was also cited.

You can learn more about the new screening procedures at Cries for help to DCF hot line go unheeded by design.

In Fort Lauderdale (Broward County), Florida, Matthew Kent Sheley was sentenced to a 30 year prison term. He was charged with crimes related to child pornography and sexual battery on a child. According to a news story reported at the Florida Times Union, Sheley moved out of an apartment and left behind a VCR and some camcorder video tapes. This was the key evidence against Sheley. The tapes showed Sheley engaged in molestation acts with two young neighbor girls. As a result of the evidence against him, Mr. Sheley pleaded no contest to the charges. While justice is served with a long prison sentence for Mr. Sheley, it will not erase the horrible acts committed against these children. You can read more about this story at Broward County Man Sentenced to Prison Term for Child Pornography and Sex Abuse Charges.

In Florida and other States, children continue to be kidnapped and abducted every year. Because of their size, immaturity and at times poor judgment, children are often times easy victims for those intent on abducting and harming children. Gary Belson is a security expert and a teacher who uses his knowledge and experience to teach children about kidnapping and safety. The case of Carlie Brucia is a teaching tool that Belson uses in the classroom to help teach the children about safety. Carlie Brucia was abducted at a car wash. A surveillance video captured the abduction. In the video, a man is showed holding Carlie's arm and leading her away. Belson instructs children on how Carlie may have been able to fight back and get out of this dangerous and ultimate deadly situation. Of course, the best safety measure is to stay out of dangerous situations and to have parental or adult supervision at all times possible. You can read more about this story at Jacksonville, Florida Elementary Students Get Lessons and Instructions Regarding Child Safety.

There is a general public awareness of the dangers or perceived dangers of Florida Sex Offenders and Florida Sex Predators; however, many people do not know or understand the difference between these two legal designations or classifications of people with a criminal history. The Palm Beach Post posted a good article that defines each term. This information is also posted the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and other web sites as well.

Children should be able to grow up in a society or community free from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. If someone suspect that a child is being harmed, action should be taken to contact the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Florida Department of Children and Families, and / or the local police department or sheriff's office.