The Umansky Law Firm

On a list of things to never do, getting drunk and stealing a police cruiser has to be near the top of the list. Yet, this is exactly what an 18-year-old Oregon teenager is accused of doing. He allegedly stole the Ford Mustang from an off-duty law enforcement officer's house over the weekend and took it for a joyride while under the influence.

Oregon State Police arrested the teen Saturday night after a trooper spotted the obviously marked cruiser parked near a road. When the trooper approached the cruiser, believing he was going to find a deputy inside the vehicle, he found the teen sleeping in the driver's seat. According to police, they had a report about 20 minutes earlier about a white Mustang driving recklessly on Highway 214.

The teen was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, reckless driving and recklessly endangering another person. If he is convicted on these charges, the teen will face monster fines and maybe even jail time.

It is never easy seeing young people get into trouble like this, especially for parents. However, we are a better society if we can rehabilitate teens. Rather than throw them in jail and give them a mark that will make future employment and scholarships difficult, we can use counseling and community service. Sealing and expunging criminal records in some cases is also in our best interest. With an experienced criminal defense attorney, there is a greater likelihood this can occur.

If your teen has been charged with criminal violations in the Orange County or Orlando, Florida area, or anywhere else in the state of Florida, please contact the criminal defense attorneys at the Umanksy Law Firm. We offer an initial confidential and free consultation.

A program centered in Orange County called "Project Courage" is targeting a single six block area in an intense bid to prevent domestic violence, and is expected to last for several years. The neighborhood that is being targeted has not yet been announced, but the effort involves at least 40 different agencies and individuals. It was made possible with a $110,000 grant from 100 Women Strong, a local all-female "giving circle" where individuals give their own money to make community grants possible.

Project Courage is in response to University of Central Florida researchers who found high incidence of domestic violence in Orange County area codes. The two highest areas are Edgewood and Pine Hills. However, this does not mean that either of these communities will be part of the Project Courage effort.

There was a 12.5 percent increase in domestic violence calls to law enforcement from 2008 to 2009. The initial goal of Project Courage is community awareness and teaching first responders, students, parents, and those in business how to recognize warning signs of domestic violence and what to do about them.

If Project Courage is successful during its initial phases, it is hoped that it can be moved to other counties in Florida.

In addition to attempting to end domestic violence, several officials have noted that it is a "root cause of other evils," including child abuse, animal abuse, and homicide involving third parties.

Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer said, "In the seven years I've been mayor, if drugs have not been involved, domestic violence has."

If you have been charged with domestic violence in the Orange County or Orlando, Florida area, please contact the experienced criminal defense attorneys at the Umansky Law Firm for an initial case consultation.

Days before his death, 38-year-old actor Corey Haim was reportedly shopping around for doctors to give him prescription medication. In the past year, Haim obtained the names of at least 20 Los Angeles area doctors. All of these doctors can expect to be subpoenaed to tell California law enforcement what they know.

Haim's primary care doctor was giving the actor one day supplies at a time in an attempt to wean him off the drugs. He was also calling urgent care centers he believed were writing prescriptions for Haim. Just under two weeks before his death, Haim obtained prescriptions for a muscle relaxer called Soma and a pain reliever called Norco. These were filled out at a San Fernando pharmacy.

Doctor shopping has come to light several times lately due to the deaths of Haim, actress Brittany Murphy, and others. However, this is not limited to just actors and actresses. Although the famous may have an easier time obtaining prescription drugs due to their name recognition, illicit prescription drug sales and drug use are on the rise across the country, including in the state of Florida.

Being arrested for the sale or use of prescription drugs can affect your life for years to come. If you are a doctor and have been accused of selling prescription drugs to those without a prescription, you can lose your license to practice medicine.

If you have been charged with selling or obtaining prescription drugs illegally in the Orange County or Orlando, Florida area, please contact the experienced criminal defense attorneys at the Umansky Law Firm for an initial and confidential case consultation.

Late last month, Jason Wahler, a former star on the show Hills, was arrested and charged with two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol in California. His blood alcohol content was allegedly 0.15, higher than the 0.08 allowed in California. What makes this DUI more notable than the average star arrested for driving under the influence is that it is Wahler's second alcohol-related arrest in a month.

One week prior to this DUI, Wahler was arrested for a bar fight in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. He was quickly bailed out and driven back across the border by a mysterious person where he seems to have continued his party.

As a result of Wahler's arrest, he faces up to six months in jail if he is convicted.

It may seem to the average person that stars are more likely to get out of trouble than others. That may be the case in some instances. However, an experienced DUI defense attorney, like those at the Umanksy Law Firm, work hard to see that charges are reduced or dropped. If you are a first time offender, we may be able to get you into alternative treatment. Once this is class or treatment is completed, your record may then be sealed or expunged.

If you have been charged with DUI in the Orange County or Orlando, Florida area, or anywhere else in the state of Florida, please contact the experienced DUI defense attorneys at the Umansky Law Firm for an initial case consultation.

This morning, actor Rip Torn pleaded not guilty to burglary and firearms charges in Connecticut. These charges stem from the 78-year-old actor's arrest in January after he was found extremely drunk inside a bank after hours. State police report that Torn was so intoxicated that he broke into a bank with a loaded gun thinking it was his home in Salisbury, Connecticut.

Torn has been charged with criminal trespass, burglary, criminal mischief, carrying a gun without a permit, and carrying a gun while intoxicated. He is free on a $100,000 bond under the condition he stay away from alcohol.

Last year, Torn was given probation in a Connecticut DUI case. He has also been arrested in New York for alcohol-related arrests. Torn claims he has been through rehab before and had been sober for a time before the night he was arrested.

You're not Rip Torn and probably can't simply pay a $100,000 bond at the drop of a hat. However, if you contact the Umansky Law Firm to defend you against criminal charges, we will try to get the bond reduced and charges dismissed. We offer an aggressive defense and an understanding of your situation.

If you have been charged with burglary or DUI in the Orange County or Orlando, Florida area, or anywhere else in the state of Florida, please contact the experienced criminal defense lawyers at the Umansky Law Firm for an initial consultation.

Former New York Mets player Dwight Gooden was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of drugs in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey yesterday after being involved in a car accident. His five-year-old son was also in the car with Gooden. Police say his son was unrestrained at the time of the accident, but that no one was injured in the crash. Gooden was apparently taking his son to school when the accident occurred.

The police report states the 45-year-old was charged with being under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance, driving under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance, endangering the welfare of a child, driving while intoxicated with a child passenger, leaving the scene of an accident, reckless driving, failure to keep right and failure to change his address on his driver's license.

Some people, especially baseball fans, may know Gooden as the star pitcher of the Mets back in the 1980's, but just as many may recognize his name as someone who has had drug and alcohol problems in the past. He spent six months in jail in 2006 for a parole violation.

If you have been charged with a DUI in the Orange County or Orlando, Florida, or anywhere else in Florida, please contact the experienced criminal defense attorneys at the Umansky Law Firm for an initial and confidential case consultation.