Sheriff’s Deputies Nab Robbery Suspect
On January 20, 2025, Hillsborough County sheriff’s deputies arrested a 29-year-old man and changed him with multiple crimes.
Deputies launched an investigation on Saturday, Jan. 18 after receiving multiple calls about a man robbing multiple gas stations at gunpoint. “Through investigative means, detectives identified the vehicle linked to the crimes, revealing the car was a rental,” deputies stated in the release.
Investigators determined that a vehicle used in the crimes was rented. After contacting the rental company, the agency confirmed that the defendant rented the car. Also, an acquaintance of the suspect reviewed surveillance footage from the robberies and identified him in all three incidents, deputies said.
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister stated that he was proud of his detectives for “their quick actions.”
“At HCSO, we are committed to protecting our business and community,” Chronister said. “Let this serve as a clear reminder that violence has no place here, and those who commit such acts will be held accountable.”
Multiple Crimes and Jail Release
A good Tampa criminal defense lawyer always puts first things first. In a criminal case, jail release is always the first order of business. This necessary step is difficult to take when a defendant faces multiple criminal charges, especially if they include one or more violent felony charges.
Presumptive jail release, like an immediate bail bond, is usually unavailable in these cases. Instead, defendants must wait until the arraignment/bail reduction hearing, which usually happens about seventy-two hours after arrest.
Spending several nights in jail is never ideal. But in this context, it’s not all bad. These defendants store up some back time in the lowest-security area of a county jail. Furthermore, when the judge considers bail at a hearing, the judge considers many factors, such as the defendant’s:
- Contacts with the community,
- Ability to flee the jurisdiction, if any,
- Threat to the community, if any, and
- Ability to pay.
Most bond hearings settle out of court. Typically, prosecutors agree to reasonable bail amounts, even in serious violent felony cases, if the defendant agrees to electronic monitoring house arrest or another restrictive condition.
Evidence in Criminal Cases
Once jail release is out of the way, a Tampa criminal defense lawyer can focus on the case itself, since a full range of defenses are available. Usually, if defendants remain in jail, they take the first plea bargain offer to “get it over with,” and defense options are limited, at best.
In the above story, possible defenses include weak circumstantial evidence, a biased informant, and less-than-credible eyewitnesses.
At trial, prosecutors could connect a car with the defendant. But that connection could be coincidental. Without physical evidence, like the gun used in the robberies, a causal connection would be hard to establish, because the burden of proof in a criminal case (beyond any reasonable doubt) is so high.
Furthermore, the informant is politely described as an “acquaintance” of the suspect. Does this person know the defendant well enough to identify him, based on a fleeting glimpse? Additionally, what mixed motives did this person have for coming forward? We all have mixed motives for almost everything we do. At some point, a good reason becomes a bad reason.
Finally, the state’s case hinges on the convenience store clerks. Most likely, these individuals have never testified in court before. Moreover, they’ve told the same story several times, and the details are most likely confused. Therefore, a Tampa criminal defense lawyer can often undermine the witness’ credibility without attacking the witness and antagonizing jurors.
Contact a Hard-Hitting Hillsborough County Attorney
A criminal charge is not the same thing as a criminal conviction. For a confidential consultation with an experienced criminal defense lawyer in Tampa, contact the OA Law Firm. The sooner you reach out to us, the sooner we start working for you.
Source:
wtsp.com/article/news/crime/florida-man-arrested-multiple-armed-robberies-hillsborough/67-3ae83229-4e1d-4185-9d25-e5ab4df12078
