2012 CT 004794 NC (Sarasota County)
Charge: DUI
Result: DUI Reduced to Reckless Driving & Adjudication was Withheld
Defendant was stopped for speeding by a Sarasota Sheriff’s Department DUI unit deputy, who is also a trained drug recognition expert. Deputy noted signs of intoxication and requested driver perform field sobriety tests, which she did not perform to his satisfaction. Driver was arrested and attempted to provide breath samples at the jail to measure alcohol content. The Intoxilyzer 8000 machine showed “Volume Not Met” error messages, and the officer conducting the test accused the defendant of intentionally manipulating the machine, deeming the failed test a refusal. Attorney AnneMarie Rizzo conducted her own investigation of the stop and, based on her findings, filed a motion with the court to suppress the evidence in the case. After intense negotiations, State Attorney’s office agreed to reduce the DUI charge to reckless driving, withholding adjudication and not requiring probation.
2012 CT 005873 NC – Sarasota County – February 2013
Charge: DUI w/ Breath test refusal
Result: Found not guilty after a jury trial
Defendant was stopped for not having headlights on. Signs of intoxication were noted by Sarasota Sheriff’s department DUI Task Force deputy, who asked defendant to perform field sobriety tests. Deputy believed driver did poorly, and arrested him for DUI. At the jail, the defendant refused a breath test. State Attorney’s office would not negotiate a resolution prior to trial. Attorney Darren Finebloom presented evidence at trial to refute the arguments of the State Attorney’s office, and after hearing both sides of the case, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty. The defendant was acquitted of all charges.
2012 CT 007372 NC – Sarasota County – December 2012
Charge: DUI
Result: Reduced to Reckless Driving and Withhold of Adjudication
Defendant was stopped by Florida Highway Patrol because tag light was out. Trooper noted signs of intoxication and requested driver perform field sobriety tests, on which he believed she did poorly. Driver was arrested and refused a breath test at the jail. Attorney AnneMarie Rizzo’s independent investigation of the stop uncovered legal issues and improperly followed procedures, so she filed a motion with the court to suppress the evidence in the case. Upon receipt of the motion, the State Attorney’s office agreed to reduce the DUI charge to reckless driving, withholding adjudication so that the client may expunge her record.
2011 CT 008502 NC – Sarasota County – March 2013
Charge: DUI > .15
Result: Charges Completely Dismissed
Defendant was stopped for equipment violation. Sarasota Sheriff’s department DUI Task Force deputy noted signs of inebriation and asked defendant to perform field sobriety tests, on which the deputy believed he did poorly. At the jail, the defendant blew a .197 and a .194. Attorney Darren Finebloom filed a motion to suppress the evidence, based upon his client’s rights being violated during the stop and arrest. The judge ruled in favor of Finebloom’s motion at hearing, suppressing all evidence gathered in the case, and the State Attorney’s office then dropped all charges against the client.
2011 CT 005683 SC - Sarasota County
Charge: DUI with a prior conviction.
Result: Reckless Driving
The defendant was stopped for no tail lights and was subsequently investigated for DUI and arrested. At the jail, his breath test results were .217 and .208. Darren Finebloom moved to suppress the defendant’s breath test results, and the State conceded, as the Intoxilyzer 8000 machine was not properly calibrated. Without the breath test, the DUI charge was reduced to a reckless driving.
2012 CF 006457 NC – Sarasota County
Charges: Traveling to Meet a Minor and Solicitation of a Minor
Result: Felony Child Abuse and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor
The defendant was facing a minimum of four years in prison and having to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. A zealous defense was presented by Darren Finebloom and due to the defendant’s lack of history and his age, the State Attorney reduced the charges to Felony Child Abuse and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor The defendant avoided a conviction and was sentenced to only six months in the county jail.
2012 CT 005873 NC
Charge: DUI
Result: Not Guilty
Driver was down visiting Sarasota County on vacation. He was stopped for no headlights. A DUI investigation ensued and the Defendant was arrested. Darren Finebloom tried the case to a jury and the Defendant was found not guilty.
2012 CT 004127 SC
Charge: 2nd DUI within 5 years
Result: DUI Charge Completely Dismissed
Driver was stopped for an equipment violation, the stopping deputy noticed signs of impairment and called out a DUI officer. Darren Finebloom proved the stopping officer did nothing to further the investigation while waiting for the DUI cop to arrive. He moved to suppress all evidence obtained from the illegal detention, the motion was granted and all evidence was suppressed resulting in the DUI charge being thrown out.
2011 CT 008502 NC
Charge: DUI w/ BAC>.15
Result: DUI Charge Completely Dismissed
Driver was stopped for driving vehicle in unsafe condition. Driver blew over a .15 which caries enhanced penalties. Motion to suppress granted and DUI charge dismissed.
7048-XFA – Hillsborough County – November 2012
Charge: DUI
Result: Reckless Driving
Defendant was stopped for running a stop sign. Upon extensive review of the location of the stop, pictures were taken of the stop sign and compared to the position of the officer at the time he allegedly observed defendant driving. During negotiations and argument with the state attorney, it was questioned whether the officer actually observed the traffic infraction. Despite the officer’s observations and video surveillance indicating sub-par performance on the field sobriety exercises, the charge was reduced to reckless driving.
