Gulfport Murder Trial Underway in Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Court

On the same day that jury selection begins in two separate death penalty cases in Hillsborough Circuit Court, similar efforts are underway in Largo before a Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Court judge. Jury selection has begun in the murder case against Patrick... [Read More]

Two Death Penalty Cases Go to Trial This Week in Hillsborough County

Two capital murder trials are under way today in the Hillsborough County Courthouse. Local media has noted the large number of people on hand as two separate, large jury pools have been assembled for jury selection in the two cases... [Read More]

Death Penalty Avoided in West Palm Beach Murder Case

Paul Merhige pleaded guilty this week to killing four of his relatives in Jupiter, Florida on Thanksgiving, 2009. The plea agreement Merhige’s defense attorney reached with the Palm Beach County prosecutors will spare him the death penalty in exchange for... [Read More]

Pasco Deputies Bust Two Alleged Marijuana Grow Houses

The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office arrested two men in conjunction with raids at two separate alleged marijuana grow houses in Port Richey last week. Whiskell Escandell and Jose Ramon-Escandell were both arrested and charged. The first house was at 10811... [Read More]

Expert Testifies Man Charged with Killing Tampa Police Officer Qualifies as Legally Insane

Psychologist William Lambos testified last week, in a Tampa courtroom, that Humberto Delgado Jr. has such massive brain damage that he qualifies as legally insane. Delgado is charged with first-degree murder and faces the death penalty for the death of... [Read More]

Hernando Mother and Son Arrested on Drug Charges

A Brooksville mother and son were arrested last week by Hernando County sheriff’s deputies for dealing marijuana. Johanna Jorgensen and her 19-year-old son Ryan were charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a church... [Read More]

Another Tampa Bay Physician Indicted on Drug Charges

Another local Tampa Bay area doctor faces federal drug charges this month. Dr. John Anthony Gianoli, III, a physician practicing in St. Petersburg and Largo, was indicted recently on five counts of illegally distributing or causing the distribution of oxycodone... [Read More]

Brunvand Represents Robertson in Tampa Federal Murder Trial

James Robertson gave information to prosecutors in 2003 regarding two then-unsolved 1998 homicides in downtown Tampa. He cooperated in an investigation in return for a grant of immunity, something that the government denies. Robertson admitted having witnessed the killing of... [Read More]