Case Results of Lawrence Michael Meltzer

The Defendant was charged with Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon after allegedly striking his wife with a broken beer bottle in his home office. These crimes were punishable by a maximum 15 years in prison. The firm of Meltzer & Bell, P.A. received the case and immediately began a pre-filing investigation. Meltzer & Bell, P.A. provided an audio recording of the entire episode as well as pictures reflecting that our client was the victim of an assault by his wife. Based on our Firm’s efforts, the State Attorney’s Office declined to file any charges against our client.

The Defendant was charged with Unemployment Compensation Fraud, a third degree felony. The alleged fraud was discovered by the Department of Economic Opportunity on December 3, 2012. The state formally charged the Defendant by Information on April 30, 2015, did not serve him with the document necessary to bring him under the jurisdiction of the courts until December 10, 2016, just outside the 3-year statute of limitations that would have enable prosecution. Meltzer & Bell filed a motion to Dismiss based on a violation of the Statute of Limitations.

The Defendant was accused of soliciting a prostitute for sex for $20.00. He is 35 years of age and developmentally disabled, bipolar and has been on state assistance due to developmental disability since a young age. The Defendant’s life is run by his parents and he likes to speak with everyone. The Officers failed to put any of this in their reports. Evidence was shown to the State confirming the Defendant’s disabilities and his need for assistance. It was also shown that the Officers were unsure of the Defendant’s intent at the time of this alleged offense because of his disability. The Defendant would have been forced to pay $5,000.00 civil fine and would have been subjected to an HIV test if he pled or was convicted of this offense.

The Defendant’s Audi was parked along the curb of a parking lot, but was not in a designated spot. The Defendant was slumped over in the seat with her head over to the left. Upon being awoken by the officer, after several knocks on the window, the Defendant appeared dazed and confused, had the odor of an alcoholic beverage and slurred speech. She also admitted to drinking. She had difficulty handling and locating her vehicle documentation. The Defendant was asked to exit the vehicle and had to use the door to support and was unsteady. The Defendant consented to Field Sobriety Exercises and continuously lost her balance and was incoherent. The Defendant was arrested for DUI and refused a breath test. Meltzer & Bell prepared for trial and was going to assert a defense that the Defendant was not in actual physical control of a vehicle as she was not capable of operating a motor vehicle.

The Defendant was stopped by officers for severe weaving and striking a guard rail on West McNab Road and then coming within inches of the same guard rail again. The Defendant struck the center median as he pulled over for the officer. The officer approached the driver’s side an observed in plain view a yellow, clear plastic baggie containing one half of a pill, which the Defendant admitted was Percocet and did not have a prescription. He was arrested for the Possession of a Controlled Substance. The officer then conducted a search incident to arrest which revealed several other pills, which turned out to be oxycodone. Meltzer & Bell received discovery and prepared for trial.