Polk County DUI Lawyer Addresses Use of Social Media in Polk County DUI Cases
A teen driver who decided to enter a somewhat cavalier post on her Facebook page in the wake of a fatal auto accident in which her boyfriend was killed received a more severe penalty from the judge who sentenced her. The teenager Ashley M. Simpson pled guilty to negligent homicide and DUI and was set to be sentenced as a youthful offender. The youthful offender status would have allowed Simpson to receive a lesser sentence, to serve any sentence in a juvenile facility and to avoid the potential long-term impact of a criminal conviction.
However, the judge discovered a Facebook post made by Simpson after the accident, which he found deeply troubling. A few months after the accident Simpson posted a picture on her Facebook web page captioned "Drunk in Florida." Upon finding the post, the judge changed his mind and decided to sentence Simpson as an adult. The judge sentenced Simpson to 6 months in county jail followed by 5 years of probation. Simpson will also be required to wear an ankle bracelet for a year after her release from jail. The judge also revoked Simpson's driver's license. "I'm troubled by your conduct since the crash," said the judge.
Polk County DUI Attorney John Musca who frequently handles DUI cases throughout Polk County indicated teenagers and others who use social media need to realize that descriptions or pictures of embarrassing or even criminal activity can have very negative and unintended consequences. Many teenagers are posting pictures of drug use and underage drinking on social media, explained Musca. "Teenagers need to realize that such post that may seem harmless at the time can later mean the difference between freedom and a jail sentence."
Musca points out that the incident in which Michael Phillip's picture was posted smoking from a bong should serve as an example of the potential negative impact of not being careful how one is portrayed in a photo. "Phillips went from 14 time Olympic gold medallist to potentially facing arrest on a drug charge in a very short period of time." People need to remember anything posted on a social media network including incriminating admissions or images are available for the world to see -- a world that includes police and prosecutors.
If you or someone that you know have been charged with a crime, you no longer have to worry about finding an aggressive DUI attorney. Do not allow a DUI arrest to destroy your life. Act immediately. Although, DUI results in a large spectrum of implications in the State of Florida Polk County DUI Lawyers at Musca Law fight hard for their clients. Contact Musca Law today.
