Judge was wrong to jail Kraft before sentencing without saying why, court rules

Broward Circuit Judge Matthew Destry was out of line when he offered no explanation for why he decided to jail Stephanie Kraft in December, an appeals court ruled Wednesday. Kraft, 58, a former member of the Broward School Board, was found guilty on Dec. 11 of one count of official misconduct, a crime punishable by up to five years in prison. Destry ordered her taken into custody immediately. Five days later, defense lawyer Ken Padowitz returned to Destry's courtroom in a bid to free [...]

Judge was wrong to jail Kraft before sentencing without saying why, court rules2022-11-03T18:32:41+00:00

Ever Wish You Could Digitally Record Your Life? Strap This On

January 29, 2015 BY SIMON COHEN Have you ever wondered: If only there were a way that moment that just happened — your child’s first word, that crazy thing your friend said, what that cop barked when he pulled you over — could be recorded? Turns out, many others have, too. Buoyed by a successful round of crowdfunding, the answer may be a $99 chunk of plastic and silicon. Kapture, available as a wristband (included in the $99 preorder price) or as a clip-on (using [...]

Ever Wish You Could Digitally Record Your Life? Strap This On2019-10-20T21:36:02+00:00

Mental Health Questioned For Man Accused Of Smacking Workers With Bearded Dragon | Incompetent

Original Story by Rafael Olmeda/Sun Sentinel BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. -- The man accused of swinging a live bearded dragon lizard at employees of his Deerfield Beach reptile shop may not be competent to stand trial on animal cruelty charges, his lawyer said Wednesday.Benjamin Siegel, 40, was deemed "incompetent to proceed" by psychologist Michael Brannon, who was hired by the defense to examine him last week. According to an arrest report, Siegel placed the bearded dragon in his mouth, threw it, swung it and used [...]

Mental Health Questioned For Man Accused Of Smacking Workers With Bearded Dragon | Incompetent2022-09-15T22:58:45+00:00

Cops: Video shows man slapping staffers with a bearded dragon

 By Cortney Peltz NEED TO KNOW Florida reptile storeowner allegedly put a bearded dragon in his mouth and slapped employees with the large lizard, police say Benjamin Siegel, 40, was charged with battery and animal cruelty 'Mr. Siegel cares very much about animals,' his attorney says A Florida reptile store owner is facing charges after allegedly putting a bearded dragon in his mouth and slapping employees with the large lizard. Police say video surveillance captured Benjamin Siegel throwing the bearded dragon in the air, placing [...]

Cops: Video shows man slapping staffers with a bearded dragon2019-10-20T21:36:02+00:00

Animal Cruelty | Reptile store owner hit employees with bearded dragon, deputies say

By Wayne K. Roustan, Sun Sentinel 7:31 pm, January 5, 2015 The owner of a Deerfield Beach reptile store used a large lizard to hit employees, Broward Sheriff's deputies said. Benjamin Siegel, 40, of Coconut Creek, was taken into custody Friday and charged with battery and animal cruelty, jail records show. Siegel is accused of placing a bearded dragon lizard in his mouth, throwing it, swinging it in the air and using it to strike the victims, according to the arrest report. Siegel is [...]

Animal Cruelty | Reptile store owner hit employees with bearded dragon, deputies say2019-10-20T21:36:02+00:00

Trial Lawyer Ken Padowitz gets Stephanie Kraft released from jail

Prosecutor Catherine Maus not happy (in photo background) Stephanie Kraft hugs her daughter Kimberly Kraft as her Attorney Ken Padowitz looks on, after her sentencing hearing at the Broward County Courthouse on Friday, Dec. 19, 2014. The judge withheld adjudication and gave her five years probation with a special condition that she must perform community service with Legal Aid.

Trial Lawyer Ken Padowitz gets Stephanie Kraft released from jail2015-02-15T21:33:09+00:00

Criminal Defense Attorney Kenneth Padowitz listens in court as clients sister speaks to Judge

With the help of family and friends, Criminal Defense Trial Lawyer Ken Padowitz crafts a strategy of a letter writing campaign as well as a courtroom crowd of witnesses at sentencing to give the Judge a full picture of the life and accomplishments of his client. By giving complete details of the life Stephanie Kraft has led and her community involvement and sacrifices, the judge is in the best possible position to view the potential sentence in its full context, with a more equitable and [...]

Criminal Defense Attorney Kenneth Padowitz listens in court as clients sister speaks to Judge2019-10-20T21:36:02+00:00

Criminal Defense Trial Lawyer Ken Padowitz prepares for cross examination while in trial.

Ken Padowitz contemplates his cross-examination of the next State witness. The corruption trial of former School Board member Stephanie Kraft is full of Reasonable Doubts from the Defense perspective. The State witnesses are not credible because they have previously lied, made conflicting statements or are reaping a tremendous benefit for their testimony. Strategic and skillful trial advocacy can make the difference in the verdict and the outcome on appeal.

Criminal Defense Trial Lawyer Ken Padowitz prepares for cross examination while in trial.2015-02-15T21:49:33+00:00

Phone calls center of closing arguments during Stephanie Kraft corruption trial

video platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo player Juror deliberations will begin Thursday morning in the public corruption trial involving former Broward County school board member Stephanie Kraft, who is accused of using her office to help wealthy developers avoid a hefty impact fee. "Mrs. Kraft knew what was going on and Mrs. Kraft agreed to help," prosecutor Catherine Maus told jurors during Thursday's closing arguments. She urged jurors to remember that Kraft's husband, Mitch, worked as a consultant for developers Bruce and Shawn Chait, who were [...]

Phone calls center of closing arguments during Stephanie Kraft corruption trial2014-12-11T17:40:58+00:00
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