I wanted to share the results of a trial we finished last week. Our client was 76 years old when he shot and killed his wife of 55 years. He then shot himself in the face and stabbed himself deep enough that the responding EMS could see bone and lung tissue. This man had a history of mental health issues that dated back to 1959 and continued with multiple hospitalizations, and time off work in the 1980’s and again in 2007. In my 29 years of practice, I have never had a client with his history of mental health issues, and his willingness to get treatment for it when mental health issues were se ..read more

Tips to Consider When Choosing The Best Orlando Criminal Defense Attorney If you or a loved one has been charged with a crime, don’t panic. Many times the unimaginable happens in life, and when you are in such situations it is necessary to keep your cool so that you don’t make any rushed decisions. The law is a complicated, and unfortunately, the system is not all black and white. That is why, as an Orlando resident, you may want an experienced Orlando criminal defense attorney at your side if a time comes when you are on the wrong side of the law.  Choosing a competent and dedicated crim ..read more

J. Scott Herman to Represent Villager in Aggravated Assault Charge Orlando criminal defense lawyer J. Scott Herman will be representing a Villager facing multiple criminal charges in relation to an unusual incident involving drugs and a handgun. Patrick McGowan, 67, was arrested on August 19 after a strange incident in his home in the Village of Sanibel. He is facing multiple charges, including felonies. According to police reports, the incident began at the Bonifay Country Club, where Patrick was having drinks with a friend of 2 years. They later left to his house on Adrienne Way where r ..read more

PRESS RELEASE: THE NATIONAL TRIAL LAWYERS ANNOUNCES THE SELECTION OF JAMES “SCOTT” HERMAN AS AN NTL ‐ CRIMINAL DEFENSE ‐ TOP 100 TRIAL LAWYER IN FLORIDA     The National Trial Lawyers is pleased to announce that James Herman of Conan and Herman, PA in Orlando has been selected as an NTL ‐ Criminal Defense ‐ Top 100 Trial Lawyer in the state of Florida. This honor is given to only the top 100 attorneys in each state or region for their superior skills, qualifications, and results as criminal defense or civil plaintiff lawyers. Membership into The National Trial Lawyers provides recog ..read more

PRESS RELEASE Winter Garden, FL – The Law Offices of Conan & Herman have news that reflects the success of their firm and the dedication and hard work of their team. The office is expanding and opening a new location. The full address of the new office is the following: 12200 W. Colonial Dr. Suite 300A Winter Garden, FL, 34787 407-565-9037 Mark Conan. Esq. and J. Scott Herman, Esq. are criminal defense attorneys that serve the entire Central Florida area. They handle all kinds of cases ranging from misdemeanors to felony charges. The new location is simply the next step in their continued ..read more

According to the Osceola County Clerk of Court Kelvin Soto, Esq., yes. Mr. Soto recently said, “The ability to legally drive is not only a privilege to be promoted, but for many, it is a necessity, without which, the ability to maintain a household, participate in the community, and exercise basic freedoms would be jeopardized.” His office participates with other state court clerk offices in “OPERATION GREEN LIGHT”, a program helping people whose licenses are suspended by waiving late fees and offering payment plans.  That puts Mr. Soto in a unique position to see people really hurting be ..read more

When you got stopped for Possession of Cannabis, did the officer say he smelled the odor of cannabis?  Hemp is a type of cannabis that’s legal in Florida. It smells just like illegal cannabis. An officer can’t tell the difference just by smell, so the state will probably have a very hard time proving a cannabis possession case against you.   Here’s why: hemp, marijuana, and cannabis have different legal meanings under Florida law. Back in 1995 when I started working as a criminal defense attorney, the legal system used the terms “cannabis”,” marijuana” and “weed” interchangeably ..read more

While most hear about high profile embezzlement cases in the news, a surprising amount of people don’t actually understand what this term means. In Florida, an embezzlement charge can work differently than in other states, so it is essential to find a trusted, experienced attorney if you have been accused of this offense. At Conan and Herman P.A., our team exclusively practices criminal defense, and some of our specialty areas include embezzlement, theft, burglary, and shoplifting. To learn more about embezzlement specifically or to schedule a custom consultation, simply reach out to Conan and ..read more

View our videos to see our profile, get tips on what to consider if you are facing a legal issue as well as to commonly asked questions for defense attorneys. Conan and Herman Profile What to do after a drug possession arrest? I was arrested in Florida must I return for court? What is a declination of prosecution? Can you get my boyfriend’s battery dropped? No matter what type of charges you are facing, contact us for a free consultation. In Tavares: 352.253.0333 349 W. Alfred St Tavares 32778 In Orlando: 407.872.3999 320 N. Magnolia Ave. Suite A-1 Orlando, FL 32801   [This post ..read more

Mens Rea: How Courts Determine the Guilty Mind In many cases, an experienced criminal defense attorney in Orlando, FL may find himself arguing on behalf not on the innocence of a defendant’s actions but on their intentions. Courts will often measure two factors in determining guilt: actus reus, meaning the actual physical act of the crime being committed mens rea, meaning the actual intention of wrongdoing perpetrated by the criminal This seemingly innocuous difference is very often a major point in several criminal defense cases. For example, if an Orlando defendant claims self-defense in a ..read more