The Jesse Law Firm, P.L.C.

06/04/2026

04/23/2026

Florida: In October 2025, Florida's 2nd District Court of Appeal held in Williams v. State that the smell of cannabis alone does not establish probable cause for a vehicle search. Other districts in Florida have also required "odor-plus" (additional evidence of a crime) to justify a search.

Michigan: The Michigan Supreme Court ruled that the odor of ma*****na, standing alone, no longer constitutes probable cause to support a search for contraband, due to the legalization of recreational, medical, and transport of ma*****na.

Pennsylvania: The Pennsylvania Supreme Court (in Commonwealth v. Barr) previously determined that the smell of ma*****na alone is not enough for a vehicle search.

Illinois: While some appellate courts in Illinois have disagreed, the Illinois Supreme Court has held that the smell of "raw cannabis" in a vehicle can still provide probable cause for a warrantless search. However, in 2025, the Chicago Police Department agreed to prohibit officers from searching vehicles based solely on the smell of raw cannabis, following pressure from reform groups.

12/11/2025

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

Have fun at parties...don't drink and drive.

Send a message to learn more

11/27/2025

Wishing everyone a great Thanksgiving.

12/05/2024

100 percent crimes… no parole… flat time offenses.

02/09/2024

Now why would you do that? And get caught. And then hide it. And then get fired.

01/31/2024

Felonies for which offenders aren’t eligible for release until serving 100% of their prison sentences, including attempts, solicitation or conspiracy to commit the following):
• Capital murder
• First-degree murder
• Kidnapping, if a Class Y felony
• Aggravated robbery
• R**e
• Human trafficking
• Engaging children in s*xually explicit conduct for use in child p**n
• Pandering or possessing child p**n depicting s*xually explicit conduct involving a child
• Transporting minors for s*x
• Internet stalking of a child
• Sexually grooming a child
• Producing, directing or promoting a s*xual performance by a child
• Computer exploitation of a child
• Causing a catastrophe
• Aggravated residential burglary, if a Class Y felony
• Treason
• Fleeing, if a Class B felony
• Possession of fi****ms by certain persons, if a Class B felony
Felonies for which offenders aren’t eligible for release until serving 85% of their prison sentence:
• Second-degree murder
• Manslaughter
• Negligent homicide
• Encouraging su***de
• Kidnapping, if a Class B felony
• First-degree battery
• Terroristic acts
• Sexual indecency with a child
• Sexual extortion
• Exposing a person to HIV
• First-degree s*xual assault
• Unlawful female ge***al mutilation of a minor
• Video voyeurism and voyeurism, if Class C felonies
• Patronizing a victim of human trafficking
• Grooming a minor for future s*x trafficking
• Traveling for unlawful s*x with a min0r
• First-degree domestic battery
• Aggravated assault on a family or household member
• Permitting abuse of a minor
• Exposing a child to a chemical substance or methamphetamine
• Employing or consenting to the use of a child in a s*xual performance
• Arson, if a Class Y felony
• Aggravated residential burglary, if a Class A felony
• Advocating assassination or overthrow of government
• First-degree escape
• Soliciting material support for terrorism
• Providing material support for a terrorist act
• Terrorism, making a terrorist threat, falsely communicating a terrorist threat or hindering the prosecution of terrorism
• Exposing the public to toxic biological chemicals or radioactive substances
• Use of a hoax substance or hoax bomb
• Engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise
• Delivery or manufacture of fentanyl
• Trafficking a controlled substance
• Driving or boating while intoxicated, sixth or subsequent offense
• Promoting prostitution, if a Class B felony
• Arming rioters
• Criminal use of prohibited weapons, if a Class B felony
• Criminal possession or distribution of explosives or destructive devices
• Possession of stolen explosives, theft of explosives with the purpose to cause harm or unlawful receipt of explosives
• Possession or use of weapons by incarcerated persons
• Possession or use of a machine gun during a crime
• First-degree unlawful discharge of a firearm from a vehicle
• Using a born-alive infant for scientific research or experimentation
• Partial-birth abortion
• Performing an abortion in violation of Arkansas’ abortion ban
For all other felonies, the inmate must serve at least 25% or 50% of the prison sentence, depending on where the offense falls in a severity grid that would be developed by the Arkansas Sentencing Commission and approved by the Arkansas Legislative Council.
Those felons — along with the group that must serve at least 85% of their time in prison — would only be eligible for release after working toward and obtaining “earned release credits.”

09/29/2022

The rule is clear. Criminal cases which require trial by jury must be so tried unless (1) waived by the defendant, (2) assented to by the prosecutor, and (3) approved by the court. The first two requirements are mandatory before the court has any discretion in the matter. Here, the second requirement, assent by the State, was not had and the court was without discretion to allow the plea.
Fretwell v. State, 289 Ark. 91, 708 S.W.2d 630 (1986).

09/22/2022

Criminal defendants may waive their constitutional right to a jury trial if the waiver is made in writing and has the approval of the government and of the court. Fed.R.Crim.P. 23(a). Furthermore, the defendant must be competent to waive the jury right, and the waiver must in fact be voluntary, knowing, and intelligent. Patton v. United States, 281 U.S. 276, 312-13, 50 S.Ct. 253, 263, 74 L.Ed. 854 (1930); United States v. Cochran, 770 F.2d 850, 851 (9th Cir. 1985); see Godinez v. Moran, ___ U.S. ___, ___, 113 S.Ct. 2680, 2687, 125 L.Ed.2d 321 (1993) (requirements for waiver of constitutional rights generally).

09/18/2022

You have the right to remain silent.

Normally best you do exactly that.