According to Cocoa police, a 26-year-old man was captured in Miami in connection with a homicide in Brevard County in May. The Orlando Sentinel reports that Shawn Jones, who was recently arrested on a burglary charge, will now be charged in the death of 62-year-old James Brundige.
Brundige was allegedly shot as he was driving on North Fiske Boulevard on May 27, according to Cocoa Police Lt. Eric Austin. After being shot, he continued driving for five blocks before police found him. Another news source reports that Jones' transfer to Brevard County is pending the unrelated burglary charges in Miami.
While news reports do not indicate the exact charges Jones may face in the alleged killing of Brundige, or whether there was a motive for the shooting, all homicide charges in central Florida are extremely serious. First-, second-, and third-degree murder charges all leave an offender facing serious and life-changing consequences if convicted. For example, an individual convicted of first-degree murder which is a capital offense may be sentenced to life in prison without parole, or even death. A third-degree murder conviction may result in up to 15 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum of 10 1/3 years to be served.
In every criminal case, prosecutors must prove each element of a specific crime beyond a reasonable doubt. As seasoned Orlando murder attorneys, our job is to challenge the evidence, explore all legal options, investigate the charges against our client, and uncover any evidence that may be to the client's benefit in an effort to develop a solid defense strategy. Every person has legal rights and the right to a fair trial. Additionally, there are occasions on which innocent people are wrongly accused of crimes they did not commit.
If you or someone you know has been arrested or charged with murder or any violent offense, do not waste time before consulting with an experienced Orlando criminal defense attorney. Until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, every person is innocent. We will work vigorously on your behalf in an effort to mitigate the damage while protecting your freedom and future.
I would like thank my attorney Thomas Luka. I knew from the beginning I had the right guy in my corner. While celebrating with family and friends at a Public Park in Seminole County, a fight broke out among various people. Myself, and a good friend, broke up the fight and the instigators left. Six months later, I was wrongly accused as the person who started the fight. The first attorney I hired could not even get a response from the State Attorney handling the case. Someone referred me to Tom and I felt comfortable at his demeanor and reactions.
After conversations with Tom, who knew I would settle for nothing less than a FULL DISMISSAL due to my innocence, I hired him. His firm Adams, Luka, & Benton did the due diligence by interviewing witnesses and the police who were on the scene, as well as starting a dialogue with the State Attorney. After gathering statements from witnesses, Tom was able to present a strong argument on my behalf to the State Attorney on why the case should be dismissed. If the State Attorney was not willing to dismiss the case, Tom was ready to take the case to trial.
The result by Thomas Luka: Case Dismissed.
I am 53 years old with a spotless record and glad to keep it that way thanks to the time, effort, hard work, and professionalism of Adams, Luka, & Benton.