Hoe’s Up
This was the most hilarious case I’ve had, and certainly one of my favorites. It involved undercover officers from the Broward Sherrif’s Office, who patronized the Playmates Adult Lounge in Pompano to investigate supposed drug deals inside the establishment. According to the officers, my client, Daisy H, whom they claimed was a stripper, offered to provide oral sex and then sold them $20 worth of powder cocaine. The police did not arrest Daisy on that night, but waited until two weeks later when they raided the lounge and made several arrests. Daisy was charged with possession of cocaine (3rd degree felony) and delivery of cocaine (2nd degree felony). Daisy was facing a possible total sentence of 20 years in prison.
At trial, I pointed out that the plastic baggy within which the police claimed that Daisy brought them cocaine, was never dusted for fingerprints and that the fingerprint room was just a mere 15 feet from the room where the substance was analyzed to determine its content. Daisy testified and explained that she was a waitress, not a stripper, then stood up, looked at the jury and asked, “Do I look like a stripper?” Standing at 4ft 11 inches and weighing about 130 lbs, Daisy certainly did not look stripper worthy. The comedy in the case came during the closing arguments when I asked the jury, “Could you imagine walking into the Playmates Adult Lounge and seeing Daisy and her frumpy frame, hanging upside down from a pole?” The courtroom deputy chuckled from the back of the courtroom, then ducked behind the last row and started laughing, the jury followed suit and began spontaneous, uncontrollable laughter. I started laughing and had to hold onto the jury banister to keep from falling over. The prosecutor jumped up and stated “Objection, he’s making a mockery of my case.” Oh, he never knew how right he was. The jury reached a not guilty verdict in less than five minutes and Daisy, who had been in jail because of her inability to post bond, walked out of the courtroom.
