In Florida, a conviction for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) carries certain minimum mandatory penalties, even for a first offense. Such penalties can include fines, probation and a driver's license suspension. There is also a possibility of jail upon a DUI conviction, even for a first offense. The penalties for a DUI conviction get worse if there are previous DUI convictions and can include mandatory jail and/or lengthy driver's license suspensions. A third offense may be prosecuted as a felony as can an accident if serious bodily injury occurred. An experienced criminal defense attorney can help defend you against DUI charges. If you have been accused of Driving Under the Influence, call the office to schedule a consultation.

Drug crimes deal with controlled substances as defined in the Florida Statutes. Such charges may consist of possession, sale, possession with intent to sell or trafficking in various narcotics or controlled substances. Some of the various drugs or narcotics defined as controlled substances are marijuana, cocaine, heroin, xanax, oxycodone, methamphetamine as well as many others. Most drug charges are felonies carrying with them the possibility of severe penalties if there is a conviction. Such penalties may include heavy fines, mandatory jail or prison as well as a driver's license suspension. If you have been accused of a drug crime, call the office to schedule a consultation with an experienced criminal defense attorney.

Domestic violence typically consists of someone being charged with Domestic Battery or Domestic Assault where the two parties are either family members, live together or have a child in common. Domestic violence cases can be either misdemeanors or felonies. The possible penalities for such charges can range from probation to jail or prison, depending on what charges were filed. An experienced and qualified criminal defense attorney can defend you if you have been accused of a crime of domestic violence. Contact the office to schedule a consultation.

In Florida, theft is the illegal taking of another person's property without that person's freely-given consent. The word is also used as an informal shorthand term for some crimes against property, such as burglary, embezzlement, larceny, looting, robbery, shoplifting, fraud and sometimes criminal conversion. Theft charges can be filed as misdemeanors or felonies depending on the circumstances surrounding the allegation.

Burglary is a felony that can be filed many different ways. The most common forms of Burglary are to a structure/conveyance or to a home/dwelling. Depending on how the charges are filed, mandatory jail/prison time may be a penalty upon a conviction. Hiring an experienced criminal defense attorney is important to defend against such allegations. Contact the office to schedule a consultation.

A violent crime or crime of violence is a crime in which the offender uses or threatens to use violent force upon the victim. This entails both crimes in which the violent act is the objective, such as murder, as well as crimes in which violence is the means to an end, such as robbery. Violent crimes include crimes committed with and without weapons. Crimes of violence include murder, manslaughter, robbery, kidnapping, aggravated battery or aggravated assault. Violent crimes often result in jail or prison when there is a conviction. If you have been charged with a violent crime, contact the office to schedule a consultation.

Sex crimes are forms of human sexual behavior committed against someone against their will. Someone who commits a sex crime and is convicted may be permanently classified as a sexual offender or predator. Sex crimes are typically crimes of violence that involve sexual acts against another. Sexual battery or rape is the most common sexual offense. Other examples are incest, molestation or statutory rape which is sexual activity with a person too young to give consent. The penalties for a conviction of a sex offense can be extreme. If you have been charged with a sex crime, contact the office to schedule a consultation.

Financial Crimes are defined as a crime against property, involving the unlawful conversion of the ownership of property (belonging to one person) to one’s own personal use and benefit. Financial crimes often involve fraud.

Financial crimes are carried out via check and credit card fraud, mortgage fraud, medical fraud, corporate fraud, bank account fraud, payment (point of sale) fraud, currency fraud, and healthcare fraud, and they involve acts such as insider trading, tax violations, kickbacks, embezzlement, identity theft, cyber attacks, money laundering, social engineering, and Securities fraud. Financial crimes sometimes, but not always, involve additional criminal acts such as elder abuse, armed robbery, burglary and even murder. If you have been accused of a financial crime, contact the office to schedule a consultation.

A misdemeanor is defined as a crime that carries a maximum penalty up to one year in jail. Misdemeanors may result in a jail sentence up to one year, probation up to one year, monetary fines, or a combination of fines, jail and/or probation. Misdemeanor cases come under the jurisdiction of the County Court which is where the jury trials take place. Some examples of misdemeanors are: battery, assault, boating under the influence, petit theft, resisting without violence and prostitution. Additionally, traffic crimes are classified as misdemeanors and punished the same way. Examples of traffic crimes are DUI, reckless driving and driving with a suspended license. If you have been charged with a misdemeanor, contact the office to schedule a consultation.

Juvenile court consists of persons under the age of eighteen charged with either a felony or a misdemeanor. The juvenile system differs in many ways from the adult criminal justice system. The biggest difference is that trials in juvenile court consist of a bench (or judge) trial. There are no jury trials in juvenile court. However, if a person is convicted in juvenile court, there is still the possibility of commitment (incarceration) and/or community control (probation). Depending on the allegation, a person under the age of eighteen may be charged as an adult. Either way, juveniles still have the same rights as adults such as due process, the right to remain silent and requiring that charges be proven beyond a reasonable doubt before there is a conviction. If you need representation for a juvenile matter, contact the office to schedule a consultation.