Many episodes of scripted television courtroom feature an “a-ha!” moment where the outcome becomes apparent: a witness breaks down on the stand and conclusively implicates themselves, someone other than the accused confesses to police or prosecutors, or a decisive piece of evidence is discovered at the last second. In the…
Florida has some of the strictest sex crime laws in the country, and that includes enforcement of the sex offender registry. Failure to follow all your registration obligations with precision can have extremely harmful consequences. A notification violation may be a felony crime, carrying a penalty of as much as…
A lot of arrests start out as something smaller. It could be a traffic stop or an officer stopping someone on foot to ask them questions. The law in Florida says that the police must have a “reasonable suspicion” of criminal activity before they stop you. If they did not,…
You have certain rights when you stand trial in Florida, and the state has many procedural obligations. Full vindicating your rights means, among other things, knowing all of those prosecutorial obligations, correctly identifying violations when they occur, and taking the proper steps to act once a violation has been identified.…
A lawsuit can be an intimidating affair that is full of emotional and legal difficulties. But with the appropriate strategy, it is feasible to overcome this difficult circumstance and come out on top. This article will go over five essential stages to help you get ready and improve your chances…
Many Florida drivers have known the pain of seeing police lights in their rear-view mirror because they were speeding. Typically, the price is, at most, the fine associated with a basic speeding infraction. In some high-speed circumstances, however, Florida law has much more severe punishments. Whether you received an ordinary…
People suspected of a crime or facing criminal charges may be familiar with the names of certain legal concepts and phrases but not truly understand their meaning and application. Many people have heard “ex post facto” or “fruit of the poisonous tree.” Few know exactly when these phrases apply to…
Everyone has the right to be tried by a jury of their peers, and for that trial to be fair. The many protections enshrined in Florida law to protect a criminal defendant’s right to a fair trial exist to ensure justice; in other words, to make certain an accused person…
Felony battery cases are serious matters. Aggravated battery is a second-degree felony in Florida punishable by up to 15 years in prison and $10,000 in fines. People accused of felony battery crimes are entitled to put on affirmative defenses to overcome criminal liability. These include defenses like self-defense. When putting…
A conviction on a theft charge can have serious ramifications. A Florida judge can suspend your driver’s license even if your conviction is only a misdemeanor. If you’re facing theft charges, a skilled Tampa Bay criminal defense lawyer may have many options in your case. These could include challenging the…