Criminal Defense – Maltezos Law

Criminal Defense

Defenders of Your Rights. Your Life. Your Future.

CRIMINAL DEFENSE

Florida statutes provide for more than 300 different criminal charges, including both felony and misdemeanor offenses. All of these charges can carry a variety of penalties, such as jail time, prison time, steep fines, probation and even restrictions on a person’s driving privileges. Anytime you are charged with a criminal offense, it should be taken seriously.

A criminal conviction, even if it is a misdemeanor, can have a long-lasting effect on a person’s life. For instance, if a person is convicted of a violent offense, he or she may lose the right to possess a firearm. This is something that could last far longer than a court-issued punishment. This is why it is critical to defend yourself against the charges and fight to avoid a conviction.

In Florida, if you’ve been stopped, detained, or arrested by a law enforcement officer, you need to know your rights and have those rights protected if they were violated. As a former police officer, I am familiar with all aspects of police procedures including stops and arrests.

If you’ve been arrested, there are many aspects of the law that need to be considered. Was there probable cause to stop you? If you were questioned or arrested, were you Mirandized properly? Were you the victim of an illegal search or seizure?

Florida law concerning crimes is classified into two distinct categories: misdemeanors and felonies. Misdemeanors or felony convictions can permanently alter your life making it more difficult to secure a job, find housing, or obtain credit. While you are presumed innocent until proven guilty, the prosecutors will work aggressively to obtain a conviction. You need an aggressive, experienced Florida criminal attorney to defend your rights. Convictions can be appealed but they are expensive and the presumption of guilt after a conviction is difficult to reverse. A good criminal defense lawyer will investigate all aspects of your case including police procedure in order to defend you in court.