A 17-year-old accused in a September 1 shooting at the Aquabella apartment complex in Hialeah appeared in adult bond court on Wednesday after prosecutors moved the case out of juvenile court. According to police, several young people had gathered to settle a dispute with a physical fight when shots were fired. No injuries were reported. A judge ordered the teen held without bond on an attempted second-degree murder charge and set separate bonds on the other counts, including discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle and unlawful possession of a firearm by a minor. The defendant’s attorney said the defense will ask the court to reconsider release. These are allegations, and the teen is presumed innocent.
What it means when a minor is charged as an adult
In Florida, most juvenile cases stay in juvenile court. For serious charges, however, prosecutors have the power to file some cases against older teenagers in adult court. That changes almost everything:
- the case moves to adult court and adult procedures
- the penalties can be far more severe
- a conviction can create an adult criminal record that follows a young person into school, work and housing applications
- bond is decided in adult bond court, where a judge can deny release in serious cases
Gun crimes and felony charges
A Miami gun crime lawyer will often see cases where a fight, a group of teenagers and a firearm turn a dispute into several felony counts. Florida treats unlawful possession of a firearm by a minor, discharging a firearm and attempted murder very seriously. Because the stakes are so high, early legal help is critical.
What parents should do
If your child is arrested in Miami, Hialeah or anywhere in Miami-Dade County, do not let them answer police questions without a lawyer. Contact a Miami criminal defense lawyer immediately. An experienced attorney can look at whether the case belongs in juvenile court, argue for bond, bring forward mitigating facts such as the circumstances of the dispute, and protect your child’s future.
Albert Quirantes, Esq., a Miami criminal defense attorney, handles juvenile, gun crimes and felony defense in Miami-Dade County. Call 305-644-1800 for a consultation.
