Miami Criminal Defense Insights
Aggressive representation for DUI, Domestic Violence, Gun Crimes & more
All too often, a disagreement or difference of opinion quickly escalates into an argument, and sometimes into threats or even a physical confrontation. Someone calls the police and someone gets arrested. Sometimes, that someone is you, and now you’re facing assault charges in the state of Florida. Defining Simple Assault Florida Statutes 784.011 defines simple […]
The term “domestic violence” includes a number of different criminal offenses under Florida law, all of which involve a willful act of violence toward someone with whom you lived with as a family or had a romantic relationship within the last six months or any relative, whether by blood or marriage. Domestic violence may consist […]
US Supreme Court finds Drivers of borrowed or rented vehicles cannot be pulled over and searched without probable cause A unanimous US Supreme Court ruled on Monday that a driver of a rented vehicle has an expectation of privacy despite not being listed on the rental agreement. Justice Anthony Kennedy delivered the opinion of the […]
The U.S. Constitution gives you important legal rights that you should always exercise, no matter your circumstances. No matter what a police officer may say to you, he or she is not there to protect your constitutional rights. Therefore, you should never admit guilt or agree to a search of your person or vehicle. After […]
With the wind in your hair and the sun on your face, driving a boat can be incredibly fun. Few things are as exhilarating as skimming a boat at speed across the water. Handling watercraft, however, can be quite dangerous too, especially when you’ve had a drink or two. If you get caught driving a […]
Nearly everyone gets a traffic ticket from time to time, but having too many tickets on your record is not a good thing – not for your insurance rates, your driver’s license or your wallet. Traffic tickets also known as civil infractions are non-criminal charges which are penalized by fines, points and attendance at traffic […]
If you’ve been drinking and think that you’ve had too much to drive all the way home, pulling off the road and trying to sleep it off for a few hours sounds like a pretty good idea. In the state of Florida, however, you can still end up facing DUI charges, just for trying to […]
A person under 18 years old is considered a, “child” in the juvenile justice system. Although the state of Florida, like all other states, has a juvenile court system that was specifically created to handle the cases of juveniles who are accused of breaking the law, juveniles don’t always end up in juvenile court. Under […]
Unlike “Careless Driving”, “Reckless Driving” is a criminal offense under Florida law, which defines it as operating a motor vehicle with willful or wanton disregard for the safety of others. This means that you were driving in an unsafe manner, either on purpose, or with indifference to the consequences that result from your unsafe driving. […]
If you are arrested for a crime and then released, you likely will be ordered to appear at a later date for a court hearing. All too often, people don’t receive a court notice in the mail giving them the next court date and time, they misplace their court date notice, or they simply forget […]
There are several reasons why your Florida license might be suspended. • You may have failed to appear after you received a traffic summons, failed to comply with the summons, or failed to pay a traffic fine. • You may have been convicted on multiple traffic offenses, which means that you racked up too many […]
“DUI” is short for “driving under the influence.” “DWI” is the acronym used for “driving while intoxicated.” We often refer to either of those criminal offenses as “drunk driving.” Given that the word “driving” is used in the name of all of these alcohol-related offenses, it would be understandable if you thought that you had […]
Domestic violence in South Florida is a serious criminal offense with consequences to match. But it is also unique in terms of how quickly law enforcement and the justice system can move against you. Based on allegations alone, you could be put behind bars and stripped of important rights, including the right to see your […]
Walk into almost any store in South Florida and you’ll see the sternly worded sign by the front door or the register: “Shoplifters will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” There is a reason retailers take such a harsh approach to shoplifting: it is estimated that they lose $45 billion a year […]
“Equal Justice Under Law.” Those are the words chiseled onto the front of the U.S. Supreme Court building. They mean that everyone in our country is entitled to be treated fairly and equally when appearing before a court, especially when facing criminal charges that could result in the loss of their freedom and their future. […]
You get a call from school. Your son was pulled out of class, a detective talked to him for an hour, and he “explained everything.” Nobody called you first. Your first thought is that none of it can count, because you were not there. It is a fair thought. Florida law does not give that […]
Your son is filling out a college application. Your daughter just got a call back for her first real job. Then comes the question on the form: “Have you ever been arrested?” And you remember something you heard years ago. Juvenile records disappear at 18. Don’t they? Not exactly. Florida has several record rules, and […]
Your child is 16. You assumed this would stay in juvenile court, with its focus on rehabilitation, confidential hearings and a judge who sees a kid in front of them. Then someone uses the words “adult court,” and everything changes. That phrase deserves to be taken seriously. It also deserves precision. Whether a Florida teenager […]
Somebody says the word “diversion,” and for the first time since the arrest, you feel like you can breathe. A way out. A second chance. Your child keeps their future. That can be exactly what diversion is. But before you sign anything, ask the question that matters most: what exactly must my child do, and […]
Your teenager comes home with a piece of paper instead of a booking photo. An officer stopped them at a store, at a park or outside school, and instead of taking them to the Juvenile Assessment Center, wrote a citation. Your first feeling is relief. Your second is confusion. Is this an arrest? Does my […]
It is late. Your phone rings, and a voice you do not recognize tells you your son or daughter has been arrested and taken to the Juvenile Assessment Center. Your stomach drops. You want to get in the car, you want answers, and you want your child home tonight. Take one breath before you do […]
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida announced this week that two 27-year-old Miami men were sentenced to 121 months and 131 months in federal prison for roles in a conspiracy that distributed fentanyl, fentanyl analogues and cocaine in Miami-Dade County. According to the announcement, the case was built on sales to […]
Police say a heated disagreement over weights at an LA Fitness on West Flagler Street in Miami ended with an arrest this week. According to the arrest report, a 67-year-old man grabbed a dumbbell and struck another gym member on the side of the head and forearm. Officers found the alleged victim with a bump […]