Miami Criminal Defense Insights
Aggressive representation for DUI, Domestic Violence, Gun Crimes & more
Federal agents recently arrested a Miramar man for allegedly taking part in an international drug ring. He reportedly used Internet resources and the U.S. mail service to import a type of synthetic heroin known as “fentanyl” which is in circulation in Florida communities and has been claimed to be taking the lives of users in […]
This month is domestic violence awareness month. It is a time when Florida clerks of court are ready to act as a resource for anyone in the state who wishes to be protected from this type of violence. It is a time also to highlight and remind the state’s citizens how alarming domestic violence statistics […]
Facing a felony or misdemeanor charge can be one of the most stressful moments of your life. You shouldn’t have to face it alone. But you don’t want to hire just any attorney to defend you; you need the very best criminal defense attorney that you can get. 1. Should you hire a criminal defense […]
Maybe you’ve been caught shoplifting in Miami. or you’ve been unfairly accused of shoplifting in Hialeah, Coral Gables, Aventura or Coconut Grove. Either way, there’s a good chance the police will get involved. Take it from Miami criminal defense attorney Albert Quirantes: there’s a lot that the cops and store personnel will do to try […]
Possession of cocaine is treated very seriously in Florida, as a University of Miami student found out in August of 2015. Perhaps in hindsight rather naively, he decided to play a joke on the university’s administration just before one of their routine searches for drugs in student dorms. The young man, Harrington, spread rails of […]
The stand your ground defense legislation will be used to defend a man who shot and killed another man in a disagreement about the use of a cell phone in a Florida movie theater. Curtis Reeves, now aged 73, is a retired Tampa police captain. He faces a second-degree murder charge for the part he […]
Everyone knows Miranda … or at least what they’ve seen about it on TV. Whether you’re watching Law & Order or Hill Street Blues, you’ll hear a police officer warn the suspect that he has the right to remain silent as soon as they put the handcuffs on. But is that really how it works? […]
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 Miami-Dade judge this week denied bond to a 33-year-old man arrested on charges of attempted murder and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, along with drug charges, after a delivery driver was allegedly shot and pistol-whipped at an apartment complex near Dadeland early Monday morning. According to the arrest report, the driver was grazed […]
Dashcam video released this week shows a van striking the back of a stopped Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office cruiser near Northwest 32nd Avenue and 79th Street. According to the arrest report, the 72-year-old driver then tried to hide an open alcohol container, and deputies ended the field sobriety exercises for his safety. He is charged with […]
Florida Driver Reportedly Had a .377 Alcohol Level: What a High BAC Means for Your DUI Case By Albert Quirantes, Esq. A recent Florida DUI arrest made headlines after a driver reportedly registered a blood alcohol concentration of .377, nearly five times Florida’s .08 threshold. That number gets attention. But as a criminal defense attorney, […]
What Is a Second-Degree Misdemeanor in Florida? A second-degree misdemeanor is Florida’s lowest misdemeanor classification. That does not make it a civil infraction or something that should be ignored. The charge can lead to jail, probation, a fine, and a criminal court record. It may also appear on background checks and create problems involving employment, […]
What Is a First-Degree Misdemeanor in Florida? A first-degree misdemeanor is the most serious misdemeanor classification under Florida law. It is not a felony, but it can still result in county jail, probation, a fine, and a criminal record that creates problems long after the court case ends. Common examples include simple battery, petit theft […]
What Is a Third-Degree Felony in Florida? A third-degree felony is Florida’s lowest felony classification, but the word “lowest” should not be confused with minor. A conviction can result in state prison, probation, a $5,000 fine, and a permanent felony record. It can also affect employment, professional licenses, housing, immigration status, and the right to […]
What Is a Second-Degree Felony in Florida? A second-degree felony is punishable by as much as 15 years in Florida State Prison. That makes it a serious criminal charge, even for someone who has never been arrested before. Examples include aggravated battery, manslaughter, vehicular homicide, unarmed burglary of a dwelling, certain theft and exploitation offenses, […]