ARRESTED? INVESTIGATED?
ARRESTADO? INVESTIGADO?
Miami Criminal Defense Insights
Aggressive representation for DUI, Domestic Violence, Gun Crimes & more
Aggravated assault in Florida is a serious criminal act. Under Florida Stat. §784.021 anyone convicted of aggravated assault, a felony crime in the third degree, can be jailed for up to five years and pay a fine of up to $5,000. But what exactly is aggravated assault? What makes assault ‘aggravated’ and are there any […]
Pinellas County’s Attorney General has decided to settle on a manslaughter charge against the killer of Markeis McGlockton, Michael Drejka, but it is expected that Drejka’s attorneys will probably use Florida’s 2005 ‘stand your ground’ legislation to defend him. Drejka was involved in a deadly altercation in a car park outside a Clearwater convenience store […]
Probation is a way of avoiding jail if you have entered a plea of guilty or no contest or have been convicted of a crime in Florida. Generally, probation is granted to people who have a good attorney, are not considered dangerous and have up to that point had a clean record. If you violate […]
It’s an easy thing to happen. You got into an argument with someone in a bar who was annoying you. There wasn’t any violence, but the bar manager told you to leave. Fair enough. You weren’t keen on staying anyway. But then you find you left your wallet behind at the bar and go back […]
You may have have been arrested for criminal possession and are wondering just how you could have been charged when you didn’t have the items in your possession at the time. We at the law offices of Albert Quirantes – your Miami Criminal Defense Lawyers, can explain how the law works and how we can […]
Street racing, or drag racing, as it is also called, is a crime in Florida if it takes place on a public highway. What many people don’t realize is that it’s not just an offense to drive a car in a street race. You can be charged for being a passenger in a car that […]
You hear the term ‘assault and battery’ used frequently and may think that they are somehow stuck together, or they are just two different words used for the same sort of crime. In fact, in Florida, the two terms describe two separate but related criminal acts. Someone can be accused of carrying out an assault […]
The Stand Your Ground Law made headlines in Florida when it came into force on October 1st 2005, but even today many ordinary residents in the state are ignorant of what exactly this allows a person to do when confronted with a potentially violent situation. The various stand your ground laws and castle doctrine laws […]
It’s never right to take something that doesn’t belong to you, but some shoplifting crimes are worse than others and some people are addicted to the thrill of stealing, even if they don’t really even need anything! The new self-check out registers are contributing to rise in shoplifting cases. A Walmart employee helped save his […]
Knowingly driving while on a suspended drivers license in Florida punishable by an arrest and a potential jail term. DWLS with knowledge can be either a misdemeanor which is punishable up to a year in jail or a felony which can be punishable by over a year in jail. Even unknowingly driving on a suspended […]
Have you ever wondered why you hear well known people making outrageous comments that may not seem to match their usual viewpoint, especially if they appear on well known publicly accessed social media sites? An incident happened some weeks ago following the re-launch of ‘Roseanne’ the popular 1990s sitcom. The leading character, Roseanne Barr, was […]
People get arrested in Miami every day for a variety of reasons. If you have been arrested in Florida, how it will impact your life will typically depend on the seriousness of the alleged offense you have committed. You are entitled to be represented by a Miami criminal defense attorney of your choice, who willargue […]
If you have been caught shoplifting in Miami because you have been found in possession of a product you haven’t paid for outside of a store, this could be a serious matter. Your case could be charged as a felony or a misdemeanor. Many stores these days won’t just let you off after an apology […]
Police in Fairfax County, Va., say a local driver totaled a McLaren 720S luxury sports car just a day after it was purchased. That’s not getting your money’s worth! The department shared an image of the smashed car on Facebook with the caption: “Purchased Friday. Totaled Saturday.” The post added that speed was the main […]
What Is a First-Degree Felony in Florida? A first-degree felony is one of Florida’s most serious criminal classifications. For an ordinary first-degree felony, the maximum sentence is 30 years in state prison. That does not mean every person charged with one will receive 30 years. The actual exposure depends on the offense, the Criminal Punishment […]
What Is a First-Degree Felony Punishable by Life in Florida? A first-degree felony punishable by life is one of the most misunderstood classifications in Florida criminal law. It is not technically a life felony. It remains classified as a first-degree felony, but the statute defining the offense allows the judge to impose a sentence of […]
Florida’s transportation law changes take effect October 1, 2026. One change is already prompting questions from drivers: the amount of apparent property damage that triggers an immediate duty to notify law enforcement after a crash rises from $500 to $2,000. The change is part of Senate Bill 488, Chapter 2026-39. The new threshold appears in […]
What Is a Life Felony in Florida? A life felony is one of the most serious criminal charges Florida law recognizes. It does not expose a defendant to the death penalty, but it does permit a judge to impose a sentence of life in prison. That distinction matters. When someone is charged with a life […]
What Does a Capital Felony Mean in Florida? Florida law places capital felonies in a category of their own. They are not scored and sentenced like ordinary felonies under the Criminal Punishment Code. A conviction can expose an adult defendant to life imprisonment without parole and, in a case where the State Attorney seeks it, […]
The Parent’s Guide to a Juvenile Arrest in Florida A free resource from Albert Quirantes, Esq. Criminal DUI & Ticket Lawyers If your child has been arrested, this guide will help you understand what is happening and what to do next. Keep this page handy, and call us anytime. 1. Take a Breath. Then Take […]
Florida’s July 1, 2026 Criminal Laws: What Changed in Miami-Dade Cases Florida’s new laws took effect on July 1, 2026, and several of them have a direct impact on criminal cases. More than 100 laws took effect that day. Most have nothing to do with criminal defense. But three changes stand out if you are […]
Florida Veterans Can Now Seek Treatment Court Without Prosecutor Approval A new Florida law changed who gets the final say when a veteran asks to enter Veterans Treatment Court. Since July 1, 2026, a prosecutor can still weigh in on the request, but the prosecutor no longer has the power to approve or reject eligibility […]
