Miami Criminal Defense Insights
Aggressive representation for DUI, Domestic Violence, Gun Crimes & more
In the not too distant past, it was a crime to send a letter, post a notice in a newspaper or over the radio which involved a threat of violence, i.e. a threat to kill someone, or do them serious bodily injury. In Florida, statute 836.10 came into law back in 1913 and is still […]
Is it possible for a police officer to arrest you when outside his / her own jurisdiction? The answer is a qualified ‘yes,’ but there are definitely some circumstances when an out of jurisdiction detention could be considered unlawful. This doesn’t mean you can evade the law and get away with it, but it does […]
If someone is killed in an accident, whether it was caused by the driver running a red light or speeding, there is a good chance that the driver could be charged with vehicular manslaughter. This is a serious offense and could lead to a 15 year prison term. If you have been charged with vehicular […]
When thinking about a wrongful conviction you may well be thinking of the Netflix movie ‘Making a Murderer.’ While watching it you probably came up with an opinion as to whether the verdict should be guilty or not guilty. There is without a doubt most certainly a bone of contention about the outcome for the […]
Most criminal proceedings reach a conclusion based on indisputable evidence. Evidence comes in different forms, including DNA and bite marks. The use of bite-marks as evidence Throughout a criminal trial expert witnesses can be called upon to testify if the defendant left any teeth marks or lacerations on his or her victim. The expert witnesses […]
States can legally enforce their own state laws, but many overlap with federal laws. For example, when it comes to the manufacturing of drugs it is illegal under both federal and state law. Overall, if a federal law is broken, the penalties are far more severe than when a state law is broken and a […]
Something has happened regarding drunk driving in South Florida and everyone is scratching their heads trying to figure out why. It’s not bad news, in fact, it’s the quite the opposite. DUI arrests have dropped dramatically in and around the City of Miami as well as in Miami-Dade County since 2014. Only 594 people were […]
Getting your criminal record expunged or sealed is never an easy task. You probably assume that once you have completed all the paperwork and had it approved that that will be the end of the matter. It seems that it’s not as simple as that as there are some unscrupulous businesses preying on vulnerable people […]
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles put out a new ad earlier this year to try and stem the number of crashes that take place when drivers are stoned. ‘Drive Baked, Get Busted’ it says, but how easy really is it for police to spot a ‘baked’ driver and how easy really […]
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 […]
Corporal punishment, defined as physical discipline such as spanking, is legal in Florida under certain conditions. The state’s stance on corporal punishment is twofold, covering both the domestic and educational contexts. In the Home Florida law allows parents or legal guardians to administer reasonable corporal punishment in disciplining their children. This practice is recognized as […]
Paying for sex at a massage parlor or engaging in prostitution and related activities is illegal in Florida. This includes soliciting, receiving, or agreeing to receive any sexual activity in exchange for money or other forms of compensation. Florida law strictly prohibits prostitution and assigns penalties that vary based on the specific nature of the […]
In the United States, including Florida, the practice commonly referred to as “mail order brides,” where individuals engage with international marriage brokers (IMBs) to find spouses from other countries, is legal. However, it’s regulated under federal law to protect the rights and safety of foreign brides entering the U.S. The International Marriage Broker Regulation Act […]
As of 2024, online sports betting has made a significant comeback in Florida, with the state seeing the re-launch of legal sports betting platforms. The Seminole Tribe of Florida has taken the lead in this arena, offering residents and visitors within the state the ability to legally place bets on professional and college games through […]
In Florida, stun guns are legal for individuals to own and carry for self-defense purposes, under certain conditions. This legality is outlined in Florida Statute 790.01, which differentiates stun guns and Tasers from firearms, thereby subjecting them to different regulations. The state recognizes the right of its residents to protect themselves and permits the use […]
The Florida Criminal Punishment Code is a point-based system designed to standardize sentencing for felony offenses, ensuring consistency and fairness across the state’s judicial processes. It assigns points to various aspects of a crime, including the offense severity, prior record, legal status violations, and enhancements for specific circumstances. The total points accumulated can influence the […]