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 […]
Imagine you’re pulled over for a routine traffic stop, and suddenly, a police officer is asking to search your car for drugs. The use of drug-sniffing dogs at traffic stops presents a complex intersection of law enforcement tools and personal freedoms, particularly in Florida, where the balance between deterring drug trafficking and respecting individual rights […]
Being pulled over under suspicion of DUI can be an unnerving experience, transforming an ordinary day into one filled with anxiety and uncertainty. Knowing what to expect and how to act can significantly influence the outcome of such an ordeal. It’s crucial to stay calm, cooperate with basic requests, and remember your rights, including the […]
In the digital age, where connections and interactions span both physical and virtual realms, the concept of stalking has evolved, encompassing behaviors that go beyond unwanted physical presence. In Florida, stalking is taken seriously as a criminal offense, potentially leading to imprisonment. But what exactly constitutes stalking, and how can one differentiate between persistent yet […]
In an era where digital footprints are as significant as physical ones, computer hacking has emerged as a formidable crime, drawing severe penalties in Florida and across the nation. Hacking—the unauthorized access to or manipulation of computer systems, networks, or data—can lead to criminal charges that carry the potential for substantial prison time, highlighting the […]
In the realm of personal relationships, words can sometimes wield as much power as actions. In Florida, the law acknowledges this by recognizing that verbal abuse can indeed constitute a form of domestic violence, especially when it inflicts significant emotional or psychological harm. This legal perspective underscores the importance of understanding the boundary between heated […]
As states across the nation increasingly embrace the legalization of marijuana, both for medical and recreational purposes, the landscape of cannabis law continues to evolve. However, in Florida, the line remains clearly drawn: while medical marijuana has found legal footing, recreational use continues to be prohibited. This discrepancy between state laws creates a complex legal […]
In Florida, the sun-kissed streets and highways can be a backdrop for not just picturesque drives but also, unfortunately, reckless driving incidents. Defined by a wanton disregard for safety, reckless driving in the Sunshine State isn’t just a minor traffic violation—it’s a criminal offense that can lead to significant penalties, including jail time. The law […]
A recent case outside Florida has underscored the serious consequences that can arise from making violent threats online. A 20-year-old man from Michigan received a prison sentence of 12 months and a day for using social media to issue threats against Jewish people. This sentence, while shorter than the nearly three-year term sought by prosecutors, […]