St Petersburg Criminal Defense Attorney

The penalties for drug charges depend on your prior record. If you have not been in trouble before, you will likely be a candidate for probation or even for a diversion program to keep your record clean. The goal is to avoid jail time and convictions.

A criminal defense lawyer may be able to get your charges dismissed under the right facts and circumstances. Your defense lawyer will need to discuss the case with the prosecutor and present the reasons for the dismissal. The better presentation that your lawyer makes, the better the chances at dismissal.

A pre-trial is simply a status check on your case. You will normally get 3 before your case is set for trial. You will likely be required to be present for felony pre-trials. If you are charged with a misdemeanor, your criminal defense lawyer should be able to waive your appearance.

Since medical marijuana has been legalized, the courts have treated marijuana cases much more leniently. But, if you have been arrested for possession of marijuana without a card, you will still have to deal with penalties imposed by the courts. It is always helpful to be safe and get a lawyer to advise about what the penalties can be and ways that you can minimize them.

A DUI in St Pete is a misdemeanor unless there are at least two prior convictions for DUI (the last within 10 years), or there were serious injuries or death involved.

Burglary with battery charges are on of the most commonly overcharged crimes in Pinellas County. The crime occurs when a burglary is committed at the same time as a battery. The crime was intended for the most severe circumstances, but police love to arrest people on this charge and then let the prosecutor figure it out after. The police do not care about the consequences to first tie offenders who are then left with a 1st degree felony arrest on their record and a high bond.

A driving on a suspended or revoked license or DWLSR is normally a misdemeanor in St Pete that can be handled in traffic court. The judges in Pinellas County will give you every opportunity to get a valid license. If you can get a driver's license, the penalties are greatly reduced. The risk on a DWLSR charge is if you have multiple priors or other charges that go with it like leaving the scene of an accident. If the situation is aggravated, you definitely need a lawyer.

Criminal defense attorneys in St. Petersburg charge fees based on the type of case and the work that is requested by the client. Most fee contracts call for a flat fee plus costs and then an additional retainer for trial. In certain circumstances, we will charge an hourly rate. For example, if a charge is simply under investigation, it may be fairer to bill in that manner.

Domestic battery and simple battery are different terms for similar crimes. Whether the charge is domestic or not, the level of the charge is the same. The big difference between the two are the penalties. For a domestic battery in St. Petersburg that is prosecuted by the Pinellas County State Attorney's Office, 27 weeks of domestic violence counseling is required. There are no such requirements for a simple battery.

Battery charges usually depend on the credibility of the alleged victim and his/her willingness to cooperate. A defense lawyer in Pinellas County may be able to expose the victim's lack of credibility in a number of different ways. It is always easier to get a charge dropped if the victim does not want to prosecute. If the evidence is strong against a defendant, showing that the person has taken steps to make sure the incident doesn't happen again always help mitigate the penalties.

My name is Sean McQuaid. You are more than welcome to contact me at the office at (727)381-2300 to discuss.

Steve, I appreciate the inquiry, but I am not accepting cases on payment plans right now. I suggest you contact Curt Murtha at (727) 442-2800 immediately. He may be able to help. Please tell him that I referred you over. Good luck to you.

Each case is unique, but I generally do not recommend that a man blows if he has had 3 or more drinks or if a woman, 2 or more drinks. Always err on the side of refusal. Remember, if you refuse to blow after a dui arrest, the St. Petersburg Police Officer will definitely ask you for a urine sample. So, either both, or neither.

Each case is unique, but I generally do not recommend that a man blows if he has had 3 or more drinks or if a woman, 2 or more drinks. Always err on the side of refusal. Remember, if you refuse to blow after a dui arrest, the St. Petersburg Police Officer will definitely ask you for a urine sample. So, either both, or neither.

If you had a valid driver's license at the time of your DUI arrest, you will be able to drive until midnight of the 10th day with full driving privileges. It is imperative to speak to a lawyer within 10 days of the arrest regarding other license options you may have through DHSMV.

Drug court is a specialized treatment court for people charged with specific drug crimes. Since it is treatment oriented, crimes involving the sale of drugs are not allowed. If a defendant has a history of violence, that also may be disqualifying. In drug court, a defendant must stay clean, comply with treatment, pay fines and costs of supervision, and meet with the judge monthly.

Normally, PTI or pre-trial intervention in Pinellas County is for first-time offenders. If you have previously done a pre-trial intervention program, you will not be eligible.

Pre-trial intervention, or PTI, is a diversion program run by the State Attorney's Office. The program is very similar to probation. A person on PTI must stay out of trouble for the balance of the program, stay clean, and perform any other conditions that are required, such as community service. The reward for PTI is that the State will dismiss the charges at the end of the program.

Payment plans are normally possible for cases where jail or prison is not expected. A criminal defense attorney will not take a payment plan if the client is going to be incarcerated and not able to follow through on the payment plan.

The price of a criminal defense lawyer should certainly not reflect the skills or ability of the lawyer. However, generally speaking, the better and more experienced a defense lawyer is, the more they charge. The reasoning behind the higher fee is that the lawyer charges more for his or her experience and connections.

In Pinellas County, Florida you are able to get a medical marijuana card at any time due to state law. Just because you have a card doesn't mean any charges you previously picked up get dropped. However, if you were charged with possession of marijuana or any other crime and are on probation, show the card to your probation officer. If you test positive for marijuana, you won't get a VOP.

In Pinellas County, if the police are called to your home and either party alleges that a domestic battery occurred, the police are required by law to arrest at least one person. The fact that there were no injuries increases the chances that the charge will get dropped, but there is no guarantee. Plus, despite the fact that you believe there were no injuries, don't be surprised if the police claim they saw a mark or redness to corroborate the allegation.

If an officer went to your home and left a card, it is likely that you are either under investigation or a witness. If you have not witnessed a crime, then expect that the officer will want to speak to you about an accusation that has been made against you. These interactions normally do not go well and it is possible that you will be arrested. I strongly suggest that you call a lawyer to discuss what steps to take before you call the officer on your own.

If you were arrested for DUI in Pinellas County, your first court date is called an Arraignment. You will find the date of the Arraignment on the DUI ticket the police gave you. Assuming that you hire a criminal defense lawyer, he will waive the Arraignment. That means that you do not need to appear at it.