Criminal Defense

Teen relationships can create serious legal risks when the partners have different ages. Florida sets strict limits on sexual activity with minors, but it also offers “Romeo and Juliet” rules that can protect some young people from the harshest consequences. If you...

Consent plays a major role in many sexual battery cases in Florida. A person may believe that agreeing to sexual activity settles the issue, but Florida law looks at more than whether someone said “yes.”  The circumstances surrounding the alleged offense can affect...

Drug cases often appear straightforward at first glance. Law enforcement officers seize a substance, send it for testing and present the results in court. However, the strength of the prosecution's case depends on more than simply finding drugs. Every piece of...

Yes, Stand Your Ground immunity can lead a judge to dismiss a Florida murder charge before trial if the defense shows that the use of force was lawful. Instead of waiting for a jury verdict, the defense may ask the court to decide immunity at a pretrial hearing. A...

You are quietly going about your business inside your house when there is a knock at the door. You peer out of the window and see a pair of police officers standing outside and telling you to open up. Do you have to open the door, or are you within your rights not to?...

Misunderstandings about sexual consent are a factor in many allegations involving teenagers and young adults. One of the most common misconceptions is that consent, once given, automatically continues throughout a sexual encounter. Legally, that is not the case....

You may have agreed to a plea deal because it seemed like the safest option. If you later change your mind or discover something new about your case, can you back out of the deal? The answer depends on where you are in the process and other specific circumstances of...

The justifiable use of physical force can be complicated in Florida, but it is important for residents to know that Florida is a Stand Your Ground state. First and foremost, as long as the person is legally in a dwelling or residence, they do not have a duty to...

Many people who are currently incarcerated or will be in the future should not be in the prison system. That doesn’t mean they haven’t committed a crime (although some haven’t).  They’re dealing with mental health issues that have led them to break the law. For these...

Many criminal defense strategies focus on excluding evidence, providing alibis or otherwise creating a reasonable doubt about whether a defendant truly broke the law. The details of the allegations against the defendant directly influence the best defense strategy...