I’ve got a plan

What’s Happening: You’ve been taken to jail, probably saw a judge and likely posted bond. If your license was valid when you were arrested, you’re driving for business purposes only for 10 days following your arrest. But now the clock is ticking. Action must be taken within 10 days of your arrest to allow you to keep driving.

Our Plan: First, I will work to challenge the suspension of your license or help you get a hardship license, if you are eligible. To do this, we must act within 10 days of your arrest. If you miss this 10-day window you won’t drive again for at least 30 to 90 days. Don’t waste a single day, call me now! Once we’ve secured your ability to drive, we will review the evidence and attack the criminal case against you.

What’s Happening: Law enforcement responded to a report of a domestic incident involving you and a family member and you were arrested. You saw a judge and likely were told you can have no contact with the alleged victim, and in many cases, you were prohibited from returning to your own home. You are now living in a hotel or staying with friends with no idea what to do next.

Our Plan: Moving quickly is key in these situations. To begin prosecution, the State must file a document called an “Information.” Call me immediately after your arrest and I will work to have the case against you dismissed before an Information is filed. If a charge must be filed, I will work to make sure it is the lowest level offense possible. I will also file a motion asking the court to allow you to have contact with the alleged victim while the case is pending, provided they desire contact with you. If a charge has been filed, we will then explore your defenses and work quickly to bring about a favorable resolution.

What’s Happening: You were arrested and accused of possessing narcotics. This could have happened in a variety of ways. You may have been arrested and drugs found on your person, you may have been stopped in a vehicle, or in some cases, a search warrant may have been executed at your home or business. You are now likely facing felony charges and your freedom, your future, and your ability to drive are on the line.

Our Plan: I will first look at the circumstances of your arrest and challenge any unlawful searches. I will then reach out to the prosecutor to discuss any legal issues with the search and attempt to negotiate dismissal or reduction of the charge(s). Aggressive action is crucial in drug cases and having a plan of attack makes all the difference. Even if there is no basis for dismissal of the charges, the right approach can shift the case from one where the State seeks punishment to one where rehabilitation becomes the focus, resulting in a favorable resolution that allows your life to go on and your future to remain intact.

What’s Happening: You’ve been arrested after an incident during which you’ve been accused of entering the home, business, or vehicle of another with the intent to commit a crime, and you are now facing a felony. You’ve likely seen a judge and have been ordered not to return to the location of the incident or have contact with any individuals involved with the case. Depending on the allegations, you may be facing anything from a third degree felony, punishable by up to 5 years in prison, to a life felony.

Our Plan: I will investigate the circumstances of your arrest and explore all available defenses. I will meet with the prosecutor to present my findings. If no charges have been filed yet, I will work to prevent them from being filed. If a charge must be filed, I will attempt to persuade the prosecutor to file the lowest allowable offense. I will then work tirelessly to achieve the best result possible as quickly as I can. I will review the evidence, interview witnesses, and leave no stone unturned while crafting an aggressive and comprehensive defense to this serious felony.

What’s Happening: There is a wide range of possibilities within this category of crimes. For starters, you’ve been accused of theft of property that didn’t belong to you, however the charge(s) you are facing can vary and will depend on the value of the property at issue and the circumstances under which the alleged theft took place. If it is alleged the theft was committed with the use or threat of force, you could be facing a robbery charge. If you are facing a robbery charge, the location of the alleged robbery and whether you were armed will be crucial factors that determine the type of robbery with which you are charged. Regardless of the type, any type of robbery is a felony that will change your present and future if you are convicted.

Our Plan: Regardless of whether you’ve been charged with theft or robbery, I will immediately review the available evidence to assess the strength of the State’s case and determine what defensive options are available. I will also locate and interview any witnesses to determine what effect they will have on the case. I will then use my findings to attempt to have the charge against you dropped or reduced. If you’ve been charged with robbery, you may be stuck in custody with a high bond. In this scenario, I will meet with you in jail to gather additional information to seek a lower bond and for your overall defense. The defensive strategy I employ will be dependent on, and be tailored to, the specific facts of your case. This can range from leveraging the State to drop the charge due to a lack of evidence or in exchange for restitution, to challenging the State’s case in front of a jury.

What’s Happening: You were previously placed on probation and you are alleged to have violated one or more of the conditions. Violations can be “technical,” like failing to complete a class, evaluation, or community service, or failing a drug test. Violations resulting from an arrest for a new crime are known as a “new law” violation. Regardless of the type, all probation violations are serious because they typically result in a warrant being issued and a person sitting in jail for weeks without bond, waiting for their first court date.

Our Plan: If a warrant has not yet been issued or executed, I will immediately file a motion asking the court to schedule a hearing for an order to show cause in lieu of issuing a warrant. Next, whether you are in custody or scheduled for an order to show cause hearing, I will immediately contact your probation officer to obtain the details of the alleged violation, your history on probation, and their recommendation to resolve the violation. Next, I will speak with the prosecutor to either present your defenses or negotiate a favorable resolution. I will then appear at your hearing to either challenge the alleged violation or have you placed back on probation, if appropriate.

What’s Happening: You were pulled over and subsequently charged with a driving offense. These offenses can range from driving with a suspended license, to reckless driving, to Florida’s newly enacted “Super Speeder” law, to racing on the highway. The consequences you are facing depend on your circumstances, but in the majority of cases, you will not be able to drive until your situation is rectified.

Our Plan: I will first review your driving record and determine how to approach your situation. If you have been charged with racing, reckless driving, or as a super speeder, I will investigate the allegations and formulate any possible defenses. If your license is suspended, I will identify the suspensions and help you clear them, if they can be cleared, so you can reinstate your driver’s license. The goal is always to get you driving legally again and keep you from having issues in the future.

What’s Happening: A charge against you has been dismissed or you had adjudication withheld and you have completed any associated sentence. You may now be able to seal or expunge the charge from your record, preventing it from appearing on most background checks.

Our Plan: We will meet and determine whether your record is eligible to be sealed or expunged. If you are eligible, I will obtain the necessary documents and prepare and file the application. Once the application has been approved, I will prepare and file the pleadings needed to clean up your record. This process can take up to 6 months, so don’t wait to get started.