Often, people accused of crimes are confused and frightened about what lies ahead. If the police are investigating you for a crime, or if you have been arrested for allegedly committing a crime in South Florida, you should promptly consult an experienced attorney. Florida punishes certain crimes, such as drug trafficking and sex offenses, very harshly. The Boca Raton criminal defense lawyers at Mishali Law, P.A. can work on your behalf to provide an aggressive defense or negotiate a favorable plea deal.
Misdemeanor and Felony Charges
Generally, in Florida, misdemeanors such as petit theft, disorderly conduct, driving on a suspended license, and DUI are less serious than felony charges. Even so, accumulating multiple misdemeanors can eventually result in substantial penalties for later offenses. There are both first-degree and second-degree misdemeanors, with first-degree misdemeanor convictions being more serious and resulting in a sentence of up to a year in jail, 12 months of probation, and a $1,000 fine.
Felony convictions are more serious, and carry a possible penalty of prison time. Some common types of felonies include sexual battery, murder, robbery, drug trafficking, and grand theft. Different penalties are imposed depending on the degree of the felony. For example, a second-degree felony conviction will result in at most 15 years of imprisonment and a $10,000 fine. For another example, a first-degree felony, which is more serious, can result in a maximum of 30 years in state prison and a $10,000 fine. Life felonies are still more serious and can result in up to life in prison and a $15,000 fine. The severity of these consequences makes it critical to retain a criminal defense attorney in Boca Raton who can fight for your rights.
In addition to imprisonment, when somebody is convicted of a felony sex crime in Florida, their sentence will include a sex offender registration requirement. Sex offender registration imposes certain requirements and limits on where someone lives or works.
