Felony Attorney Melbourne, FL

Successful Melbourne drug charge defense requires legal support from an attorney who understands the complex issues associated with felony drug charges. For example, prosecutors may use various circumstances to try to prove possession with the intent to sell, such as large quantities of scales, baggies, or other drug paraphernalia. However, in some cases, possessing a large quantity of drugs is enough to prove drug trafficking. Accusations of committing prescription drug crimes in FL, like fraud and illegal distribution, can endanger medical professionals’ careers. Crimes that cross state lines, such as drug smuggling or importation, fall under federal jurisdiction. Our skilled legal team defends against many felony-level drug charges, including illegal trafficking, drug distribution, manufacture of controlled substances, and more.

Our Florida criminal defense attorneys represent clients facing the following charges:

• Aggravated Assault or Battery: Aggravated offenses can involve the use of deadly weapons, intent to commit a felony, or intentionally or knowingly causing great bodily harm, permanent disability, or permanent disfigurement.
• Murder: The unlawful killing of a person through premeditation to cause death or during the commission of certain crimes qualifies as murder. First-degree murder carries especially severe penalties as a capital felony.
• Homicide and Manslaughter: Manslaughter is the killing of any person by the act, procurement, or negligence of another. While typically charged as a second-degree felony, charges can increase to first-degree if the victim is an elderly person, child, officer, firefighter, emergency medical technician, or paramedic.
• Kidnapping: Confining, abducting, or imprisoning another person against their will, either forcibly, secretly, or by threat, can constitute a first-degree felony. Successful prosecution depends on proving that these acts were done with a certain intent.
• Robbery: Using force, violence, assault, or fear to steal another’s property is considered robbery. The crime can be charged as a second- or first-degree felony depending on whether the case involved the carrying or use of deadly weapons or home invasion.
• Carjacking: Stealing a motor vehicle becomes carjacking, a first-degree felony offense, when the perpetrator uses force, violence, assault, or fear to commit the crime.
• Aggravated Stalking: Stalking becomes an aggravated charge when the stalker makes a credible threat to their victim, violates an injunction for protection or any court-imposed prohibition of conduct, or stalks someone under 16 years of age.

Choose Platt, Cole, Russell & Simpson PLLC for Melbourne violent crime defense.

Florida courts treat sex crimes very seriously, especially when the victim is a minor or otherwise part of a vulnerable population. Generally, sexual battery in FL that involves a perpetrator and victim who are both 18 years of age or older can lead to a second- or first-degree felony charge. However, committing sexual battery against a child younger than 12 can be charged as a capital or life felony depending on the circumstances. In Florida, lewd and lascivious offenses committed against children under 16 can qualify as third-degree, second-degree, first-degree, or life felonies. Experienced criminal defense for sexual offenses in Melbourne, FL protects your freedom, relationships, and reputation.

Conviction for theft-related crimes can result in serious penalties, especially when the value of the stolen property is high or the crime involves certain aggravating factors. Theft of any property valued at $750+ or theft of certain kinds of property, such as motor vehicles or firearms, constitutes felony-level grand theft charges. Burglary involves entering or remaining in a dwelling, structure, or conveyance with the intent to commit an offense and can be tried as a third-, second-, or first-degree charge. Committing arson on any buildings that could be occupied by humans is a first-degree felony, while committing arson on other properties is a second-degree offense. Criminal mischief starts as a misdemeanor charge, but can increase to a felony-level when it results in damage worth $1,000 or greater. Our Melbourne theft defense attorneys challenge the prosecutor’s accusations of theft, ensuring our clients receive fair treatment under Florida law.

White collar crimes involve financially motivated offenses that, although non-violent in nature, can still cause significant harm. Florida law forbids various types of fraud and financial deception. Judges discourage these crimes by issuing harsh penalties to those found guilty of them. Certain white-collar crimes, such as embezzlement and larceny, are covered under Florida’s theft laws. Specific statutes govern other offenses, such as corruption through bribery, government fraud, or money laundering. Federal prosecutors can become involved when the crime falls under federal jurisdiction, such as with federal tax evasion, or for interstate criminal activity, such as cybercrimes.

Florida law strictly outlines the conditions under which individuals are allowed to own and use firearms and other potentially deadly devices. Illegal possession of firearms, whether because the owner cannot legally possess firearms or due to possession of illegal devices, qualifies as a felony offense. Firearm trafficking, unlawful transfer, and identification tampering are also serious felonies. Furthermore, the use or discharge of a firearm while committing certain crimes can increase applicable charges.

Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a serious offense that endangers both the perpetrator and others around them. Subsequent DUIs can quickly lead to a felony conviction. Third-degree felony charges apply to third-offense DUIs within 10 years and any fourth or subsequent DUIs. Courts charge DUIs as third-degree felonies when the defendant causes serious bodily injury, and second- or first-degree felonies for DUI manslaughter. With the help of our Melbourne DUI defense attorneys, defendants facing DUI charges can potentially escape felony penalties.

Felony speeding and traffic-related offenses cover a wide range of dangerous behaviors, such as racing on highways, speeding, reckless driving, and fleeing/attempting to elude law enforcement officers. Individuals may also face felony charges for operating a vehicle with a revoked or suspended license or as a habitual traffic offender with certain prior criminal convictions. Tampering or disabling a vehicle to cause harm to another qualifies as a felony. Prosecutors can pursue felony charges when drivers cause serious injuries or death, and when drivers leave the scene of a crash that resulted in serious injuries or death. Our Melbourne reckless driving defense team will thoroughly review your case, determine whether it qualifies as a felony offense, and provide experienced legal support.

Probation, also sometimes referred to as community control or house arrest, allows individuals to serve their sentence within their community rather than in jail or prison. The probation officer ensures that the probationer meets all court-ordered requirements and reports violations. If the probationer commits any new crime, they risk probation revocation and additional criminal penalties. Commission of felonies is especially likely to result in negative consequences.