Criminal Defense Attorney in St. Augustine, FL
Have the police interrogated you about a crime, or has a loved one been arrested? If so, you should hire a St. Augustine criminal defense attorney immediately. Many criminal cases are won or lost in the first weeks, and you need a passionate advocate by your side to protect your rights.
At our firm, we represent people in St. Augustine and all of St. Johns County in Florida. We have represented many people accused of serious crimes, and we know how to hold the police accountable for how they collect evidence. Many people have their rights violated and need a seasoned lawyer who can guarantee that they receive a fair trial. Contact us today. One of our criminal defense lawyers in St. Augustine will be happy to meet with you to go over the facts of your case.
DUI
Fla. Stat. §316.193 defines DUI as being in actual control of a vehicle and:
- Having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher as measured by a chemical test, or
- Being under the influence of drugs or alcohol so that normal faculties are impaired
Most of our clients have blown a high score on a breathalyzer and fear that the case is open-and-shut. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Often, we can analyze the facts and find a defense that allows us to undermine some of the state’s evidence against you. In other situations, we might negotiate a favorable plea deal from a position of strength, especially if you have no criminal history.
DUIs also carry administrative penalties which are often just as harsh as criminal penalties. It’s possible you can lose your license without even being convicted, so meet with an attorney as soon as possible.
Drug Crimes
Florida tackles drug crimes aggressively. Possession or trafficking in prescription drugs, marijuana, and narcotics can carry heavy sentences since most are charged as felonies. We can push back.
To search or arrest you, police need more than a hunch that you might have drugs. They should have articulable facts that they can recite in court in a credible manner. Sometimes, we can get drug evidence tossed from court, which makes it much harder for the government to meet its burden of proof.
Sex Crimes
Many people assume that defendants accused of sex crimes are guilty as soon as they are arrested, so these defendants face an uphill battle of proving their innocence to the public. Sex crimes are taken very seriously and include:
- Sexual assault
- Rape
- Sex with a minor
- Prostitution
- Possession of child pornography
- Internet sex crimes
Few people really understand how to defend against an accusation of a sex crime. For example, statutory rape depends on the ages of the parties, regardless of whether the minor wanted to engage in sexual activity.
Violent Crimes
Violent crimes tend to see the most serious penalties. When a defendant has been accused of a violent crime, he can expect the state to throw the book at him.
Violent crimes include:
- Assault
- Kidnapping
- Vehicular homicide
- DUI manslaughter
- Attempted murder
- Homicide
Violent crimes are often felonies, which can carry a minimum of 5 years in prison and a stiff fine. Felonies also cause defendant to lose their civil rights, such as the right to vote and the ability to legally possess a firearm.
With a felony conviction, defendants can find it hard to rent an apartment or obtain a job in the future, since many landlords and employers pull a criminal history report. Felonies can also prevent someone from keeping or obtaining a professional license or gaining admission into college.
Building a Strong Defense
The best defense starts with a defendant not handing over incriminating evidence to the police on a silver platter. This means not consenting to a police search of your home and not answering any questions that they have. At our firm, we believe in making the state work for its conviction. Police and prosecutors love nothing better than for suspects to make critical errors in the moments after an arrest.
We also identify and collect evidence that helps show that our clients are innocent. This can include alibi witnesses or proof of your location at the time of the incident.
Contact a St. Augustine Criminal Defense Lawyer
The moments after an arrest are critical. At Lockett Law, our team is prepared to swing into action to help our clients fight back against criminal charges. It isn’t unusual for Florida prosecutors to overcharge defendants in the hopes of scaring them into pleading guilty. Before doing anything, contact an attorney at Lockett Law for a confidential consultation.
