Why Would Someone Plead ‘No Contest’ in a Criminal Case?

During your arraignment, the judge will ask you to enter a plea. You can either plead not guilty, guilty, or no contest. A not guilty plea means you are stating you did not commit the offense you were accused of. Guilty means you admit to the charges brought against you. No contest means you are not admitting guilt, but are also not contesting the facts of the case. Advantage of a No Contest Plea ...

Can a Felony Charge Be Reduced to a Misdemeanor?

In Florida, offenses can be charged as either a felony or a misdemeanor. Felony offenses are the more severe of the two, resulting in greater penalties. For example, a third-degree felony (the lowest of the three felony degrees in the state) could result in a prison sentence of up to 5 years and a fine of up to $5,000. In contrast, a first-degree misdemeanor (the higher of the two misdemeanor ...

False Allegations: Fighting Lies of Domestic Violence

Defend Your Truth & Your Reputation It’s an unfortunate truth that a spouse, or spouse’s family member, may accuse you of domestic violence or abuse without the existence of actual violence. This may be for any number of reasons including anger, spite, to gain leverage in a divorce, or out of jealousy for a new relationship after separation. Regardless of the reason behind the allegations, if you ...

Florida’s Juvenile Justice System: Options for Incarceration

Anyone under the age of 18 who is arrested for a crime in Florida is processed through the Department of Juvenile Justice. Once a juvenile is considered “delinquent” or a minor in violation of a crime, the judge has two options for disposition: incarceration or non-incarceration. Quite often, when non-incarceration is applicable, probation is involved. Unfortunately, once a juvenile is in the ...