When you have been arrested or charged with a criminal offense, in Brent, FL, you need representation you can trust to protect your rights and interests. At The Morris Firm, we believe that everyone who is facing criminal charges deserves honest, dedicated legal representation. Our skilled legal team has the resources and expertise to handle even the most complex criminal cases in Florida.
The idea of being convicted of a crime and losing your freedom, job, and reputation can seem scary. You can trust that our Brent criminal defense lawyers will work tirelessly to fight against your charges, ensure you receive a fair trial, and prove your innocence or secure the best possible outcome in your case.
If you were arrested or charged with a crime in Brent, reach out to the criminal defense lawyers of The Morris Firm for a free initial case review. You can go over your legal rights and options with a knowledgeable member of our team.
Why Choose The Morris Firm for Your Criminal Defense Case?
When you are facing criminal charges, let the Brent criminal defense lawyers of The Morris Firm help you defend your rights and freedom. You can expect our firm to vigorously fight on your behalf at every step in your case. We will make sure that your rights are not violated by police or prosecutors. We will argue against each piece of evidence presented to expose the weakness of the prosecution’s case.
We know that facing criminal prosecution can seem complicated and stressful. With our firm, you will never feel as if you are facing the criminal justice system alone. You can turn to our legal team for help 24/7. We are always here to answer your questions and address your concerns.
Areas of Practice
At The Morris Firm, our seasoned Brent criminal defense lawyers can help you with an arrest or charges for criminal matters, such as:
- Assault & battery
- Drug crimes
- DUI
- Boating under the influence
- Theft
- Sex crimes
- Violent crimes
- Felony crimes
- Misdemeanors
- Juvenile offenses
- Pre-trial diversion
What Can You Expect Ater Being Arrested for a Crime?
If you are facing the criminal justice system for the first time, you may not know what to expect following your arrest. Knowing how the criminal process works can go a long way to reducing the anxiety and stress that you may feel after you’ve been arrested. Steps that take place after an arrest include:
- First appearance – After you are arrested and booked, you will make a first appearance before the court within 24 to 48 hours. At the first appearance, the court will advise you of the charges against you and receive your plea to each charge. The court will also explain your basic rights, such as the right to an attorney, and confirm whether you have legal counsel or want an attorney appointed to you. The court will also set bail for your pre-trial release or order you held in jail until your trial.
- Preliminary hearings – During these hearings, your Brent criminal defense lawyers can challenge the prosecution’s evidence or the sufficiency of the case against you. For example, your attorneys can move to have evidence excluded from the case on grounds that it was obtained in violation of your rights. Your attorneys can also move to have charges reduced or dismissed if the state does not have sufficient evidence to establish probable cause that you may have committed the crime.
- Plea bargaining – If your charges are not dismissed, your attorneys may be able to negotiate with the prosecutors to reduce your charges or to obtain a more lenient sentence in exchange for you pleading guilty.
- Trial – If you choose not to plead guilty (as is your right) and you wish to contest your charges, your case will eventually proceed to trial. In most cases, you have the right to a trial by jury, although you may request to have your case decided by a judge. If you are found guilty, you will be sentenced by the trial court at the end of the trial, or at another hearing held within a few weeks to a few months.
Penalties for Criminal Convictions
If you are convicted of a crime, the penalties you may face will depend on the grading of your offense. Crimes fall into one of two categories: misdemeanors and felonies.
Misdemeanors include less serious offenses such as petty theft, DUI, or possession of marijuana. Misdemeanors come in two grades:
- Second-degree misdemeanor: Sentence of up to 60 days in jail and/or a fine of up to $500
- First-degree misdemeanor: Sentence of up to one year in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000
Felonies include more serious offenses, including assault, sexual battery, drug trafficking, kidnapping, or murder. Florida law has five degrees of felonies:
- Third-degree felonies: Sentence of up to five years in prison and a possible fine of up to $5,000
- Second-degree felonies: Sentence of up to 15 years in prison and a potential fine of up to $10,000
- First-degree felonies: Sentence of up to 30 years in prison and a potential fine of up to $10,000.
- Life felonies: Life sentence, or a term of up to life in prison, and a potential fine of up to $15,000.
- Capital felony: Life sentence or death sentence.
How a Criminal Defense Attorney from Our Firm Can Help
After you have been arrested for or charged with a crime, you may not know where to turn for help to defend your rights and protect your freedom and reputation. The Brent criminal defense lawyers of The Morris Firm can help you address your charges by:
- Immediately getting to work on your case. We’ll investigate the underlying facts and circumstances of your charges and secure evidence that we can use to help prove your innocence or to challenge the state’s case.
- Advising you of your legal rights and options, the potential outcomes of your charges, and what you can expect to occur during the criminal justice process.
- Filing motions to exclude state’s evidence that was obtained in violation of your rights or that cannot be admitted under the rules of evidence.
- Moving to reduce or dismiss your charges where the prosecution does not have sufficient evidence to proceed to trial on your charges.
- Where appropriate, negotiating with the prosecution to try to reach a plea deal that can allow you to avoid the harshest outcomes of a conviction on your current charges.
- Advocating a strong case on your behalf if you decide to go to trial on your charges.
Contact Us Today
Don’t leave your freedom, future, and reputation to chance when you are facing criminal charges. Call The Morris Firm at (850) 503-2626 or fill out the contact form on our website for a free, confidential consultation with a Brent criminal defense lawyer from our legal team. We want to discuss how our firm can provide you with the skilled legal advice and advocacy you need during this critical time.
