Tampa Violent Crime Defense Lawyer
I WORK HARD TO PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS.
Effective Defense from an AV Preeminent* Rated Former Prosecutor with more than 25 Years of Experience
I WORK HARD TO PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS.
Effective Defense from an AV Preeminent* Rated Former Prosecutor with more than 25 Years of Experience
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Why You Should Hire Mike G Law to Defend Your Violent Crimes Charge
If law enforcement arrests you for a violent crime, it’s imperative you hire a violent crime defense attorney in Tampa. These very serious crimes come with some of the most severe penalties under Florida law, and having legal representation could help you avoid spending the rest of your life in prison.
Criminal defense law affords you the opportunity to have legal representation in court to fight your case, so make use of your rights and get an attorney.
Mike G is one of the most experienced Tampa criminal defense lawyers you can work with, having litigated thousands of cases, many of them violent crime cases.
He understands criminal law and the justice system in Florida more than other attorneys from his years of experience working as a prosecutor and Assistant State Attorney. Working on both sides of the law has allowed him to forge relationships with law enforcement officers, judges, and others in the criminal justice system. They can all attest to his reputation and skills in the courtroom.
Our law firm is serious about protecting the attorney-client relationship. We will always be honest about the circumstances of your case and realistic about the outcomes you can expect.
We help clients throughout the Clearwater-St. Petersburg-Tampa Bay area. If you live in one of the following Florida counties or surrounding areas, contact us for a free consultation about your case:
Free Consultation For Violent Crime Charges · Credit Cards and Payment Plans Accepted · Se Habla Español
Very often, getting charged with assault or battery in Florida is a matter of being in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong people. When a fight breaks out at a bar or parking lot, the police arrive at the scene determined to charge everyone involved.
Police don’t always understand that their job should be to protect and serve, which begins with conducting competent investigations. They often just dial it in and do as little as possible, including not conducting any investigation at all. Too often, innocent bystanders or people just trying to defend themselves get charged with misdemeanors or felonies for violent crimes.
What’s Considered a Violent Crime in Florida?
Under Florida criminal law, the following are or can be violent crimes:
- Aggravated assault
- Aggravated battery
- Armed robbery
- Arson
- Carjacking
- Child abuse
- Domestic violence
- Elder abuse
- Homicide (murder)
- Kidnapping
- Manslaughter
- Rape
- Resisting arrest
- Sex crimes like sexual assault and sexual battery
- Weapons charges
Drug crimes can also become violent crimes if there are deadly weapons, assaults, or any other kind of violent act involved in the crime.
If the State of Florida convicts you of a violent crime, you’ll likely face a felony charge and have a permanent criminal record for the remainder of your life. A felony charge will ruin your career. You will lose any professional licenses you hold and face limitations on who will hire you.
There are four types of felonies with different punishments:
- Capital felony
- First-degree felony
- Second-degree felony
- Third-degree felony
Because a felony conviction will drastically alter the course of your life, it’s best to hire a violent crime defense lawyer, like Mike G, to handle your case and fight for the best outcome. Many local law enforcement agencies have funding from The Florida Violent Crime and Drug Control Council to prosecute your case thoroughly. Created in 1993 under Florida Statute 943.031, the Council’s responsibility is to address violent criminal activity. This means setting an example for future offenders.
Don’t get caught up in their strategy. Have an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side.
Violent Crime Cases We Handle
We handle criminal charges for violent crimes, including:
- Aggravated assault and battery
- Aggravated robbery
- Arson
- Deadly weapons charges
- Domestic, child, and elder abuse
- Hit and run
- Homicide
- Manslaughter
- Sex offenses, including sexual assault, sexual battery, and rape
We can also help repeat offenders fight violent crime convictions. Under Florida Statute 775.084, habitual offenders face much more severe consequences than first-time offenders. Hiring a skilled and experienced criminal defense attorney could be the difference between a prison sentence of several years or a life sentence when facing a subsequent conviction.
Mike G is a Tampa criminal defense attorney who can handle it all. If you are facing a charge not listed here, that doesn’t mean we can’t help. Schedule your free consultation so we can review your case and inform you about your options.
Common Violent Crime Defenses
A violent crimes lawyer will use the available evidence to create a defense on your behalf. Some defense strategies include:
- Alibi: you can prove you were not at the scene of the crime
- Constitutional violation or misconduct: law enforcement violated your constitutional rights or engaged in misconduct during your arrest or the investigation of your case
- Duress: you committed the crime under a threat of harm
- Defense of others, property, or self-defense: you committed the crime to defend someone else, your property, or yourself from impending harm
- Entrapment: the police persuaded you to commit a crime you otherwise wouldn’t have committed
Additionally, some crimes have a statute of limitations, where the state has limited time to try someone for that particular crime. If the crime you committed has a statute of limitations and it has run out, you won’t need a violent crimes defense because the state cannot legally try your case.
You Can’t Just HOPE Your Attorney Has Enough Experience
Call me right away if you or a member of your family is facing a violent crime charge for:
- Felony aggravated assault
- Battery
- Misdemeanor assault
- Rape or sexual assault
- DUI accident assault or manslaughter
- Domestic violence
Mike G offers clients over 25 years of experience as a criminal defense attorney, a former prosecutor, and a highly respected criminal defense lawyer. He knows that police often make mistakes when charging people with aggravated assault and battery, and it is too easy to get falsely accused of domestic violence.
Mike G has extensive experience breaking down the government’s case because basic procedures were not followed regarding the collection of evidence. He has uncovered errors that have allowed many of his clients to have their charges significantly reduced or dropped entirely.
You will find me friendly and professional, but I’m not here to be your best friend. I only make one promise to my clients: I will work aggressively to do everything possible to get your charges reduced or dismissed so you don’t face the harshest sentence that can result from a conviction. I WILL defend you!
Call my office immediately at 813-221-4303 or send a message using the convenient email contact form to arrange a free case evaluation.
Our Process: What to Expect From Your Tampa Violent Crimes Lawyer
It can be challenging to find the right Tampa criminal lawyer. That’s why we’re open about our process and what you can expect from us. In the initial meeting, Mike G will review your charges and any available evidence, then map out a defense strategy.
He will offer honest and sound legal advice about the penalties you face and the likelihood of the state reducing or dropping them.
Mike G will ensure you get a fair and just trial, but he will not give you empty promises. His no-nonsense attitude will benefit you as long as you follow his advice. You can expect him to diligently review every last detail of your case to craft the best defense for you.
FAQs About Violent Crimes in Florida
If you have questions about violent crimes and violent crime charges, we have answers. Below we answer some of the questions we often hear from our clients.
What is the most common violent crime?
Aggravated assault is the most common violent crime, followed by theft crimes (robbery), rape, and murder. Aggravated assault includes criminal behavior that may not involve the use of a deadly weapon. The person attacks someone with the intent to cause injury.
Robbery is the next most common violent crime. Although not all robbery crimes are violent, many involve theft directly on a victim, such as mugging someone or robbing an occupied dwelling (restaurant or store) with a weapon rather than simply stealing items.
Although robbery is less common than burglary, it leads to more severe penalties. This is because burglary is the intent to steal or commit another crime, not the action of doing so.
What are the four most common criminal defenses when facing a violent crime conviction?
The four most common criminal defense strategies for violent criminal offenses are:
Constitutional violation
Innocence
Insanity
Self-defense
Even guilty people have rights under the U.S. Constitution. It’s far too common for police to violate these rights. Yet, if law enforcement does violate them, the prosecution may need to drop your charges entirely or, at minimum, reduce them.
In many cases, the defendant is innocent, and the state has the wrong person. If this is the case, your lawyer needs to collect evidence proving such. The state still must prove beyond a reasonable doubt you committed the crime, so the more evidence you have proving your innocence, the better.
Pleading insanity only works for a small group of people. Still, if your criminal defense attorney can show beyond a reasonable doubt that your mental illness caused you to commit the crime, you may not face the same penalties. Pleading insanity is an admission of guilt. So even if the jury finds you not guilty by reason of insanity, you’ll likely need to go to a mental health institution, where you could remain for a long time.
Pleading self-defense is also an admission of guilt. You admit you committed the crime but did it to protect your life. Self-defense is a legal argument valid under stand-your-ground laws.
What if someone intends to or is inflicting bodily harm on me? Would I still be facing violent crime charges if I had no choice but to use deadly force?
Under Florida law, Statute 776.013 states that a person in his or her dwelling, occupied vehicle, or residence has the right to stand his or her ground. This means the person can use deadly force if they reasonably believe it’s necessary to prevent the following:
- Great bodily harm
- Imminent death
- Commission of a forcible felony
What are the four types of violent crimes?
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program defines violent crime as an offense that involves force or the threat of force. Within the definition, there are four categories of violent crimes. They are:
- Aggravated assault
- Forcible rape
- Murder
- Robbery
Since 1930, the UCR Program has published a yearly study called Crime in the United States that provides reliable statistics and information for:
- Criminal justice students
- Law enforcement
- Researchers
- The media
- The public
The program includes data from more than 18,000 U.S. law enforcement agencies that participate voluntarily in the program, and it uses the Hierarchy Rule to report crimes. This means the report only counts the most severe offense in a multiple-offense criminal case. For example, if someone committed a robbery and a white-collar crime simultaneously, the report would only document the robbery.
The descending order of UCR violent crimes is as follows:
- Homicide and non-negligent manslaughter
- Rape
- Robbery
- Aggravated assault
- Property crimes such as burglary, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft, but not arson
Get Your Violent Crime Lawyer in Place Today
If you are facing a violent crime conviction, you need a law firm with experienced criminal defense attorneys who know what they are doing. Do not wait to get representation for your violent crime case, or you may receive severe penalties from the criminal system. Call Mike G today and get the best criminal defense lawyer in Tampa on your side.
Let Mike G Help Protect Your Rights
The decisions you make after you have been arrested can determine the outcome of your case — and possibly your life. Call Mike G Law at 813-221-4303, or contact me online.
Our Tampa Location
Mike G Law – Tampa Criminal Defense Lawyer
1005 N Marion St. #118, Tampa, FL 33602
Phone :813-221-4303
Fax: 813-666-8551
Contact Mike G Now
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I cannot recommend Mr Gonzalez enough. He is extremely professional as is his entire firm. Mr Gonzalez has been very knowledgeable and forthcoming throughout the entire legal process. I highly recommend him and a definite five star!
Mike G. is a great attorney. Very professional, very punctual, easy to talk to. Thanks to him my case was dismissed charges dropped.
I was able to text or call Mike anytime I needed to. He worked with me, on a real level and communicated realistic expectations for my situation. Thanks again guys.