Fort Lauderdale Criminal Defense Lawyers
20+ YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
Award-Winning Criminal Defense Firm Serving Fort Lauderdale, FL
Award-Winning Criminal Defense Firm Serving Fort Lauderdale, FL
OR
Hablamos Español
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Fort Lauderdale Criminal Defense Lawyer
Have you been charged with a criminal offense in Fort Lauderdale, Florida? Are you under
investigation
by Fort Lauderdale Police, the Broward County Sheriff’s office or federal law enforcement? The best thing you can do for yourself in these situations is contact a qualified Criminal Defense Attorney at Smith & Eulo Law Firm.
Smith & Eulo Law Firm’s criminal defense attorneys in Fort Lauderdale understand how tasking and difficult it can be to have to deal with a criminal charge, as well as the long-term consequences of a conviction. It’s our guarantee that we’ll work relentlessly to preserve your freedom and your future. Let us help you get your life
Are you being charged with a crime on Fort Lauderdale, FL?
When you hire a Fort Lauderdale, FL criminal defense attorney at Smith & Eulo Law Firm, you’re not just hiring someone to speak for you in court. You’re gaining all the advantages of an attorney-client relationship. We’ll contact your assigned
prosecutor
to learn more about your charges and gather any pertinent information on your case. We’ll interview potential witnesses, subpoena appropriate documents,
request copies
of police reports, and we’ll listen to your side of the story to ensure we get the full picture.
At Smith & Eulo Law Firm, we go above and beyond to create a compelling defense strategy aimed at getting your charges cleared. You can sit back and relax, knowing that you have a team of dedicated professionals working tirelessly to defend your freedom.
We Can Defend You Against These Charges and More
The Smith & Eulo Law Firm: Fort Lauderdale Criminal Defense Lawyers has taken on a variety of different types of cases for our clients. From misdemeanors to felonies, our firm boasts 20+ years of criminal law experience defending the citizens of Florida. Below you can see some of the charges we’ve defended against, and learn more about Florida’s Penal code.
Theft & Fraud Charges
You could be convicted of theft in Fort Lauderdale if you’re found to have:
- Knowingly obtained or used another person’s property
- Appropriated the property to his/her/another person’s use
- Your intent was to temporarily or permanently deprive a person of their right to a property, or benefit from a property
Theft can fall under two different kinds of categories: petty and grand theft. The difference between the two is that petty theft is usually a misdemeanor and grand theft is a felony.
Fraud generally occurs when you’re caught falsely representing yourself or some information to another person, causing them some sort of loss because of your falsity. Common incidences of fraud include:
- Identity theft
- Corporate fraud
- Telemarketing fraud
- Tax evasion
- Credit fraud
- Mail fraud
Violation of Probation
In Florida there are two categories of probation violation. Technical
violations are when an individual violates their terms of parole. This can occur when someone:
-
- Fails a drug test
- Fails to pay court fees
- Fails to appear at a mandatory probation meeting
- Fails to complete court-ordered rehabilitation
A person commits a substantive
violation when they commit a new crime during their term of probation. When this happens, their probation can be revoked and new charges may be added on.
It’s important to note that in both probation violation circumstances a person may be charged with more jail time.
If you are facing charges for violation of probation in Fort Lauderdale, contact our office today so that we can get started working on your defense.
Assault & Battery
Different degrees of assault & battery:
-
- Simple assault (misdemeanor charge)
- Aggravated Assault (felony charge)
- Simple battery (misdemeanor charge)
- Felony battery (felony charge)
- Aggravated battery (felony charge)
DUI Charges
carries hefty charges for repeat offenders. If you’re facing your second, third, or even fourth DUI, contact our Fort Lauderdale DUI lawyers today to protect your job, freedom, and reputation.
The Florida Statutes dictate that a maximum DUI offense can lead to:
- 5 years in prison
- $2,000 in fines
- A third degree felony charge
- A lifetime license revocation
- 90 day vehicle impoundment
Sex Offenders
The state of Florida has the harshest penalties for sex crime. The penalties for these crimes will depend on their context: how old the victim is, how old the offender is, and any other aggravating circumstances.
-
- Solicitation of prostitution – misdemeanor (if first offense) usually resulting in probation
- Lewd/lascivious battery – up to 15 years imprisonment
- Aggravated sexual battery (victim over the age of 12) – minimum imprisonment of 108 months, up to life imprisonment
- Sexual battery on a child under the age of 12 – if the defendant is over the age of 18, this is considered capital sexual battery with a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole.
Domestic Violence
Domestic Violence has been on the rise in Florida for the last several years. DV occurs when family members, or members of the same household, enact any qualifying type of violence against one or all persons involved. These acts of violence include:
-
- Battery
- Assault
- Kidnapping
- Stalking
- Sexual assault
If you’re charged with Domestic Violence in Fort Lauderdale, the minimum punishment is 5 days in jail. If you’ve committed an additional act against your victim–like battery or assault–you could face lengthy amounts of jail time.
Drug Crimes
Drug crimes are another broad category of crime in the state of Florida. Any charges and penalties will be dependent on the type of drug involved, how much of the drug was discovered in your possession, and if it was intended to be used or distributed.
Several common drug charges and their penalties include:
-
-
- Possession of marijuana under 20 grams- misdemeanor with up to 1 year imprisonment and a $1000 fine
- Possession of marijuana between 20 grams and 25 pounds (intent to sell): Felony with up to 5 years imprisonment and a $5000 fine
- Possession of marijuana over 25 pounds: Possession of over 25 pounds can be considered trafficking, a felony charge with a maximum sentence of 30 years imprisonment
- Cocaine possession under 28 grams (with no intent to distribute) – Third degree felony with a maximum sentence of 5 years imprisonment and a $5000 fine
- Cocaine possession under 28 grams (with intent to distribute) – Second degree felony with a maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment and a $10000 fine
- Cocaine possession over 28 grams – Felony trafficking charge with sentences from 3 years to life imprisonment, and $50,000-$250,000 in fines (depending on amount)
-
Juvenile Defense
Florida handles juvenile cases differently from those involving adult defendants. In juvenile court, the judge passes a verdict–there are no juries involved. When the child is initially arrested, he or she may be held in a detention center, or they’ll be released to their parents for non-secure detention.
In a juvie case, the judge will determine a probation period or one of four commitments in a juvie program:
-
- Low risk programs: 30-45 days
- Moderate-risk programs: 4-6 months
- High-risk programs: 6-9 months
- Juvenile prison: 18-36 month
Juvie justice system is designed to rehab minors, but it can still leave a stain on your criminal record.
What to Expect in Your Criminal Case
Being charged with a crime can be a terrifying and defeating event. We understand and are here to help you navigate the intimidating and high stakes of the legal process. We have a collective 20 years of experience defending Floridians and ensure that every client receives the attention and care they deserve. If you're looking for criminal representation in Fort Lauderdale, FL, Broward County or the surrounding areas,
for a free case review.
The first step in the process of defending your criminal charges is to contact a qualified criminal defense lawyer. Most lawyers offer a free initial consultation to give you an idea of what it will take to defend your case, including our team at Smith & Eulo Law Firm. You can schedule your free consultation with us by calling us at
754-332-0512. Your case in Fort Lauderdale will most likely be heard at the Broward County Courthouse,
which is just a 2 minute drive from our office. Be sure you arrive early, you've dressed appropriately and you have a reliable defense attorney by your side. Before you hire a Fort Lauderdale criminal defense lawyer, it's best to meet with multiple attorneys to see if they understand your case, what their fees are, what experience they have, and how they communicate. Remember to not only listen to what they have to say, but don't ignore your gut as well. If you think an attorney doesn't have your best interest at heart, don't be afraid to walk away. Many law firms offer free consultations, so we encourage people to shop around.
Fort Lauderdale, FL Office
Our Fort Lauderdale office is centrally located on Las Olas Blvd, just a two minute drive from the Broward County courthouse. You can find us at 401 E. Las Olas Blvd, Suite 1444, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301.
on our site or call 754-332-0512 to schedule your appointment.
