Criminal Defenses
TAMPA CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEYS
Criminal Defense Positions
“Winning one motion can result in winning your case. Therefore, you better know what you are doing.”
Whether this is your first criminal accusation or you have some experience with the criminal justice system, your criminal case can be challenged on constitutional, statutory, or administrative grounds. Some of these defenses are pretrial and some can only be raised during trial.
Pretrial Defenses
Types Pretrial Defenses
Pretrial defenses are raised before trial and are typically used to challenge the legality of how evidence or admissions against you were obtained (confession or an object) and the sufficiency of the evidence used to charge you with a crime.
- Illegal Search and Seizure
- Self Defense
- Speedy Trial Violation
- Statute of Limitations
- Warrantless Stop
- Motion to Suppress or
- Motion to Dismiss
Trial Defenses
Types of Trial Defenses
Trial defenses are raised during the actual trial and either:
- Raise an Affirmative Defense to a Crime; or
- Challenge the Sufficiency of the Evidence.
Affirmative Defenses
Under certain circumstances, Florida law allows a person to raise an Affirmative Defense, which does not deny that an offense occurred, but that the conduct was legally justified. The most well-known is the Stand Your Ground defense.
The most common Affirmative Defenses are:
- Advice of Counsel
- Alibi
- Duress
- Insanity
- Necessity
- Self Defense
When an Affirmative Defense is raised, the defendant must present some evidence to support the defense. If such evidence is presented, the burden shifts back to the State to convince a jury beyond a reasonable doubt that the defense is not applicable.
Insufficient Evidence
By far, the most common trial defense is that a case cannot prove beyond a reasonable doubt.
And not only must the prosecutor prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt, each element of the crime charged must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. So if a pretrial defense was granted, the State may have a difficult time proving an element of a crime at trial.
Meet the Partners
Daniel J. Fernandez
Partner
Daniel J. Fernandez defends individuals charged with misdemeanor and felony criminal offenses throughout the Tampa Bay area and the State of Florida.
If you or a loved one needs a criminal defense attorney, call us for a free consultation to discuss the case.
7 Days a Week / 24 Hours a Day
Contact a Tampa/St.Pete/Clearwater Criminal Defense Lawyer
If you have been arrested or charged with a crime in Florida, please contact criminal defense lawyer Daniel J. Fernandez today.
Whether this is your first criminal accusation or you have some experience with the criminal justice system, your criminal lawyer needs to have experience, proven results and have the commitment to see your case through.