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West Palm Beach Felony Charge Attorney Josh LeRoy on:

Defending Felony Charges in Palm Beach County

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Florida classifies crimes as either felonies or misdemeanors. Misdemeanors have fewer potential punishments than felonies. A misdemeanor conviction carries a maximum punishment of up to a year in the county jail and a fine of up to $1000.00. A felony conviction is much more serious. Felonies are punishable by death, up to life in the Florida Department of Corrections (DOC), i.e., prison, and fines up to $15,000.00. In fact, unlike misdemeanors, a conviction for many felony charges has a mandatory prison sentence attached and can increase mandatory fines.

While there are only two types of misdemeanors, first-degree and second-degree, there are five types of Felonies. Capital felonies are punishable by death, life felonies are punishable by a term of incarceration in DOC up to life, first-degree felonies are punishable by up to thirty years in DOC, second-degree felonies are punishable by up to fifteen years in DOC, and third-degree felonies are punishable by up to five years in DOC. In addition, various sentencing enhancements permit lengthier prison sentences than those prescribed above.

A sentence for either a misdemeanor or felony is directly affected by a person’s prior record, specifically prior misdemeanor and/or felony convictions. Florida’s sentencing code is exceptionally harsh. It is designed to punish, not rehabilitate. Florida has a variety of sentencing enhancements for repeat offenders, specifically felony offenders. Those felony sentencing enhancements include prison release reoffender (PRR), habitual felony offender (HFO), habit

ual violent felony offender (HVFO), a violent career criminal (VCC), and ten, twenty, and life. State attorneys increasingly threaten to use these sentencing enhancements to inflate prison sentences.

Besides the initial punishment, the collateral consequences of a felony conviction are dire. A felony conviction results in the loss of valuable civil rights, including but not limited to the right to own a gun, vote, and hold public office. In fact, the State of Florida possesses the highest percentage of Americans who can no longer vote due to a felony conviction. Almost 10.5% of Florida’s population falls into that category. While some states are making it easier to restore rights after a felony sentence is served, Florida’s toughened its laws, making it more difficult. In addition, felony convictions result in the revocation of various professional licenses. A felony conviction will make it difficult for you to do many everyday things, including working in your chosen profession.

I have defended clients charged with nearly every type of felony charge. The following is a list of the most common felony charges in Florida.

Palm Beach County Felony Charges

• Aggravated Assault – F.S. 784.021.
• Aggravated Battery – F.S. 784.045.
• Battery on a Pregnant Person, F.S. 784.945(2)(b)
• Bribery Involving a Public Official, F.S. 838.015
• Extortion, F.S. 836.05
• Burglary, F.S. 810.02(1)(a)
• Burglary – F.S. 810.02. (for dwelling)
• Burglary – F.S. 810.02. (for structure or conveyance)
• Aggravated Child Abuse, F.S. 827.03(2), (3)
• Child Abuse, – F.S. 827.03(1)
• Child Neglect Causing Harm, F.S. 827.03(2)(b)
• Child Abuse Crime DEFINITIONS – F.S. 39.01 (1), (2), (44)
• Child Abuse, PENALTIES RELATING TO THE REPORTING OF – F.S. 39.205(1)(2)
• Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Fraud –F.S. 893.13(7).
• Possession of a Controlled Substances (all except less than 20 grams of marijuana) – F.S. 893.13(6)(a).
• Sale of a Controlled Substance – F.S. 893.13(1).
• Trafficking in a Controlled Substance – F.S. 893.135.
• DUI Causing Serious Injury or Death – F.S. 316.193(3)
• Escape, F.S. 944.40
• Falsely Impersonating an Officer, F.S. 843.08
• False Imprisonment, F.S. 787.02
• Forgery – F.S. 831.01.
• Fraudulent Use of Personal Identification, F.S. 817.568(2)(A),(B),(C)
• Scheme to Defraud, F.S. 817.034(3)(d)
• Deriving Support from the Proceeds of Prostitution, F.S. 796.05
• Home Invasion Robbery with a Firearm, F.S. 812.135
• Home-Invasion Robbery – F.S. 812.135.
• Robbery – F.S. 812.13.
• Sexual crimes
• Human Trafficking, F.S. 787.06
• Lewd or Lascivious Battery, F.S. 800.04(4)
• Lewd or Lascivious Conduct, F.S. 800.04(6)
• Lewd or Lascivious Exhibition, F.S. 800.04(7)
• Lewd or Lascivious Molestation, F.S. 800.04(5)
• Aggravated Stalking, F.S. 784.048(3)
• Carjacking – F.S. 812.133.
• Dealing in Stolen Property – F.S. 812.019.
• False Verification of Ownership – F.S. 538.4(4)
• Grand Theft – F.S. 812.014.
• Carrying a Concealed Firearm, F.S. 790.01(2)
• Felon in Possession of a Firearm, F.S. 790.23
• Murder – F.S. 784.02

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If arrested and charged with a felony, you need an experienced felony attorney. I have handled thousands of felony cases in my career. I routinely have felony charges dismissed, downgraded to misdemeanors, or avoided entirely through plea bargaining. Moreover, I am skilled at negotiating deferral agreements and contracts between my clients and the State – which earn the client dismissal of all charges.

Obtaining an experienced felony defense lawyer is a must. If you or a loved one have been arrested for any felony offense, do not delay. Hiring the right felony defense lawyer in West Palm Beach is essential to ensuring that your rights are properly protected.

If you, or someone you know, has been charged with a felony in West Palm Beach or Southern Florida, use the form below to drop me a note. Tell me about yourself, what’s happened, and when would be a good time to contact you.

-Joshua LeRoy, Esq.[/column]