Jacksonville Criminal Attorney Blog

When you have a criminal defense law firm in Florida, you come across the charge of fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer often. This is a felony that can be punishable from 5 years to 30, depending on the level.

If you are driving a car and you know that you are being ordered to stop by a police officer and willfully refuse to stop, it is a third degree felony. Likewise, if you are fleeing a patrol car with the police agency insignia, siren, and lights activated, you are committing a third degree felony. Both of these crimes are punishable for up to 5 years in prison. If, in the process of fleeing, you drive at a high speed or drive with disregard for the safety of people or property, you are facing a second degree felony. This is punishable for up to 15 years in prison. If, in the process of fleeing, you cause serious bodily injury or death to another person, this is considered an aggravated fleeing and the crime is punishable for up to 30 years in prison because it is a first degree felony.

The state of Florid has many laws that protect elderly people. An elder person is defined as someone who is 60 years-old or older who suffers from the infirmities of aging. It is a crime in Florida to knowingly, by lying or intimidation, to use an elderly person's funds or property with the intent to deprive that person of the possession of their money or property. The police take into account whether or not the person committing the crime is in a position of trust with the elderly person or whether or not they have a business between them.

If the money or property involved is valued at $100,000 or more, the suspect can be arrested in Jacksonville for a first degree felony.

If the money or property is valued at between $20,000 and $100,000, the suspect can be arrested for a second degree felony.

If it is valued at less than $20,000, the suspect can be arrested for a third degree felony.

There are two types of criminal cases in Jacksonville, Florida. They are felonies and misdemeanors. Felonies, in general, are crimes that are punishable for over one year in prison. Misdemeanors are punishable for 12 months or less.

There are several felonies. A capital felony is punishable by death if the appropriate hearings occur. A Life Felony is punishable by life in prison. A First Degree Felony carries 30 years maximum in prison. A Second Degree Felony is punishable for up to 15 years in prison. A Third Degree Felony is the lowest degree felony punishable for up to 5 years in prison.

Middleburg residents, Keith Allen and Gary Connor, have been arrested for Grand Theft by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. They are accused of stealing roadside railings and hardware. They are being held in the Duval County Jail on $100,003 and $50,003 bonds. Grand Theft is a third degree felony punishable for up to 5 years in prison.

Grand Theft is a non-violent crime. There are two reasons to set a high monetary bond:

1. If the accused person poses a danger to the community or

2. If the person accused is a flight risk.

A judge would have looked at these two men's criminal records and considered their ties to the community.

If you have any questions about a bond reduction in Jacksonville, please call our Jacksonville Bond Reduction Attorneys at (904) 634-0900.

When you are arrested for either a felony or misdemeanor in Jacksonville, Duval County, Clay County, or Nassau County, you may be qualified for the Pretrial Intervention Program. If you have little or no criminal record, your chances of being picked for this program go up. You sign a contract to be placed on a kind of "probation". During that time, your criminal charges will not be filed. You will agree to either pay some amount of money, perform community service, or other duty. If you complete your end of the bargain, the state attorney will drop your criminal charges.

It is very important to contact a criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible after you are arrested on criminal charges in Jacksonville to look at the possibility of being placed in this program. Contact our Criminal Defense Attorneys in Jacksonville at (904) 634-0900. You will speak to a lawyer 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

When you are arrested for a felony in Jacksonville, the prosecutor has about 21 days to make a decision about what to do with your case. They could:

1. File felony charges in Jacksonville.

2. Reduce the felony charge to a misdemeanor charge.

3. Send you to the Pretrial Intervention Program.

4. Drop your criminal charges outright.

That is why it is so important to hire an attorney as soon as possible after an arrest in Jacksonville. An experienced Jacksonville criminal lawyer can look at the charges and make contact with the state attorney assigned to the case.

If you have any questions about felony charges in Jacksonville, don't hesitate to call our Experienced Jacksonville Criminal Attorneys for a free consultation 24 hours a day at (904) 634-0900. You will speak to a lawyer.