Fort Myers Florida Criminal Defense Law Blog

Most criminal laws are determined on a state-by-state basis in America. Drug crime laws, in particular, can be very state-specific. For instance, some West Coast states, like California and Washington, have legalized marijuana possession and use, to a certain extent. However, in other states, such as Florida, possession of marijuana for anything other than medically-prescribed uses remains illegal.

Other than the exception for medical purposes, the marijuana laws in Florida are fairly straightforward. Marijuana possession laws, for example, increase in severity incrementally based on how much marijuana a person possesses. Individuals who are alleged to be in possession of 20 or less grams of marijuana will face a first-degree misdemeanor charge. Such a charge comes with a potential maximum sentence of one year in jail. However, as with most other misdemeanor charges, a conviction on this type of marijuana charge is more likely to bring about a sentence to a term of probation supervision.

Being arrested and charged with a crime in Florida can be a scary event in a person's life. Whether the charge is a misdemeanor or felony, criminal charges can be a difficult burden to bear. However, as our readers probably know, every criminal defendant is afforded a plethora of constitutional rights to ensure that they are treated fairly in the criminal defense process.

But, to protect your own rights, it is important to know your options when it comes to criminal charges. For instance, while a misdemeanor - like a DUI charge - is a less severe charge than a felony, it is still serious. However, a person who is facing a misdemeanor charge may be more willing to enter into a plea bargain with the prosecution in order to get the incident behind them, while a person who is charged with a felony may be more inclined to fight the case all the way to a jury trial since their freedom may be on the line.

Fort Myers is typically a pretty safe place for Florida residents. However, like other metropolitan areas throughout the country, deadly auto accidents occur occasionally and, in some cases, law enforcement officials can be quick to attempt to pin the blame on the alleged intoxication of a driver involved.

According to a recent report, an alleged drunk driver is being blamed for a deadly accident in Lee County on August 1. The reports indicate that the collision occurred at approximately 3:45pm that afternoon, when the alleged drunk driver - a 58-year-old man from Fort Myers - lost control of his vehicle and hit two men who were on the roadway putting out signs. One of the victims died as a result of the collision, while the other suffered injuries.

If you have recently faced a criminal charge for burglary, you may feel immensely surprised by the allegation. Your situation may have simply been one of your being in the wrong place at the wrong time or of someone having the wrong idea about your intentions. Nonetheless, you now face a serious legal predicament that could have immense impacts on your future if a conviction takes place.

Fortunately, you have the opportunity to create and present a criminal defense against the charge. In order to do so effectively, you may first want to fully understand the allegation that has been brought against you.