What steps should I take if I have posted something threatening or incriminating on social media?
If you feel that you’ve posted something on social media that’s inappropriate, the terms incriminating or intimidating are oftentimes terms with legal consequences, and concepts that might be beyond a layperson to fully appreciate. Therefore, if you feel like there’s something questionable that you’ve posted, it’s within your rights to remove the posting. However, do […]
What types of punishments do I face if convicted of a crime in Florida?
In Florida, there are two different levels of criminal offenses. One is a felony and the other is a misdemeanor. If you are convicted of a felony, then you could face anywhere from 366 days in prison all the way up to imprisonment for life or even the death penalty for a capital offense. For […]
When do the police have to read me my rights in Florida?
One common misconception that a lot of people have is that at any encounter with the police that they have to read you your rights, and if they don’t, then there’s something wrong with an arrest that occurs, or with whatever else happens during that encounter. The bottom line is that the police are really […]
Why do I have no bond in my case?
Under Florida law there are only a few circumstances that can result in you being held with no bond in your case, one of which would be if you were a flight risk: it could be demonstrated to the court that you have a history of not showing up for court, or escaping from custody, […]
Why should I hire a criminal defense attorney?
Hiring a criminal defense attorney is probably the most important decision that a person accused of a crime can make. In many areas of the law a person might be able to fumble through it on their own and actually get to the finish line without the assistance of an attorney. In the criminal justice […]
What does beyond a reasonable doubt mean?
Beyond a reasonable doubt, that’s the burden of proof in our criminal justice system. It’s the highest burden of proof in our legal system altogether. A person can win a $1 million verdict with a preponderance of the evidence being the standard of proof, which is basically 51% sure. In the criminal system, it’s a […]
What do I do if there is a warrant out for my arrest in Florida?
If you learn that there’s a warrant for your arrest in Florida, the first thing you should do is contact an attorney. That attorney can help assist you with advice on whether or not to turn yourself in, or whether that attorney might be able to get involved in the process and perhaps have the […]
What are Miranda rights or Miranda warnings?
Miranda rights and Miranda warrants are two separate things. Miranda rights are guaranteed in the Constitution, such as in the Fifth Amendment, you have the right to remain silent and you have the right to have the assistance of an attorney and you have the right to not participate in questions or to incriminate yourself […]
Can social media or internet information be used to prove a case against me in court?
The short answer here is maybe. The law of evidence regarding the admissibility of these types of social media evidence hasn’t really caught up with the technology. Everyone is very, very present on social media now however proving the person that actually made the entry or the Facebook post or the tweet or what have […]
Can text messages emails or Facebook posts be used to prove threatening conduct against me in court?
Again the short answer here is maybe. The admissibility of these types of evidence is sometimes in question. The ability to authenticate them or to make sure that the court can be assured that the person or the author of these posts or these emails in this, is oftentimes more difficult than it might seem […]