St. Petersburg Criminal Defense Lawyer

A criminal conviction can haunt you for years after the incident. To keep your record clean, reach out to a St. Petersburg criminal defense attorney for help.

We all make mistakes and find ourselves in trouble from time to time. Unfortunately, you might have found yourself in the back of a police car, not just in a little trouble, and now you have criminal charges to deal with. What can you do about that?

Unfortunately, dealing with criminal charges isn’t easy. You’ll need to get those charges dropped or face the consequences, but that’s not always so easy. Fortunately, that’s where a St. Petersburg criminal defense lawyer can step in.

You need help getting your charges reduced or dropped, and you need someone with the right tools. At Hersem Law, we understand the importance of a strong defense, and we can help you fight for it. If you’re afraid that you don’t have a chance of defending yourself, get the help you need before your St. Petersburg criminal trial.

Criminal Penalties in Florida

First, you might be considering taking the consequences and moving on. You might believe what you’re charged with isn’t so serious, and you’d need to contradict a police officer. Without help, that rarely goes well. Unfortunately, accepting the penalties can leave you struggling with hefty fines and other consequences.

For example, even a misdemeanor comes with serious fines. These charges are split into first and second degrees, which will affect the maximum sentence you could receive. So, if you’re charged with a second-degree misdemeanor, for example, your fines may be up to $500, and you may also be in jail for up to sixty days. Already, these are serious consequences, and first-degree misdemeanors are worse.

What about felonies? These charges can leave you in prison for a much longer time. Even the lowest type of felony, third-degree felonies, could land you in prison for up to five years, with fines up to $5,000. That leaves you in debt in many cases, without the chance to pay back those fines. Unfortunately, that makes it even more difficult to recover after your sentence.

So, you’ll need to fight back when you’re accused of a crime, whether it’s marijuana possession, drug dealing, reckless driving, DUI, or whatever else. While it might seem easiest or even noble to just take responsibility and be done with it, the fines and jail or prison time alone can be serious trouble. That doesn’t include license suspensions and other possible punishments, or the longer sentence you’ll receive if this isn’t your first offense.  

Long-Term Consequences Will Affect You

Unfortunately, the consequences don’t end there. A criminal trial is designed to punish the person found guilty, which means you could suffer for some time for a conviction. Even a misdemeanor can leave a lasting impact, so you’ll need to fight back when you’re accused. Otherwise, you could suffer for it, possibly for the rest of your life.

For example, even a misdemeanor is a crime on your record, and that can affect your opportunities. Let’s say you were just released from jail, and you need work. You apply to a few locations, but when they do a background check, they find a criminal record. While some places will hire felons, many employers will reject your application. You might be unable to work in your chosen field at all.

It’s not just employment that you stand to lose. You may be looking for housing, and that’s not easy when you have a record. They’ll also check your background, and if they find a criminal record, they may also reject your application. Even decisions made later, such as child custody decisions, could be affected by even a misdemeanor.

That doesn’t include the other, less life-altering consequences, like losing your license. Being unable to drive makes commuting or traveling much more difficult, for example, which can affect your finances for years. So, before you plead guilty, make sure the consequences are really worth it.

How a Lawyer Can Help with Your Criminal Defense

When you’ve been charged with a crime, it can be difficult to find the right defense and evidence you need to prove you weren’t guilty. Without help, it can feel almost impossible. Fortunately, that’s what your defense attorney is here for.

You’ll need help building your defense, and you’ll need it to be aggressive. You’re likely not familiar with how a criminal trial goes in St. Petersburg or what you’ll have to prepare for the trial, but a lawyer can help. They have the experience and resources you need.

For example, part of your defense might require an expert witness, who provides information about a particular item or event that can help you. Unfortunately, you might not have a way to contact these people without a lawyer. Get access all the resources you need when you’ve been accused of a crime by working with an attorney.  

Finding the Right Defense

Building a defense is especially tough when you’re not familiar with even the common defenses for your case. For example, you might have been pulled over for drinking and driving, and you’re concerned because you took the field sobriety test. The test said you were over the legal limit, so what can you do now?

Fortunately, a lawyer will have many ways to try to combat this. For example, you might have been forced to drive under duress or because the alternative was more dangerous. If you don’t think you were over the limit, we may even focus on the tests used or when they were administered. If they took you in and then tested you, you might have had a different blood alcohol content level, for example.  

Don’t Risk Your Case

A lawyer might seem like an unnecessary expense when you’re already struggling to recover, but you’ll need the right help for your criminal case. An attorney can make a difference, but you might be considering a public defender. They’re attorneys as well, right?

While they are also trained and knowledgeable lawyers, they’re time-strapped lawyers, too. They may be assigned multiple cases at the same time they’re assigned to yours. They may not have the time or energy to give your case the aggressive defense it needs.

Worse, they might not have time for you, either. You need personal attention for your case, but they may be too busy to give you the full attention you deserve. You need a lawyer who will pay attention to the little details and care about your specific case.  

Contact a Criminal Defense Lawyer in St. Petersburg

It’s unfortunate, but a criminal case can affect your life for years after the incident. At the same time, it’s tough to fight back. You don’t have the tools or resources needed for a successful claim, and you’re struggling to find an appropriate defense for your case. That leaves you in a tough spot—one that’s difficult to recover from.

You’ll need a lawyer on your side as soon as possible. At Hersem Law, we understand how difficult a criminal trial can be, and we understand that you need help getting a successful defense started. Fortunately, our attorneys are ready to help.

If you’re struggling with your charges, reach out for a free strategy session with a criminal defense attorney. We’ll discuss your case and how to approach it so you know what we can do for you before we get started together. You need your charges successfully dropped, and we’ll fight to make that happen.

Unsure where to start? Begin by calling a St. Petersburg criminal defense lawyer about your strategy session. By taking advantage of this offer, you’ll be ahead and ready to fight back for your future. Give us a call at 813-251-7291 or complete the online form below.

Hersem Law

Description: Very easy to talk to and best of all very informative and accessible. I would recommend anyone who is in urgent need of legal assistance or consultation to try Mr. Hersem. Your first consultation would improve your perspective and knowledge of your case because ‘knowing what you are facing is the first key to winning the battle’.

Ife Oko

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