Criminal Defense Attorney in West Palm Beach
If you are facing criminal charges, retaining the services of a West Palm Beach criminal defense attorney as soon as possible will assist you in preserving your rights and freedom. My name is Phil Ridolfo, Jr. and I am a West Palm Beach criminal defense lawyer with more than 20 years of hard work and experience I have provided for my clients. Having worked as a former prosecutor, I have vast experience in what I need to do to fight the prosecution in order to protect your rights. Developing an effective criminal defense strategy to challenge evidence brought against you can help enormously in succeeding against whatever type of charges you may be facing. The following are some of the areas that I can help:
Assault
This is an action that involves the attempt to harm someone or the threat to do so with reasonable ability to carry out the threat. It causes a victim to be in fear of physical harm, even if no contact is made or injury is sustained.
Battery
This charge can often be associated with charges of assault but the main difference between the two is that with battery charges there needs to be an actual physical contact. Injuries do need to have been suffered but the contact was unwanted and offensive. This can be a misdemeanor or felony depending on if it is aggravated or not.
Child Abuse
Abuse of a child can come in many forms, and may be mental, physical or sexual. It can be hitting a child or even neglecting their basic needs such as hygiene and eating. These cases can result in criminal penalties and a parent may even have their child taken away from them.
Credit Card Fraud
This crime is closely tied to identity theft and involves using the person information of someone without their consent. It can be done through stealing the card or gaining their account information to charge items to it.
Criminal Mischief
This charge is legally considered to be any intentionally and willing harm or damage to the personal property of another person. Damage can be committed in a number of ways. Depending on the financial amount of the damage is how the charges will be determined. It can constitute as up to a felony.
Criminal Trespass
This charge often counts as a 2nd degree felony that is punishable through fines and a jail sentence. It includes crossing onto the property of another person without their permission to do so. It can be a residence or even structures that are certain hours are open to the public.
Disorderly Conduct
This can be somewhat of an umbrella term and decided on charges is subjective. It is the disruption of public peace through indecency, fighting and other means.
DUI
Driving impaired from alcohol can lead to penalties of jail time, license suspension or revocation, costly fines, probation and more. Sometimes aggravating factors are involved that will increase the punishments inflicted by the court. Even if a blood alcohol content level was tested as over the legal limit there are sometimes valid reasons and defenses involved.
Domestic Violence
This is a violent crime that is committed within the home. It is amongst those in a more intimate relationship whether they are married, dating, relatives or cohabitating together. It can come in varying forms including physical, emotional and sexual and is a pattern of behavior.
Drug Crimes
These charges will be greatly dependent on the related factors such as the type of drug, the amount and the involvement with it. Charges can range from possession to the sale or trafficking of an illegal substance and can come with serious penalties including prison time and extremely high fines.
Expungements
Through an expungement an individual can seek to have a past arrest on their record sealed. This information is often open to many people that you are likely to not want to have any knowledge of it. An expungement can keep the matter private.
Felony Crimes
A felony is the most serious criminal accusation you can face. The penalties for it will be signification and can include expensive fines, a prison sentence, license suspension and more. These cases are even more critical to fight since they can severely hinder the life of a person.
Identity Theft
It is a crime to steal the personal information of another person without their approval to do so and use it for personal benefit or to deprive the individual in some way. This crime has gained more popularity with the use of the internet.
Leaving the Scene
This is a crime that is committed when a suspect is involved in a car accident. Rather than stopping, exchanging information and the usual proceedings that follow, the suspect flees the scene. This can sometimes be a result of panic or other factors and charges will be based largely on the extent of the damage.
Misdemeanor Crimes
While these charges are not has harshly penalized as a felony, they can still come with detrimental results such as jail time, probation, fines, treatment programs, license suspension and more.
Reckless Driving
Reckless driving involves operating a vehicle in an unsafe manner. This is often done intentionally and puts the driver and others around them at risk for an accident. It can lead to up to five years in prison and $5,000 in fines.
Resisting Arrest
While it is typically best to remain silent after an arrest, it is important not to fight the actual arrest since that can lead to further legal complication. This can be difficult for many when they do not believe they should be arrested and that police are accusing them of a crime they did not commit.
Probation Violations
Probation can often be used as a compromise or reduction of a sentence. It may be allowed instead of jail time, giving a convicted individual the chance of further freedom, while still maintaining some restrictions. If terms of probation are broken then jail time may be reinstated or the probation period can be extended.
Sex Crimes
These can include a range of crimes that are sexual in nature from harassment to rape. Charges can range up to a felony, in addition to requiring an individual to register online as a sexual offender.
Stalking
Stalking is following or harassing a person against their will. It can be considered a misdemeanor in a case of simple stalking, or may elevate to a felony in aggravated stalking.
Shoplifting/Retail Theft
It is a crime that involves taking the merchandise of a store without paying for the item or being given it at no cost. A sentence will largely take into account the amount of merchandise that was taken. It can also include trying to change the price of an item.
Suspended License
License suspension is a common penalty for a number of crimes. A license can eventually be restored if certain terms are met but the duration can sometimes last for years. Individuals found driving on a suspended license can face further penalties.
Theft Crimes
Theft involves taking the property of another person without their permission. It can be done for the purpose of personal gain or depriving the other party of the item or its benefits. It can range from a misdemeanor to a felony charge.
Violation of Restraining Order
A restraining order is a court approved order that can be sought in certain scenarios. It limits a person in various ways, such as prohibiting them to get in contact or come within a certain distance of another person. If the order is violated then further consequences can ensue.
Warrants/Capias
Warrants are orders from the court that call for the arrest of a suspect. They cannot be ordered just for anyone and to protect citizens the law includes that there must be adequate reason to suspect an individual of a crime prior to arresting them.
Defending Your Rights!
Being charged with a crime can be a frightening experience. The law has the vast resources of the government on their side, so you need someone who will fight for you with skill and conviction. As a capable former criminal defense lawyer in a large firm, you can count on my office to provide you with big firm experience with the advantages of personal caring and attention from my small, intimate firm. You do not need to stand alone against a charge; you have a qualified defender ready to take a stand for you.