Providing The Effective Counsel You Deserve

Photo of the legal professional at Corona Law Firm P.A.

Providing The Effective Counsel You Deserve

Group photo of the attorneys and staff of Corona Law Firm, P.A.
Photo of the legal professional at Corona Law Firm P.A.
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Criminal Defense

If You Have Been Charged With A Crime In Florida In State Or Federal Court, We Are Prepared To Help You

The consequences of a criminal conviction can be immense even for a young person. Aside from risking your liberty and payment of fines a criminal conviction can result in the loss of financial aid for college, not being able to hold certain jobs, higher costs for insurance, limited housing and if not a citizen you could be deported.

If you have been charged with a crime in Florida in state or federal court, we are prepared to fight to help you. Some of our attorneys have prior experience as prosecutors and we know the system from all perspectives. We know how to prepare a case for trial and we know how to negotiate the best resolution to mitigate the damage of being involved in the criminal system. Do not get overwhelmed we are here to help you, keep you informed, and explain the process every step of the way. We see many people go to court by themselves or not properly prepared to their peril. The criminal system is not a place for the inexperienced.

Our attorneys have defended a great number of individuals who have found themselves accused of different crimes. The decision of whether to go to trial or to negotiate a manageable resolution is a decision you, the client, must make.

Our job, as your attorney, is to provide you with the best possible list of options to choose from and the advice you need to make a wise decision. That requires us to work hard, work smart and work with you.

If a trial is called for, then our staff of experienced trial attorneys will be prepared to defend you at trial without hesitation. We have defended clients in cases from armed robbery to “grow houses” to shoplifting.

Every trial is serious business that calls for thorough preparation, a sound strategy and a seasoned trial lawyer. If you believe a negotiated settlement is best, then that, too, requires thorough preparation from a seasoned lawyer.

It is no secret that prosecutors tend to make better offers to defendants who are represented by a lawyer who has a history of outstanding results and has demonstrated a willingness to test the government’s case rather than recommend acceptance of an unreasonable plea offer.

Every case is different, but we have had the privilege of seeing the relief and joy of clients when they hear the judge or jury announce their verdict of “not guilty.”

If you think we could help you or a loved one, contact us as soon as possible.

Years of experience successfully defending:

  • Assaults (including domestic violence, vehicular assault and situations involving self-defense)
  • Thefts (embezzlement, shoplifting)
  • Weapons offenses (carrying a concealed weapon, unlawful use of a weapon, menacing)
  • Drugs (manufacturing marijuana, grow houses, possession of a controlled substance, delivery of a controlled substance, trafficking)
  • Juvenile delinquency
  • Expungements of arrests and convictions
  • Armed robberies
  • Credit card Fraud/ Medicare fraud


Expungement

“Expungement” refers to the sealing of the official records of arrest and conviction for certain offenses.

Most people find it helpful to obtain the services of an attorney to file the necessary documents to obtain an expungement.

There are two main reasons to have your record expunged:

  • First, if a conviction or arrest has been expunged, it means that a prospective employer or landlord will not find a record of that conviction or arrest in a search of court records or police records.
  • Second, if a conviction or arrest has been expunged, it means that the law permits you to answer “No” to the question “Have you ever been convicted of a crime?” This question is commonly found on employment applications or rental applications, and if your conviction has not been expunged, your honest answer will doom your application.

Not all criminal convictions may be expunged. Most sex crimes, for example, may not be expunged. Likewise, most Class A and Class B felony convictions and traffic crimes such as DUI may not be expunged. Most arrests that do not result in a conviction may be expunged regardless of the reason for the arrest.

Waiting periods are required before you file a motion to expunge your conviction. If you have more than one criminal conviction, the waiting period may be longer. Under certain circumstances, no waiting period is required before filing a motion to expunge an arrest.

Certain juvenile delinquency adjudications and arrests may also be expunged, but the time limitations are such that it is important to contact an attorney promptly.

It is important to bear in mind that there are numerous private companies that conduct background checks for employers. Some of these companies maintain their own databases, and these databases may retain records of convictions and arrests even if those convictions and arrests have been expunged from official government records. It is possible to provide these companies with records of expungement, and many of them may purge their records even if they are not legally obligated to do so.

It is also important to bear in mind that often an expungement will not seal a record from a government agency conducting a background check for homeland security, immigration or law enforcement employment, or other sensitive purposes.

Types of offenses that may be expunged, depending on the severity and other factors, are: shoplifting, assault, weapons offenses, disorderly conduct, theft, domestic violence, trespassing, burglary, drug crimes interfering with a police officer, resisting arrest and other crimes.

If you would like to see if your conviction or arrest can be expunged, give the Corona Law Firm a call TODAY.