Felonies

Tampa Felony Attorney Marc A. Joseph, P.A.

Marc A. Joseph, P.A. has been helping Tampa residents fight tough felony charges for more than 16 years. Felonies are serious criminal charges that require prompt attention by a truly experienced advocate. Helping Tampa residents overcome felony charges in the most reasonable way possible is one of Mr. Joseph’s number one goals.

Felonies in Florida

Under Florida law, felonies come in many shapes and forms. Some felonies involve non-violent conduct, such as possessing a large amount of marijuana, for example. Other felonies are much more serious, involving violent conduct, such as assault or murder. Many people wonder how the felony classification can cover crimes that are in no way comparable. However, this is simply how the law is set up in Florida as well as most other states. When dealing with a criminal matter, it is essential to have a general understanding of what crimes are classified as felonies under Florida law, and what the potential criminal penalties are for conviction of these crimes. Some of the most commonly charged felonies in Florida include, but are certainly not limited to, the following:

Third Degree Felonies:

  • Fleeing or attempting to elude officer;
  • Possession of more than 20 grams of cannabis;
  • Forgery;
  • Assault;
  • Battery;
  • Third conviction of driving under the influence (DUI);
  • Manufacture or delivery of drug paraphernalia;
  • Grand theft;
  • Sale, manufacture, or delivery of cannabis and other drugs; and
  • Possession of any controlled substance (other than felony possession of cannabis listed above).

Second Degree Felonies:

  • Driving at high speed with wanton disregard for safety of others while fleeing or attempting to elude officer;
  • Knowing sale or delivery, or possession with intent to sell, contraband prescription drugs;
  • Purchase of cocaine;
  • Possession of short-barreled shotgun or machine gun;
  • Felon in possession of firearm, ammunition, or electronic weapon/device;
  • Dealing or trafficking in stolen property;
  • Sale, manufacture, or delivery of cannabis within 1,000 feet of a child care facility, school, or state, county, or municipal park or publicly owned recreation facility or community center;
  • Burglary of occupied structure;
  • Aggravated assault; and
  • Aggravated battery.

First Degree Felonies:

  • Carjacking;
  • Sale, manufacture, or delivery of cocaine within 1,000 feet of child care facility, school, or state, county, or municipal park or publicly owned recreation facility or community center;
  • Trafficking in cannabis (more than 25 pounds, but less than 2,000 pounds);
  • Trafficking in cocaine (more than 28 grams, but less than 200 grams);
  • Aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude officer with serious bodily injury or death;
  • Attempted felony murder while perpetrating or attempting to perpetrate certain felonies;
  • Sexual battery;
  • Burglary with assault or battery;
  • Robbery with a weapon; and
  • Aggravated white collar crimes.

Life Felonies:

  • Certain sexual battery charges;
  • Human trafficking for commercial sexual activity of a child under the age of 18;
  • Lewd and lascivious molestation where the victim is less than 12 years old and the offender is 18 years or older; and

Capital Felonies:

  • Capital murder

When an individual is convicted of a felony, a score sheet is utilized to determine how many points that individual gets. Each felony is assessed a points value, and of course, the greater the number of points, the more serious the felony is. If the individual has more than 44 points on his or her score sheet, that person is subject to a minimum prison term. If the points are less than 44, the judge has discretion to either impose jail time or to provide a sentence that avoids jail time entirely.

There are other felonies not listed above that carry serious consequences. Questions and concerns regarding any crimes should be addressed with a seasoned Tampa Criminal Defense Attorney. Marc A. Joseph, P.A. has experience dealing with both minor and severe felonies, and knows what to expect from the prosecution in any given case. While there are many qualified Tampa Criminal Defense Attorneys, Marc A. Joseph, P.A. provides all-around criminal defense representation and does not limit his practice to certain subsets of criminal law. This demonstrates that he has the necessary resources to help clients charged with any felony under Florida law.

The Consequences of a Florida Felony Conviction – What’s at Stake and How an Attorney Can Help You

All felonies are further classified into degrees, and the lower the number of the degree, the more serious the felony is. The information below provides an overview of what the potential penalties are for being convicted of any felony under Florida Law.

  • Third Degree Felony – This is the least serious classification of a Florida felony. A conviction may result in a jail sentence not to exceed five (5) years, and the imposition of a fine not to exceed $5,000.
  • Second Degree Felony – Conviction may result in a jail sentence not to exceed fifteen (15) years, and the imposition of a fine not to exceed $10,000.
  • First Degree Felony – Conviction may result in a jail sentence not to exceed thirty (30) years, and the imposition of a fine not to exceed $10,000.
  • Life Felony – Conviction will result in a life sentence in jail and a fine not to exceed $15,000.
  • Capital Felony – Conviction is punishable by death.

The criminal penalties listed above are not the only consequences convicted individuals face. For individuals who have either satisfied their jail sentence, or who avoided a jail sentence entirely, finding a job, attending school, and securing housing are extremely difficult. Having a felony conviction on your record in Florida puts you at a disadvantage when it comes to a pool of job applicants, college applicants, and individuals applying to live in the same apartment or house.

Because there are a number of factors to consider when dealing with a felony charge and the potential consequences of conviction, it cannot be stressed enough how a Tampa Criminal Defense Attorney can help you in a variety of ways. Depending on the nature and severity of the felony charge against you, your attorney may be able to help you get released from jail following arrest. Your attorney may also be able to help you avoid conviction completely, by poking holes in the prosecution’s case and finding grounds to dismiss the felony charge against you. If dismissal is not possible, your attorney can negotiate with the charging prosecutor to reach a result that is fair given the facts and circumstances of your case.

It is important to keep in mind that results can never be guaranteed when it comes to criminal matters, as each case presents its own facts, and felonies range in degree and severity. However, the advantages of having a true advocate standing by your side significantly outweigh the risk of facing a felony charge alone in or around Tampa. Marc A. Joseph, P.A. will do everything in his power to ensure you have the best defense possible to your Florida felony charge.

Contact Tampa Criminal Defense Attorney Marc A. Joseph, P.A. Today for a Free Consultation

Felonies are very serious criminal charges that can result in very harsh consequences. Regardless of how minor or serious the conduct in question is, it is imperative to seek the advice of an attorney right away. Marc A. Joseph, P.A. is a seasoned Tampa Criminal Defense Attorney with more than 15 years of experience. Mr. Joseph has successfully defended numerous clients against tough Florida felony charges. Finding the right attorney in a short period of time can be challenging. As such, knowing who to call when the unforeseen occurs is crucial, as you need a dedicated advocate by your side from the start. Marc A. Joseph, P.A. has a reputation for providing superior legal representation to individuals in and around Tampa at any given time, day or night. He is available 24/7 to answer your questions and address any concerns you may have. To schedule your free consultation with Marc A. Joseph, P.A. to discuss your Florida felony charge, contact our office today by calling (813) 234-6374.

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