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Criminal Defense

NeJame Law has been defending the rights of those charged with all types of criminal offenses for more than 30 years. We have extensive experience trying cases in all levels of the courts, including federal, state, and juvenile.

Best Criminal Defense Attorney Orlando

Orlando Criminal Defense Attorneys

Put a Board-Certified Defense Attorney on Your Team

A criminal defense attorney plays an important role in a person’s life. When someone has been accused of a crime, it is not uncommon for their stress and anxiety to be at some of the highest levels of their lives. A criminal defense attorney’s role is to educate them about the criminal justice system and the strengths and weaknesses of their legal issues. Ultimately, we try to ease the stress of a criminal accusation by keeping our client informed of their case status and being a zealous advocate for our clients in all forums. Our Orlando criminal defense attorneys are prepared to fight for and protect your rights and assure the highest level of representation. With the vast experience of our expert criminal defense team of lawyers, including those who are Board Certified, we have over 150 years of combined experience. Having handled and been involved in some of the largest and most high profile cases in the country, NeJame Law is the “go to” firm for those who have been arrested or accused in Central Florida.

We have handled cases all throughout Florida, in approximately 15 states in the U.S., as well as in the Caribbean. It is our mission to be a voice for the voiceless; if you’ve been charged with a crime, you want the most vigorous, experienced, knowledgeable, respected, and effective criminal defense attorney that you can have represent you. The team of NeJame Law criminal defense lawyers are those attorneys.

What Is Criminal Defense Law?

Criminal defense law consists of the legal protections afforded to those individuals accused of committing a crime. For a person to be convicted of a crime, the prosecutor must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Criminal offenses are those that violate public law. The law classifies criminal offenses into two different categories depending on their severity: misdemeanors and felonies.

What is a Felony?

Felonies are criminal offenses for which the punishment is usually in excess of one year in prison or on probation and a fine of more than $1000.00. A person may also lose some or all of their civil liberties, such as the right to vote or own a handgun, if they are convicted of this type of crime. Third-degree felonies are punishable by up to five (5) years in prison and second-degree felonies are punishable by up to fifteen (15) years in prison.

What is a Misdemeanor?

Misdemeanors are crimes for which the punishment cannot exceed one year in the county jail or on probation and carry a maximum of no more than $1000.00. Although less serious than felony offenses, the punishment for misdemeanor offenses may also include a variety of other hardships such as community service, mandatory drug and alcohol counseling, classes and counseling related to your offense (such as Anger Management Class or and Impulse Control Course), restitution, restriction on your right to travel, electronic monitoring, and other types of punishments. Second-degree misdemeanors are punishable by up to sixty (60) days in jail or six (6) months of supervised probation and first-degree misdemeanors are punishable by up to one (1) year in jail or on supervised probation.

 

From routine misdemeanors to the most complex and serious felony charges, in federal court throughout the country, or any state charges, NeJame Law is here for you. Some of the types of criminal cases handled are:

Why Hire Us as Your Criminal Defense Lawyer?

Our extremely experienced defense team is among the most qualified in the State of Florida. Having handled literally tens of thousands of criminal defense cases, our team includes former prosecutors and board-certified defense lawyers, the highest level of evaluation conducted by The Florida Bar, who have primarily handled criminal defense their entire careers.

Other important recognition's our attorneys have been awarded are the AV rating by Martindale Hubbell, the “Top 100 Trial Lawyer” award in the category of criminal defense by The National Trial Lawyers, and the designation as members of the Nation’s Top One Percent by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel.

Our background, experience, familiarity with the system, and knowledge within the legal, law enforcement, judicial, and prosecuting community make us thoroughly familiar with how the government handles criminal cases. Our vast understanding of the criminal justice system, having handled almost every conceivable type of case over the years, and the many decades of cumulative experience from our renowned defense lawyers in Orlando provide our clients the security and understanding that they are always in extremely capable, understanding, and caring hands.

Call us at (407) 500-0000 to meet with one of our defense attorneys and discuss your unique situation or fillout our online form. Our firm has one of the largest and most established criminal defense teams in the Central Florida area.

Discuss Your Case with Our Experienced Defense Lawyers In Orlando

Our defense lawyers aggressively fight to protect your rights and liberty. We know and understand the criminal justice system and how to best navigate through it on behalf of our clients. Whether it is negotiating the most favorable resolution with a prosecutor, preparing Motions to Dismiss or Motions to Suppress Evidence to argue before a Judge, conducting our own pre-arrest investigation to counter or explain a police investigation, handling discovery throughout the case, or preparing a case for trial, our team has the resources, experience, and knowledge to provide our clients strong and appropriately aggressive representation that effectively serves their interests and protects their rights.

Call (407) 500-0000 to speak with an Orlando Criminal Lawyer immediately. We offer nonjudgmental service and can protect your privacy by keeping your information confidential.

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Criminal Defense FAQs

  • Q: What are my rights if arrested?

    A: If you are arrested, you have several constitutional and statutory rights afforded to you. First and foremost, you have the right to remain silent. You have this right before you are arrested if you are detained by law enforcement and they are asking you questions about a crime. You also have the right to have an attorney at all critical stages of the prosecution. Unless you are charged with a crime that is punishable by life or a violation of probation, you have the right to have a reasonable bond set. If you are charged with a felony, you have the right to depose the witnesses against you. You have the right to know and see all of the evidence the State of Florida intends to use against you, i.e. police reports, witness statements, videotapes, scientific evidence, reports of experts, and more. Finally, you have the right to a jury trial. Unless you are charged with a capital offense, the jury will consist of six people. Please call us if you have any questions concerning your rights.

  • Q: The police came to my house and want to do a search. Should I let them in?

    A: If the police come to your home and want to conduct a search, you do not have to let them into your home unless they have a search warrant. If they have a warrant, they are allowed to enter and search your home. However, before entering, they are required to knock and announce their presence. If they break into your home without first knocking and announcing, you may have a basis to suppress the results of the search. Additionally, law enforcement has to convince a judge that they have "probable cause" to believe they will find specific evidence in your house before they can obtain a search warrant. Sometimes, even after a warrant has been obtained and a search has taken place, it may be determined that law enforcement did not, in fact, have sufficient probable cause to obtain a search warrant and that the original judge should not have signed the warrant. In these types of cases, it is possible to have the evidence gathered from the search suppressed.

  • Q: The police stop me and ask me questions. Should I answer them?

    A: If you are stopped by law enforcement for a legitimate reason, i.e. speeding, you should answer all of the routine questions. (name, address, etc.). However, you are not required to consent to a search of our car. You do not have to answer any questions that do not deal with the ticket you are receiving. If you are stopped on the street for no apparent reason (called a "consensual encounter" by the courts), you do not have to answer any questions, including "what is your name?" if you do not want to. You are free to keep walking and not respond to the officer or simply answer with a polite "no thank you."

  • Q: Can the police search my car if I am stopped for a civil infraction?

    A: No, unless they have probable cause to believe they will find evidence relating to a crime in the vehicle. Generally, when a law enforcement officer asks you if they can search you, your car, or your home, it means that they do not have a legal right to do so. If they don't have a legal basis to search, they can still search if you give them permission.

  • Q: Is there any possibility of cleaning up my criminal record?

    A: Many times, people are eligible to have their record sealed or expunged. There are a variety of factors that will determine if you are eligible for this service. The most basic requirement is that the case was either dropped or you received a "withhold of adjudication" when you went to court. If you are a convicted felon, you may be eligible for a restoration of civil rights.

  • Q: Can I represent myself? What can a lawyer do for me?

    A: Yes, a person is allowed to represent themselves in court; this is called Pro Se representation. However, we strongly recommend that a person (even a lawyer) not represent themselves for several reasons. First, there are specific procedures set forth in the applicable rules (for example, The Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure) that must be followed. Failure to follow the procedural rules can have a severe adverse impact on a litigant's case. Also, there are complex rules regarding evidence that a person without a legal background will not be aware of as well as many other points of law that will be missed by a person who is not well versed in a particular area of law. Additionally, in all criminal cases, the State has a lawyer representing them in prosecuting anyone charged with a crime in court. Finally, a person with an emotional and personal interest in a case may not make the best choices regarding how to proceed on a case; this applies to attorneys who want to represent themselves as well.

    If you are found guilty of a felony in the State of Florida, you will become a convicted felon and, as a consequence, you will lose your civil rights. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you can even be subject to deportation. A criminal defense attorney knows what the State must prove to get a conviction for every type of Criminal offense. He or she also understands the possible defenses to those crimes, which puts criminal lawyers in a better position when defending a case. Remember that you should always consult an attorney before pleading guilty or no contest to any criminal charge.

  • Q: How does bail work?

    A: Bail is a legal instrument that allows a person being charged with a criminal offense to be temporarily released from jail pending the outcome of his/her case. The bail usually establishes a sum of money that must be forfeited by the bondsman if the accused fails to appear in court for trial. Bail may be posted in two ways. A bondsman can be hired and for 10% of the amount of the bond will post security, or the defendant may post the full amount which will then be returned at the close of the case.

  • Q: Will my case be tried before a judge or a jury?

    A: The U.S. Constitution gives a person accused of a crime the right to be tried by a jury in almost all cases. In Florida, as well as in most States, the jury must arrive at a unanimous decision to either convict or acquit. The potential jurors must be selected randomly within the community, and the actual jury must be selected by a process that allows the judge and lawyers to screen out biased jurors.

  • Q: Is driving over the speed limit a crime?

    A: Traffic violations can be felonies, misdemeanors, or infractions. Felonies and misdemeanors are crimes, but infractions are usually not thought to be part of the criminal justice system. Driving over the speed limit is usually classified as an infraction in many States, including Florida, and is not considered a crime. Speeding is usually punished by a fine. These fines increase in proportion to the amount over the speed limit for which the ticket is written.

  • Q: What do I do if I am falsely accused of a crime?

    A: Being innocent does not guarantee you that the charges will eventually be dropped or that a jury will find you not guilty. There are many people in jail found guilty of crimes that they did not commit.

  • Q: What is a violent crime or crime of violence?

    A: A violent crime or crime of violence is a crime in which a person uses or threatens to use violent force against another person. A crime of violence can include an offense with or without a weapon.

Why Choose NeJame Law?

  • Dedicated

    Our team is dedicated to providing the highest level of legal counsel. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and can help assist you in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and more!

  • Trusted

    NeJame Law has received the highest possible AV rating from Martindale Hubbell and can be trusted to handle any case. As an experienced & dedicated law firm, we are ready to protect your rights.

  • Experienced

    Our firm has obtained millions of dollars on behalf of our clients and has been involved in some of the most recognized cases in the nation.

  • Accomplished

    NeJame Law is respected by both the legal community and the public as being among the most experienced and qualified attorneys in Central Florida.