Melbourne, FL Criminal Lawyers Fight for Your Future

Aggressive defense to misdemeanor and felony crimes in eastern Florida

When you are accused of a crime, you risk losing your good reputation, your freedom and your future. The attorney you choose to defend you may be all that stands between you and jail. Tucker Mitnik P.A. has the knowledge and experience to defend you vigorously. We also have the compassion to provide emotional support during this extremely troubling period of your life.

Asserting your rights to due process

An experienced criminal lawyer knows how to build a solid, strategic defense and counter the prosecution’s narrative to the judge and jury. This may entail challenging the police on misconduct, such as an illegal search and seizure. Most criminal charges get resolved without going to trial through a plea negotiation process. Plea negotiation could result in a prosecutor dismissing charges or declining to prosecute, or allowing the defendant to plead to a lesser offense. It takes experienced defense counsel with a thorough knowledge of the law and procedure to be able to negotiate from a position of strength. At Tucker Mitnik, we’ve taken numerous criminal cases from arraignment to verdict, so we can assess whether a prosecutor’s offer is reasonable under the circumstances or if justice requires us to go to trial.

Understanding Florida felony and misdemeanor law

Florida law divides crimes according to their severity into two major categories, felonies and misdemeanors, with degrees for each.

• Capital felony — A crime for which the defendant can be sentenced to death, specifically premeditated murder, felony murder, capital drug trafficking and capital sexual battery
• Life felony — A conviction for a crimes such as murder or rape, carrying a sentence of 30 years in prison to life
• Felony of the first degree — Prison sentence not exceeding 30 years and a $10,000 fine
• Felony of the second degree — Prison sentence not exceeding 15 years and a $10,000 fine
• Felony of the third degree — Prison sentence not exceeding five years and a $5,000 fine
• Misdemeanor of the first degree — Maximum one year in jail and a $1,000 fine
• Misdemeanor of the second degree — Maximum 60 days in jail and a $500 fine

An accused person with a prior conviction, such as DUI, may see the offense reclassified to a crime of higher degree. Others may find a prosecutor willing to charge a lesser offense to conclude the case more quickly. We help you understand the complexity of the law and the strength of the prosecution’s case against you so you can make a fully informed decision about how you wish to proceed.

Experience defending clients accused of a wide range of criminal offenses

Our areas of practice cover numerous felony and misdemeanor offenses, including: