Under the U.S. legal system, all defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This is just one of your many rights when charged with criminal conduct in Florida. Another important one is the right to be represented by a criminal defense attorney throughout any legal process where your liberty is at risk. However, you may not wish for your freedom to be defended by an overworked public defender who has little reason to go the extra mile for you. Instead, you should trust Fort Lauderdale criminal defense lawyer Carlos M. Amor to defend your rights in the Florida criminal justice system.
How a Criminal Defense Lawyer in Fort Lauderdale Can Help
Why You Should Consult With The Law Office of Carlos M. Amor, P.A. as Soon as Possible
The criminal justice system can feel like an overwhelming monolith. The state has countless police officers and prosecutors who can be deployed against you, whereas all you have is yourself and your legal counsel. It may feel like you’re in a David vs. Goliath situation. But remember, David wins in that story. You may be able to win, too, if you act quickly after getting arrested and you contact Fort Lauderdale criminal defense lawyer Carlos M. Amor. An experienced criminal defense attorney can help you with every step of the legal process.
Arrest
Police officers don’t just detain you when the state thinks you have committed a crime. They are also the initial investigators of your actions. When you are arrested, officers will try to get you to admit to conduct that violates state law. Any admission, even if it doesn’t definitively prove the charges against you, will make the prosecutor’s job easier when trying your case. The police know this and may try to mercilessly interrogate you to get as much information as possible.
Thankfully, you have the right to remain silent during any interview with the police, and choosing to remain silent can’t be used against you in court. Attorney Carlos M. Amor will help you assert this right. He will monitor the conduct of the police and prevent them from questioning you inappropriately. If he identifies any violations of your rights, he will use that information to defend you against the charges.
Remaining silent is an important right that the police will attempt to circumvent. Attorney Carlos M. Amor may be able to protect you from infringement of your rights by the police.
Bail
While a judge can deny bail for certain types of felony charges, you always have the right to argue for bail. A defendant who isn’t represented by a Fort Lauderdale criminal defense attorney — or one who is represented by a public defender — is less likely to get bail than one who is represented by The Law Office of Carlos M. Amor, P.A. If you have hired attorney Carlos M. Amor early in the process, he will appear at your bail hearing and argue for the least stringent pre-trial release terms possible.
Gathering Evidence and Pre-Trial Motions
A significant portion of a criminal trial occurs before you ever see the inside of a courtroom. The police and the prosecution gather evidence to try to prove that you are guilty. They are required by law to share that evidence with your criminal defense attorney. Similarly, your lawyer will gather evidence and testimony that contradicts the evidence of the prosecution or that indicates you didn’t commit the crime charged.
Just as importantly, attorney Carlos M. Amor may petition the court to prevent certain types of evidence from being disclosed at trial. For example, if the police looked through your belongings without a proper warrant or probable cause, a judge is likely to throw out any evidence discovered in that search. Attorney Carlos M. Amor will often use pre-trial motions to try to limit the evidence available to the prosecution if the case goes to trial.
Pre-Trial Negotiations
It is worth mentioning that many Fort Lauderdale prosecutions never go to trial. This is because both sides share evidence. If Fort Lauderdale criminal defense attorney Carlos M. Amor can produce enough evidence to create reasonable doubt, the prosecution team may agree to dismiss the charges or negotiate lesser ones with lower penalties. Typically, if the prosecutor is willing to agree to light enough penalties or charges, it is worth it to negotiate a plea deal rather than risk the decision of a potential jury. When negotiating for any type of plea agreement, attorney Carlos M. Amor always seeks terms that will have the least possible impact on his client. Remember, though, that you are never required to accept a plea deal. If you want your day in court, you will get it.
Courtroom Arguments
Lastly, Attorney Carlos M. Amor doesn’t work only outside the courtroom. He has more than fifteen years of experience in courtrooms as well. If your case goes to trial, he will present the strongest possible arguments to the jury that the law allows. While there is no guarantee about results once you are in a courtroom, attorney Carlos M. Amor will fight as hard as possible. A willingness to take a case to trial and the ability to present a powerful argument to a jury is critical for providing a full criminal defense experience for Florida clients.
Were you arrested for a crime in Fort Lauderdale, Florida? Does it feel like the entire legal system is out to get you? If so, contact criminal defense lawyer Carlos M. Amor at 954-453-7200 as soon as possible to protect your legal rights.
Why Choose The Law Office of Carlos M. Amor, P.A.?
The One to Call When You Need a Criminal Defense Lawyer in Fort Lauderdale
Attorney Carlos M. Amor has lived in Florida his entire life. He was born, raised, and educated here. Eventually, he chose to become an attorney here. Could he move to another state? Yes, but he never will. Attorney Carlos M. Amor sees the people of Florida as his friends and family. He will do anything to protect you from injustice. As a lifelong resident of the state, he understands the people, the culture, and — most importantly — the laws of the state.
When you are represented by attorney Carlos M. Amor, you are being defended by someone who has more than fifteen years of experience dealing with the Broward County courts. He knows the judges, the clerks, and the prosecutors. This knowledge means that his motions are likely to succeed and that his plea negotiations are likely to end in fair results for his clients. You can’t afford to put your future in the hands of a criminal defense lawyer who is unfamiliar with local courts and procedures. Instead, you need a criminal defense attorney who has spent his entire career familiarizing himself with the local criminal legal system.
Types of Cases The Law Firm of Carlos M. Amor, P.A. Handles
There are hundreds of types of crimes in Florida. The least serious examples result in fines or probation, while the most serious can end in the death penalty. Attorney Carlos M. Amor is a criminal defense lawyer who may be able to represent you, depending on the type of crimes you have been charged with.
Felonies
Felonies are the most serious types of crimes. They represent criminal activities like:
- Murder
- Aggravated assault
- Rape
- Sexual assault of a minor
- Robbery or theft.
The least serious felonies are penalized with up to five years in prison and $5,000 in fines, meaning that any felony charges can result in years in prison.
Furthermore, prosecutors tend to over-charge, tacking on as many other crimes as they can get away with when someone is accused of a felony. This could result in your potentially facing decades of prison time. Attorney Carlos M. Amor takes all felony charges seriously. He will discuss your case in depth to determine exactly what happened and whether you are being unfairly charged. When possible, he will seek to have inappropriate charges dismissed or will negotiate to get felony charges reduced to misdemeanors.
Drug Crimes
Like many states, Florida is quite aggressive in prosecuting drug crimes. Law enforcement often attempts to use drug charges as an excuse to investigate other potential offenses, and prosecutors regularly over-charge for drug crimes. Even if you possess drugs exclusively for personal use, you could face charges for intent to distribute. Attorney Carlos M. Amor uses whatever tools are available to fight drug crime charges. Often, it is most important to challenge the legitimacy of evidence, especially if police collected it from multiple sources. Drug charges are typically based on weight. If evidence is excluded, that can significantly reduce the severity of the charges the prosecutor can legitimately press.
DUIs
Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a crime in Florida. It is also a violation of the contract that you make with the government when you get a driver’s license. Because both things are true, Florida can punish you via the criminal justice system or administrative hearings. Attorney Carlos M. Amor may be able to help you avoid penalties or the loss of your license by defending you from all avenues of attack that the government has.
FAQ
Facing criminal offenses can be a terrifying experience, especially if it’s your first time being charged in the justice system. One of the things that make it so frightening is that you likely don’t understand the system and don’t know what to expect. This inexperience is something a prosecutor can take advantage of. Below, attorney Carlos M. Amor attempts to answer your criminal defense questions before you even think to ask them. Learning these answers will help you be better prepared for what is to come so you will be less scared about what to expect.
Do I need a criminal defense attorney when I have been charged with a crime in Florida?
Technically, you can defend yourself without the help of a criminal defense lawyer in Fort Lauderdale. However, this is almost always a bad idea. Your lawyer understands the law and the complex procedures it involves. Without an attorney defending your rights, you are likely to lose your case or end up with worse penalties than you would have if you had been defended by a lawyer.
What should I do if I am arrested in Florida?
The first thing you should do is assert your right to remain silent and demand to consult with a lawyer. If you have requested an attorney, the police can’t interrogate you until the lawyer is present. Don’t answer any questions except to identify yourself until your criminal defense attorney is present.
Does attorney Carlos M. Amor offer a free consultation?
Yes. You can get a free consultation from attorney Carlos M. Amor by phone, via video meeting, or in person.
Should I accept a plea deal from a prosecutor?
That depends on your situation. Typically, it is best to take a plea deal if attorney Carlos M. Amor considers it to be a good one. He will base his opinion on the facts of your case and whether the agreement allows you to avoid consequences like jail time or a felony conviction.
Attorney Carlos M. Amor will answer any other questions during your free consultation.
Contact The Law Office of Carlos M. Amor, P.A. Today
Getting arrested doesn’t have to mean that your future is ruined. Attorney Carlos M. Amor will fight to defend your rights after an arrest in Florida.
Don’t wait to talk to a criminal defense lawyer in Fort Lauderdale. Call attorney Carlos M. Amor at 954-453-7200 immediately to schedule a free consultation.
ATTORNEY CARLOS M. AMOR
Carlos M. Amor is a skilled and experienced attorney and real estate broker. His legal practice in South Florida focuses on real estate litigation, real estate investments, tax deed and foreclosure auction purchases, traditional real estate transactions, short sales, foreclosure defense, and civil litigation. Carlos thinks “outside the box” and takes a practical approach to finding solutions that benefit his clients. [ ATTORNEY BIO ]
