Maitland Criminal Defense Attorneys
Your Fight Is My Fight Tu Lucha es Mi Lucha
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Cases We Handle
Dedicated to Criminal Defense
Criminal Defense Law Firm Serving Maitland, Florida
Legal Representation to Relieve Your Burden. Se Habla Español.
When you have been charged with a crime, you are facing very high stakes. Your freedom and your ability to live the rest of your life are on the line.
The Maitland criminal defense attorneys at Alers Law Firm understand what you are facing, providing you with strong legal representation to help you achieve the best possible outcome for your case.
Contact the Alers Law Firm to speak to an attorney about your case. We offer free consultations, where a lawyer will learn the facts of your case and explain what you may be facing.
Attorney Chavelys Alers and her team of skilled problem solvers operate with transparency so that you are kept informed about your case. In addition, our clients are like family: You can always trust us to always go the extra mile when defending your criminal charges.
Alers Law Firm is a criminal defense firm located only 15 miles away from Maitland at 5360 Curry Ford Rd, Orlando, FL 32812 near Curry Ford Rd and S Semoran Blvd (Open in Google Maps) just a half mile from Sedano’s Supermarket.
Google Review:
“Alers Law Firm help me in my case to the maximum satisfaction and ended in victory, with the strength and knowledge of attorney Chavelys Alers and staff and there experience and a passion for upholding the rights, my criminal case was closed. Thank you so much for everything you done for me.“
Review by “C.P.”
Contact Alers Law Firm TODAY to schedule a consultation at (407) 863-3885 or reach out through our online contact form and one of our attorneys or legal professionals will call you back ASAP.
Criminal Charges in Maitland
There are two different types of charges that you could face:
- Misdemeanors: While these crimes have lesser possible punishment than felonies, they should never be mistaken for minor offenses. Prosecutors can still obtain jail sentences, and they sometimes do not need to prove that you acted with any intent (depending on the type of offense involved). You may still face a lifetime of consequences for a misdemeanor conviction.
- Felonies: These are more serious crimes that require the prosecutor to prove that you had intent to commit the offense. If you are convicted, you could be facing a longer jail sentence. Even the lowest degree of felony can mean up to five years of incarceration. In addition, you could lose your right to own a firearm and face other serious ramifications.
Special Considerations in a DUI Case
When you have been charged with a DUI in Florida, there is always the possibility that you can face jail time, even for the first offense. The penalties can rise based on other factors that can include:
- If you have been convicted for repeat offenses
- Your blood alcohol content at the time that you were stopped or your blood was tested
- Whether there was a minor in the car at the time you were stopped
- Whether there was a death or serious bodily injury in a DUI accident
In addition, you face a mandatory license suspension of at least one year. There may be other collateral consequences, including job loss.
There is nothing that says you have to plead guilty to a DUI charge, even though many cases lead to deals. A Maitland DUI lawyer from Alers Law Firm can always fight the charges if you reach out to us TODAY. If you do choose to negotiate a plea bargain, your lawyer could work to obtain the most favorable possible outcome for you.
Steps in the Criminal Justice Process
You would first learn that you are facing criminal charges after you have been arrested or indicted. For example, police may stop you for DUI and make an arrest on the spot. If the charges are the result of an investigation, the prosecutor would file an indictment with the court. After that, you may go through the following steps as part of the legal process:
- Initial Appearance: You would be brought in front of a judge within 24 hours of arrest, where you would be informed of the charges, and the judge may set bail
- Arraignment: You would then make a court appearance, where you would enter a plea, which would always be not guilty
- Preliminary Hearing: A preliminary hearing is an important step in the criminal justice process. It is designed to determine whether there is enough evidence to require a trial. The main objective is to establish whether there is probable cause to believe that the defendant committed the alleged crime.
- Pre-Trial Detention Hearing: A pre-trial detention hearing is a crucial step in the criminal justice process in Maitland. It determines whether a defendant will be held in custody or released while awaiting trial. The judge evaluates the defendant’s risk of fleeing, committing new crimes, or posing a danger to the community if released.
- Discovery: The prosecutor is legally obligated to disclose and provide you with the evidence that they intend to use against you
- Pretrial Motions: Both sides may file motions in the case, including your own motions to suppress the evidence.
- Negotiating a Plea Bargain: You may choose to plead guilty in exchange for a lesser sentence or reduced charges against you. These negotiations can happen at various points in the criminal justice process.
- Trial: If you choose to fight the charges against you, the prosecutor would need to prove their case in court to a jury.
What You Can Do When Facing Criminal Charges
You do not have to be passive and let prosecutors and law enforcement do what they may. You can and should mount an aggressive legal defense, regardless of whether you intend to negotiate a plea bargain or take your case all the way to trial.
Your first step comes when you reach out to a Maitland, FL criminal defense lawyer. Getting legal help sends a signal to the prosecutor and judge that you intend to defend yourself. Your lawyer can assess your case and help you understand your legal options.
You have the right to determine whether you negotiate a plea bargain or continue to fight the charges until the end of the legal process. If you choose the former, an attorney can work with the prosecutor to obtain the most favorable deal possible. If you opt to fight, an attorney will aggressively defend you, both in the pretrial motions process and when your case goes to trial.
Why You a Criminal Lawyer at Alers Law Firm
The reason you need to talk to a criminal attorney from Alers Law Firm is that there is little chance of the most favorable outcome in your case if you try to face the criminal justice system on your own. The prosecutor has the knowledge and resources to make their case against you, and you need an attorney of your own to defend your legal rights and work on your behalf.
Your attorney can work to do the following:
- Explain your case and make you aware of your legal rights
- Investigate your case and determine whether you have defenses to the charges against you
- Speak to law enforcement on your behalf
- Aggressively work to limit the evidence being used against you, challenging it whenever possible
- Negotiate a plea bargain on your behalf
- Fight for you in the courtroom in front of the jury
Contact an Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney Today
The Maitland criminal defense attorneys at the Alers Law Firm are one phone call away at any time of day or night. Call us at (407) 930-4888 to schedule a free initial consultation, where a lawyer will take the time to listen and learn.
Successful Case Outcomes
We Fight to Win, Not Settle
As a former prosecutor, our lead Maitland criminal defense attorney understands the elements of our clients’ offenses and analyzes how we can tailor our defense strategies to achieve justice for you. All of our clients are provided with one-on-one meetings and personalized service to ensure that their specific needs are met. Our diligent research into each case ensures that a custom approach is applied every time. No matter what you need a Maitland criminal defense lawyer to help you with, our team at Alers Law Firm will fight tirelessly on your behalf.
Unparalleled Experience & Criminal Defense Service
Our service is unmatched. Here’s what sets Alers Law Firm apart:
- Former Prosecution Experience: Experience as a prosecutor means we know what to expect from the prosecution and how to anticipate the other side’s case against you.
- Personal Attention: When you hire Alers Law Firm, you receive direct access to us for one-on-one attention.
- 24/7 Availability: We work around the clock to keep you informed every step of the way. When you need us, we’re there.
- Spanish Speaking Services. Attorney Alers was born and raised in Puerto Rico and speaks fluent Spanish. To the benefit of our clients in the local Hispanic community, we offer counsel in the language most comfortable to them.
Contact Alers Law Firm today at (407) 930-4888 to see how we can fight for you. We are eager to provide criminal defense representation to the people of Maitland. Se habla español