Criminal Defense Attorney - FWB and Destin

DUI Offenses

Life can sometimes take unexpected turns. What do you do if you have been arrested for DUI?

State Misdemeanors & Felonies

What are the penalties in Florida that courts may impose on these types of crimes? What are your rights?

Drug Offenses

If you have been charged with a drug offense, the first thing to do is seek proper legal representation.

Experienced and Trustworthy Attorney

Let Me Fight For You

If you have been in trouble with the law or have a family member who needs a criminal defense attorney now, Jay Patel can help. When it comes to finding a reputable defense attorney, time is of the essence. No matter the seriousness of the crime, you have rights, and those rights must be protected. You deserve to have an attorney who will fight for you.

A criminal conviction in Florida can change your life forever. Even if this is your first offense, it can result in expensive fines, a criminal record that stays with you for a lifetime, loss of employment, probation, jail time, or even incarceration in a state prison.

If you are looking at a judge or jury trial, you need an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side. Someone who will look at the charges and all of the issues surrounding your case, who will build an appropriate defense around it.

Not all defense attorneys are the same. For any type of criminal charges, arrest, or investigation, you want to be assured that your criminal defense attorney will represent you thoroughly. Jay Patel is highly qualified to assist you in all your criminal defense needs, including if you have been charged with:

Help When You Need It

Being investigated or arrested for a criminal offense is serious. It is not wise go at it on your own. From the onset, you need a reputable, experienced criminal defense lawyer. Jay Patel understands exactly how your rights work and will seek to protect those rights immediately. An experienced criminal defense lawyer will make sure that none of your constitutional rights have been violated, with a thorough review of the charges.

The Benefit of a Criminal Defense Attorney

You can suddenly find yourself on the wrong side of the law. It is a very unsettling feeling. Uncertainty about what tomorrow will bring and wondering about your future can be very stressful. When your future is in the air, you want an experienced criminal defense attorney to represent you.

All defense lawyers may seem to be the same on the surface, but there are many reasons why this is just not true. You need a defense lawyer who is well versed in criminal law in Florida and willing to take a case to trial. After all, the prosecution is sure to have experienced prosecutors on their side.

Jay Patel will aggressively protect your rights involving any criminal charge, be it a felony or a misdemeanor. He understands the criminal justice system and knows what is at risk for you when you are facing criminal charges.

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You Have Questions, Jay Patel Has Answers

The average person does not know the ins and outs of the criminal justice system. TV shows about the law are typically very entertaining, but they can also be misleading and full of holes. When it comes to the defense of a crime you are charged with, leave it up to your criminal defense attorney.

An experienced criminal defense attorney will fight for you and only you. They will not immediately look to take a plea and leave you hanging without explaining all the scenarios to you. A trial lawyer is fearless, so look for experience when choosing a criminal defense attorney to represent you.

When you are considering a criminal defense attorney, find out how many times they have gone to trial. Many have not gone to trial in years. Others go to trial a few times a year. An experienced criminal defense attorney should be in the courtroom fighting for their clients’ rights.

The Criminal Defense Process

Arrest or Notice to Appear

You have been accused of committing a crime. If an officer has either probable cause or a warrant for your arrest, you will be brought into custody. Once arrested, your first court appearance will happen within 24 to 48 hours. If you are given a notice to appear (you avoid getting a mug shot), you are given a specified date and time to appear in court. Failure to appear will result in a bench warrant for your arrest.

First Appearance

Your first court appearance will be within 24 to 48 hours. This is when you will hear the charges being brought against you. The Court shall determine whether probable cause exists, and appropriate conditions for bond. You are not required to speak at this time.

Felony Arraignment

If you have not hired a criminal defense attorney before this date and you were arrested for a felony, you must personally appear before the Court and enter a plea. If you plan to hire a lawyer, enter a plea of “Not Guilty” and the Court will place your case on the next Pretrial Conference. However, this is also a time where the Assistant State Attorney may attempt to resolve your case by offering a plea deal. This is where caution should be taken. All “offers” have consequences and if you don’t understand the consequences, short term and long term for your life, you should consult with a criminal defense attorney. Often times, that plea offer will remain open if you immediately hire a criminal defense attorney.

Discovery and Plea Bargaining

Once a Demand for Discovery is filed, the State is required to furnish the Defendant with all the Discovery in their possession, and any evidence that tends to go towards negating the Defendant’s guilt, this is known as Brady Material. Once the discovery is provided to your criminal defense attorney, he or she can review it with you so you understand how these facts apply to the crimes you are accused of. This process may lead to depositions and gathering information to assist in the defense. If charges are not dismissed during this process, a plea bargain may be reached. This means you plead guilty to the crime to a reduced charge or a reduced sentence.

Pretrial Conference

This is where your criminal defense attorney will shine on your behalf. In preparation for this court appearance, your criminal defense attorney will meet with the prosecutor. If the discovery phase is complete, he or she will look to prove that evidence brought against you does not indicate you committed the crime. Charges can be reduced at this hearing or dropped altogether. If neither of those options occur, your criminal defense attorney will tell the Court what the state of the case is. The Court will decide if the case will be continued or if it will be set for trial.

Trial and Sentencing

If you maintain your plea of not guilty and negotiations with the Assistant State Attorney have failed, your case will be set for trial. The case will be presented on both sides, and a verdict by judge or jury will decide the outcome. If you are found guilty, the judge will determine the penalty you face, this is known as Sentencing. Sentencing can occur immediately after a guilty verdict or Sentencing can be set off to another for a presentation of evidence by both sides. After listening to both sides, the Court will render a sentence – anything from a fine to jail time.