St. Johns County Criminal Defense: A Guide for the Accused

Facing criminal charges in St. Johns County can be an incredibly stressful and frightening experience. As a defendant, the high stakes involved means having an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side is crucial. This article provides an overview of criminal defense in St. Johns County—the typical charges, potential defenses, and what to expect when navigating the local criminal justice system.

Exploring Possible Defenses

Facing criminal allegations doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t have strong defenses. An attorney may be able to get charges reduced or dismissed depending on the circumstances. Here are some potential defenses to explore:

• Self-defense – using reasonable force to protect yourself or others may provide immunity from prosecution under Florida’s Stand Your Ground law. You have no duty to retreat before using self-defense in Florida.
• Castle doctrine – provides legal protection for using force against intruders in your home, vehicle, or workplace. Also known as a ‘stand your ground’ defense.
• Involuntary intoxication – if you unknowingly ingested intoxicants, it may negate intent to commit a crime.
• Entrapment – law enforcement induced you to commit an offense you otherwise wouldn’t have.
• Miranda rights violation – police failed to properly read you your rights before questioning.
• Illegal search & seizure – evidence was obtained in violation of your 4th Amendment rights.
• Misidentification – you were mistakenly identified as the perpetrator of a crime.
• Self-defense – you acted reasonably to protect yourself or others from harm.
• Consent – the alleged victim consented to the conduct in question.
• Alibi – you have evidence proving you couldn’t have committed the crime.
• Mental defect – you lacked criminal intent due to mental illness.

Other possible defenses depend on the specifics of each case. An attorney can advise if any apply in your situation after reviewing the evidence.

What to Expect in St. Johns County Criminal Court

If you are charged with a crime in St. Johns County, here is a basic overview of what to expect:

• You will be arrested and taken to the St. Johns County jail for booking and processing. For minor offenses, you may receive a notice to appear rather than being arrested.
• Within 24 hours, you will go before a judge for a first appearance hearing to be informed of the charges against you and have bail set.
• Arraignment follows within a few weeks – this is when you enter a plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest.
• Your lawyer will request evidence from prosecutors through the discovery process. This can include police reports, witness statements, forensic tests, etc.
• Your attorney may negotiate with the prosecution regarding potential plea deals or pretrial diversion programs. If no deal is reached, your case will head to trial.
• You have the right to a speedy trial under Florida law. Felony cases must commence within 175 days from arrest.
• If convicted at trial, sentencing will follow where the judge determines penalties like probation, fines, incarceration, etc.
• You can appeal a conviction or sentence if errors were made in the legal process.

Having a knowledgeable local criminal defense lawyer to guide you through the process is critical. The stakes are high, and an experienced attorney can protect your rights every step of the way.

Finding the Right St. Johns County Criminal Lawyer

CLook for an attorney with extensive experience specifically handling criminal cases in St. Johns County. Familiarity with local prosecutors and judges is invaluable.

• Consider lawyers certified as specialists in criminal trial law. This signals a higher degree of knowledge and expertise.
• Understand the lawyer’s track record handling cases similar to yours. Do they have experience getting positive outcomes?
• Be sure the attorney has resources to thoroughly investigate your case and build the strongest defense.
• Choose a lawyer you feel comfortable with and who makes you feel confident they will fight tirelessly for you.
• Discuss legal fees upfront and understand the expected costs. Avoid lawyers suggesting illegal or unethical actions.
• Search lawyer directories like Justia or Avvo to find top rated local attorneys.

Don’t leave your fate in the hands of an inexperienced lawyer. Interview several criminal defense attorneys in St. Johns County and choose one who is the right fit for you and your case. The consequences for criminal convictions are severe, so make your defense counsel selection carefully. With an aggressive attorney on your side, you have the best chance at the most favorable outcome possible.