Clearwater Weapons Charges Defense Attorney

Have you been arrested on a weapons charge?

The state of Florida is tough on crimes involving the use of a weapon and especially a firearm. The use of a firearm in what would otherwise be a misdemeaor offense will usually result in the case being prosecuted as a felony and may invoke the provisions of Florida's 10-20-Life Statute. With a few narrow exceptions, 10-20-Life mandates that the use of a firearm in the commission of a crime will result in a ten year sentence upon conviction, the discharge of a firearm will result in a twenty year sentence upon conviction, and the discharge of a firearm which causes injury to another will result in a mandatory life sentence.

In non-firearms cases, the offense classification, offense level, and potential sentence for a paticular crime can be enhanaced when a weapon is utilized. While the provisions of 10-20-Life do not apply, the penalties can be extreme nonetheless.

Crimes that may be enhanced or upgraded include the following:

• Burglary and robbery
• Assault and/or battery
• Domestic violence
• Sex crimes
• Kidnapping
• Drug crimes

A Clearwater criminal defense lawyer from The Law Office of Timothy Hessinger will provide a vigorous defense if you have been charged with a weapons crime and may be facing a felony sentencing enhancement. As a seasoned trial attorney and former prosecutor in the Major Crimes division of the State Attorney's office, Attorney Hessinger's experience with prosecuting weapons crimes will be used to obtain the best possible results.

Weapons Charges in Florida

Our firm is committed to defending you if you have been arrested on any kind of weapons charge, including:

• Illegal possession of a weapon
• Carrying a concealed weapon without a permit
• Assault with a deadly weapon
• Trading or trafficking illegal arms
• Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
• Possession of an unregistered or stolen gun
• Discharging a firearm in a public place
• Possessing a firearm after a conviction for domestic violence
• Aggravated battery
• Using a firearm while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Juvenile weapons offenses

Early involvement in the case, prior to formal charges being filed against you can lead to you avoiding the charges in some cases. We urge you to contact us as soon as you have been arrested so we can explore what defense strategy we can implement early on to your benefit. The earlier we are able to intervene on your behalf, the greater the possibility is for a positive outcome in your case.