West Melbourne, Florida, Juvenile Defense Lawyer
If your child has been accused of a crime or has been arrested, you should act quickly. Entrust the case and your son's or daughter's future to an experienced, aggressive, and knowledgeable criminal defense attorney who understands juvenile defense.
With more than 20 years of criminal defense experience and certification as a mediator, attorney Mark Anthony Gager possesses the skills and dedication needed to help a minor avoid conviction or get the least restrictive punishment for crimes such as:
- DUI and underage drinking
- Drug possession and trafficking of marijuana, cocaine, crystal meth, ecstasy, OxyContin, and other controlled or illegal substances
- Shoplifting, burglary, and other theft crimes
- Graffiti, arson, and other vandalism (criminal mischief)
- Assault and other violent crimes
For a free consultation, call (321) 724-5600 or e-mail our firm.
How Juvenile Defense is Different:
Facts Minors and Their Parents Need to Know
Our goal in juvenile defense is to work out the best deal possible for our clients and minimize consequences. When juveniles are prosecuted, there is no jury trial by their peers. A judge decides the case, and because judges tend to be strict with juvenile offenders, there are very few acquittals. Potential punishment may include:
- Work farm
- Community service
- Probation or jail time
- Fines or restitution
- Mandatory drug counseling
- Mandatory defensive driving class
- Driver's license suspension
If a minor is arrested for a crime involving violence or a series of burglary offenses, prosecutors have the option to "direct file" the charge, which means the child is charged as an adult. If convicted, the minor will face the same punishment as an adult.
When a juvenile is arrested for drunk driving (DUI), his or her guilt or innocence is not decided in juvenile court: These cases are tried in adult court and prosecutors still must prove that the minor's blood alcohol content (BAC) was .08 or above. However, juveniles whose BAC is above .02 will still lose their driver's licenses in the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) hearing, even if they are acquitted at trial.
There is no "minor" crime, even if the charge is a misdemeanor. Any conviction can negatively affect your child for years to come.
For a free consultation to learn how we can help protect your child's rights in court, call juvenile defense lawyer Mark Anthony Gager at (321) 724-5600 or e-mail our firm.
