Criminal Defense Lawyer in Sarasota County, Florida
The Law Offices of Michael M. Raheb offers skilled criminal defense representation for individuals who face criminal charges in Sarasota County, Florida. If you’ve been charged with a criminal offense, you may feel overwhelmed by the legal process and the investigations you may be facing. Fortunately, arrest is not the same thing as conviction. You are innocent until proven guilty under Florida law. If you or a loved one has been arrested, is facing investigation or a trial, or is in the process of trying to appeal a conviction, you need the skill of a criminal defense lawyer who has the experience to help you attain the best possible outcome allowable under the law.
Michael M. Raheb served as a public defender, understands the criminal justice system, and has aggressively defended hundreds of clients. The Law Offices of Michael M. Raheb can help defend you if you’ve been charged with a range of offenses, among them, assault, child abuse, kidnapping, domestic violence, sexual crimes, drug sale or possession, homicide, theft, weapons charges, or juvenile offenses. If you’re facing criminal charges in Sarasota County, Florida, you need a Criminal Defense Lawyer who can help you win your case. You need the Law Offices of Michael M. Raheb.
What to Do If You’ve Been Arrested
The police are invested with power to protect our cities and towns and to maintain order. Unfortunately, sometimes this power is abused. If you’ve been arrested, it is important to understand your rights under the law. First of all, it is important to remember that if you are being arrested, you have the right to remain silent. Officers can record anything you say and anything you say can later be used against you in court. If you’re facing arrest, your best option is to remain silent until you can seek the advice and counsel of a criminal defense lawyer. Next, you have the right to refuse to consent to any search of your person, your property (car), or home. Additionally, the American Civil Liberties Union reminds individuals that if they are not under arrest, they have the right to calmly leave. An officer can detain you for questioning, but following questioning, the officer has to either make the choice to let you go or arrest you. An officer is not allowed to move you or restrain you unless you are officially and lawfully arrested.
Finally, if you are arrested, you have the right to seek the representation of a lawyer. As soon as you are arrested, do not answer questions asked of you. Instead, calmly and politely ask for a lawyer. The American Civil Liberties Union also reminds individuals that when they are arrested, they have certain responsibilities. Individuals should remain calm and polite, should not obstruct the police, or lie. Finally, remember the details about your arrest. Your criminal defense lawyer will need these details to make sure that the officer who detained and arrested you had proper probable cause to stop and arrest you. The officer is also required to identify himself or herself if you are being arrested. If the officer who arrests you fails to do so, or fails to read you your Miranda rights, your criminal defense lawyer may be able to argue in court that your arrest wasn’t on lawful grounds. Any information, evidence, or other statements gathered during an unlawful arrest won’t be admissible in court. It is important that you seek a criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible after you have been arrested so that your lawyer can help you build the strongest defense possible. The Law Offices of Michael M. Raheb understands proper police protocol and we fight diligently to ensure that your rights are protected at all stages of the legal process.
The Risks of Trying to Represent Yourself
Individuals who try to represent themselves or those who do not seek the advice of a lawyer may put themselves at risk. Police interrogation is often designed to elicit answers in suspects using a variety of tactics. A lawyer can protect you from some of the more forceful of these tactics and can ensure that your rights are protected during the questioning process. Individuals have the right to request that a lawyer be present during police questioning. Any evidence that is obtained due to an officer’s use of force is not admissible in court. However, there are gray areas. Officers might use fear tactics or “good cop, bad cop” techniques to influence individuals to provide information they otherwise would not give.
The police are also allowed to lie to suspects in order to force a confession. If you’ve been arrested, it’s important to first ask for the representation of a criminal defense lawyer, and secondly, to remember that officers might claim to have evidence against you that they do not, in fact, have. Individuals may also be placed in uncomfortable rooms for long periods of time. In many cases, suspects waive their right to silence when they’ve been arrested and do not realize that they are waiving this right. You have the right to assert your right to silence, but it is important to note that you must tell officers that you intend to exercise this right.
A skilled criminal defense lawyer can ensure that any interrogation is performed legally and that any questions asked of you are not in violation of your rights. If you are currently under investigation, a criminal defense lawyer can make sure that investigators follow proper protocol and do not violate your rights. If you’re facing criminal charges, your reputation, your freedom, and your rights may be at risk. You need the representation of the Law Offices of Michael M. Raheb. We’ll take the time to review the details of your case, help you build a strong defense, and aggressively represent you in court to afford you the most favorable outcome. Contact us today.
