Our Legal Blog

What are Aggravating Factors?

• June 8, 2021
• Lawyer Michael Panella
• Criminal Defense

If you’re charged with a crime, there are issues that may increase your sentence, so you should ask yourself, what are aggravating factors? There are factors that increase the seriousness of the crime while others make the sentence harsher. Through these laws, the Florida legislature tells the public that some circumstances are worse than others, so there’s extra punishment to discourage the crimes. What are aggravating factors? They vary with the crime. An aggravating factor in a DUI (having a child in the car at the time of the arrest, for example) is not the same as a robbery (committed with a firearm). Criminal defense attorney Michael Panella understands the complexity of criminal prosecution and sentencing. There are many moving parts to the process, and he’ll work hard to get the best outcome possible for you. If you’re charged with a crime or subject to a criminal investigation, call him today at 407-233-1822.

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Derek Chauvin Awaits Sentencing While Society Awaits Change

• May 11, 2021
• Lawyer Michael Panella
• Criminal Defense

Many Black Americans have died at the hands of police officers over the years. Sometimes promises of change are made while funerals are being planned. Sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, mothers, and fathers have met their fate at the hands of the police. George Floyd was one of them. Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty by a jury of three counts of manslaughter and murder concerning Floyd’s death on April 20. His sentencing is expected June 16, and his attorneys are expected to appeal the verdict. If not for smartphone video, Chauvin probably wouldn’t have been charged, and Floyd’s death would be just a statistic to those who didn’t know him. How the deaths of those in police custody are socially acceptable will depend on the continuing activism of those trying to cut the number of people killed by police, ongoing demands for police accountability, the availability of smartphones, and the desire of witnesses to video encounters with police. <

How Long Does Domestic Violence Stay on Your Record?

• January 5, 2021
• Lawyer Michael Panella
• Criminal Defense

Sometimes arguments get out of hand, and things happen that we do not intend. Domestic violence occurs when a situation escalates that may have started as a simple disagreement. If you have been arrested on domestic violence charges in Florida, it’s understandable that you would want to know “how long does domestic violence stay on your record?” The answer to this can depend on several factors, including the severity of the harm and whether or not you have an aggressive criminal defense lawyer in your corner. Domestic violence charges cannot be expunged or sealed in Florida if you plead guilty or no contest to the charge. They will always remain on your record. A domestic violence arrest can be expunged from a record in Florida only if the charges against an alleged perpetrator are dropped. Typically, only an experienced defense attorney can make this happen. A skilled criminal defense lawyer knows the ins and outs of the legal system

Why a Private Attorney is Necessary: How to Get Back on the Road After Being Designated as a Habitual Traffic Offender

• October 5, 2020
• Lawyer Michael Panella
• Traffic Violations

In Florida, if you are designated as a “Habitual Traffic Offender” (HTO), the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles is authorized to automatically revoke your license for a period of FIVE years. You are probably wondering, “What the heck is a HTO?” To put it simply, a person convicted of three charges for “Driving While License Suspended or Revoked” (DWLS) within a five-year period will be classified as a “Habitual Traffic Offender”. DWLS charges can be either criminal or civil in nature. A criminal DWLS is when someone is driving with a suspended license with knowledge. The first criminal DWLS is classified as a second-degree misdemeanor, the second criminal DWLS is classified as a first-degree misdemeanor and additional criminal DWLS can be classified as a felony depending on the reason for the suspension of the license itself. In criminal DWLS cases, even if adjudication is withheld, meaning that a person is charged but not convicted, it will still count as