Manslaughter Attorneys in Orlando

Offering Legal Help to Clients Facing Homicide Charges

Panella Law Firm Accepts Cases Throughout Florida

Manslaughter is a serious crime that can lead to years of prison time if you’re convicted. Fortunately, you don’t have to face this charge alone, since you’ll have a skilled Orlando manslaughter defense lawyer on your side when you hire our team for legal defense help.

At Panella Law Firm, we’ve successfully handled countless tough cases for clients accused of first-degree murder, manslaughter, and other violent crimes. Contact us to schedule a free consultation so we can review the details of your case and begin your criminal defense plan.

What Is Manslaughter?

As we begin your case, we want to ensure you understand your charges. If you were accused of manslaughter in the state of Florida, you’re facing a homicide charge that could be punished by several years in prison. This type of homicide is defined as the unlawful, unintentional killing of someone else. This means you’re being accused of ending someone’s life without intending to do so, as there may be evidence that the act was accidental or unplanned.

This is in contrast to the other type of homicide charge used in Florida, which is murder. One of the most critical differences between murder and manslaughter is that murder is often premeditated and intentional, meaning you planned to take someone else’s life. This is especially the case with a first-degree murder charge, a capital felony that could result in the death penalty for the person convicted of intentionally killing someone.

While manslaughter isn’t considered as serious as first or second-degree murder, it’s still a homicide charge that can lead to severe penalties if you’re convicted. This is why you should contact an Orlando manslaughter attorney from the Panella Law Firm as soon as you’re accused of this crime. Without a legal defense strategy created specifically for your case, you risk spending years in prison after getting a felony conviction on your criminal record. If you want a chance to avoid this outcome, hire our criminal defense team to fight your manslaughter charges.

What Are the Different Types of Manslaughter Charges in Florida?

The penalties you face will depend on the details of your case in the Central Florida criminal justice system, with the specific manslaughter charge being an important element. There are a few variations of this charge.

Voluntary Manslaughter

Voluntary manslaughter means you’re charged with killing someone in the heat of the moment or after sudden provocation. With this crime, it’s assumed you did not plan to kill the victim, but you made the quick decision to do so after something changed. For example, if the killing occurred during a bar fight or a domestic situation involving passion, you could be charged with voluntary manslaughter.

Florida law breaks voluntary manslaughter into two specific categories. One is manslaughter by act, which is an intentional act that is not considered excusable or justifiable homicide. The other is manslaughter by procurement, which means you’re accused of encouraging or convincing someone to commit an act that will end someone’s life.

Involuntary Manslaughter

On the other hand, involuntary manslaughter accuses you of killing someone accidentally while displaying reckless or careless behavior. In many cases, the act that unintentionally killed someone was not necessarily illegal, but could be considered negligent.

For example, if you waved around a deadly weapon and accidentally killed someone who was standing nearby, you could be charged with involuntary manslaughter. This is often also called culpable negligence and suggests that you displayed a disregard for human life.

Aggravated Manslaughter

Manslaughter is usually charged as a second-degree felony, but some factors can elevate it to a first-degree felony, which comes with more severe penalties. For instance, if the victim was a disabled adult, a child under the age of 18, or an elderly person age 65, you could be charged with aggravated manslaughter. You could face the same charge if the victim was an on-duty law enforcement officer, paramedic, firefighter, or emergency medical technician.

Manslaughter Involving a Deadly Weapon

If you used a dangerous weapon, such as a firearm, your manslaughter charge could be elevated from a second-degree felony to a first-degree felony. This typically results in harsher penalties, including higher fines and more prison time.

Vehicular Manslaughter

If your reckless driving kills someone, whether an adult, child, or unborn baby, the state of Florida could charge you with vehicular manslaughter. If the prosecution team can prove that you drove in a negligent or careless manner with disregard for human life, causing someone’s death, you’ll face a second-degree felony. However, if you fled the scene and did not offer aid to the victim, the charge can be enhanced to a first-degree felony with harsher penalties.

Similarly, if you drove while under the influence of alcohol or drugs and caused the death of a driver or passenger, you could be charged with DUI manslaughter. While this is normally a second-degree felony, it could become a first-degree felony if you didn’t stay on the scene to help the victim or wait for the police to arrive. Either way, you’ll need criminal defense services from a skilled Orlando manslaughter attorney, so call us for a free consultation.

What Are the Penalties of a Manslaughter Conviction?

If you’re convicted of this crime, your punishment will depend on the details of your case. These often include the intent behind your actions, who the victim was, and any aggravating factors, such as the use of a deadly weapon. Your Orlando manslaughter defense lawyer will give you an idea of the likely penalties based on your specific case.

What Happens If You’re Convicted of a Second-Degree Felony?

In general, manslaughter is a second-degree felony, which can be punished by up to 15 years in prison. In many cases, the minimum prison term is about nine years, which means you could spend almost a decade behind bars at the minimum if you’re convicted. You’ll also have to pay a fine of up to $10,000.

Other possible penalties for a felony conviction include hours of community service, probation, difficulty finding a job or house, denial of financial aid for college, loss of the right to vote or own a firearm, and loss of professional licenses. The only way to avoid these penalties is for a skilled lawyer to get your case dismissed, charges reduced, or a not-guilty verdict in the Central Florida criminal justice system.

What Are the Penalties of a First-Degree Felony?

If aggravating factors cause your manslaughter charges to be treated as a first-degree felony, your punishment will be more severe. For example, if you fled the scene of a car accident you caused, or if you used a weapon while killing someone, your maximum prison sentence could be 30 years. The minimum number of years in prison is about 10 to 11.5 years, depending on the aggravating factors.

You’ll also be ordered to pay up to $10,000 in fines if convicted. This penalty is in addition to the other consequences of being found guilty of a felony, including losing certain rights and difficulty finding housing or employment. This is why it’s recommended that you get immediate legal help from manslaughter attorneys. Orlando is the home of Panella Law Firm, so contact us for a confidential consultation.

How Can Manslaughter Attorneys in Orlando Assist with Your Case?

You should call experienced manslaughter lawyers as soon as you can after your arrest. It’s important to start your criminal defense case quickly, while you can still remember details and your lawyer can gather evidence to challenge the prosecution’s case. There are several defenses that your legal team can consider after reviewing your situation.

One is excusable homicide, which states that killing someone by accident is legal if one of a few scenarios is true. Examples include killing someone in the heat of passion or after sudden provocation, or killing someone accidentally while performing a lawful act. Another example of excusable homicide is killing someone during sudden combat in which you didn’t use a cruel and unusual method or involve a deadly weapon.

Your lawyer might also argue that there was lawful justification for the person’s death, because the victim was in the process of committing violent crimes against you, including using deadly force to kill or severely harm you. If your lawyer can find evidence to prove this, you can be convicted of justifiable homicide rather than murder or manslaughter. Similarly, if you can show you only resorted to the use of deadly force in self-defense, you can typically avoid spending years in prison for a second-degree murder charge.

If you’re charged with manslaughter in Florida, and the crime doesn’t qualify as self-defense, excusable homicide, or justified homicide, your Orlando manslaughter attorney will find another strong defense angle for your case. This could involve challenging evidence that accuses you of either intentionally committing murder or showing reckless disregard for a human being when causing their death.

When you hire us to defend you from Orlando murder or manslaughter charges, our lawyers will look for ways to challenge the accusation that you caused someone else’s death through culpable negligence, the unjustified use of deadly force, or any other manner of unlawful killing. If you want to reduce your chances of being found guilty of a crime that could result in years in prison, contact us for help. Call 407-602-6559 for a free consultation with a caring Orlando manslaughter attorney.