Posted on July 06, 2013 in Criminal Defense

What is probation, and what happens if it is violated? Florida code chapter 948 deals with Probation and defines it as:

(1) "Administrative probation" means a form of non-contact supervision in which an offender who presents a low risk of harm to the community may, upon satisfactory completion of half the term of probation, be transferred by the Department of Corrections to non-reporting status until the expiration of the term of supervision.

Violating the conditions of probation can land the offender in serious trouble because they have already been convicted of a crime and have been given leniency by the court.

To learn more about Probation in Florida, contact Miami Criminal Defense Attorney, Evan Hoffman for a FREE consultation. Call today 305-249-0090 or contact us online.

Conditions of Probation

The conditions of probation all will vary according to what is worked out with the court and judge. Generally, probation means that a person is assigned a Probation Officer who they are required to meet with on a regular basis, and who may check in on them unannounced to ensure that they are not in violation of their Probation.

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 Posted on May 22, 2013 in Sex Crimes

Often referred to as "The world's oldest profession", prostitution has indeed been around since the beginning of civilization. Today in most places in America including Florida, prostitution is illegal but is still not too uncommon.

How Is Prostitution Defined?

Under Florida law, the offense of "prostitution" can be committed in several different ways. The most commonly charged offenses are: (1) Offering to Commit, Committing, or Engaging in Prostitution, Lewdness, or Assignation, and (2) Soliciting for Prostitution, Lewdness, or Assignation.

(1) Offering, Committing, or Engaging in Prostitution- Under Section 796.07(1)(e), Florida Statutes, it is a criminal act for a person "to offer to commit, or to commit, or to engage in, prostitution, lewdness, or assignation." "Prostitution" is defined under the statute as the giving or receiving of the body for sexual activity for hire. The term does not include sexual activity between spouses.

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 Posted on May 14, 2013 in Sex Crimes

Charged with Solicitation?

In Florida, solicitation is a misdemeanor for first-time wrongdoers. If offenders are convicted of solicitation, it can result in fines, probation, or even jail time. This will vary in a case-by-case scenario. Additionally, if this is the second or third solicitation offense, penalties are more severe.

How is Solicitation Defined?

A variety of acts can be defined as solicitation, but the general definition of criminal solicitation is when one person strongly encourages another person to engage in a criminal act. Criminal solicitation commonly involves crimes such as prostitution and drug dealing. Politicians are on occasion convicted for solicitation of a bribe. The crime of solicitation is completed if one person intentionally entices, advises, incites, orders, or otherwise encourages another to commit a crime. The crime solicited does not need to actually be committed for solicitation to occur.

In the case of prostitution, both the prostitute and the "client" can be charged with solicitation if each person encouraged the other to engage in the criminal act regardless of whether any sex act occurred. Solicitation is the act of asking someone to engage in a criminal act, not the act itself. Additional charges may also be brought to either party, depending on the particular circumstances or whether any sexual act occurred.

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 Posted on May 01, 2013 in Theft

If you have been charged with robbery or burglary, do not waste any time employing the services of a trusted, experienced lawyer as quickly as possible. Robbery and burglary are serious crimes with stiff, unrelenting penalties. If you are charged with one of these crimes, what do you need to know before your court date? Continue reading to learn more.

If you find yourself in this alarming situation, do not panic. The Hoffman Firm has an expert legal team lead by Miami Criminal Defense Attorney Evan Hoffman, who is a former prosecutor and an experienced criminal lawyer. The Hoffman Firm can help you if you are under investigation for this serious crime; to learn more about us and our services, call 305-249-0090 or contact us online.

Our violent crimes services include:

• 10-20-Life Law
• Assault/Aggravated Assault
• Battery On LEO
• Battery/Aggravated Battery
• Carjacking

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 Posted on April 24, 2013 in White Collar Crimes

Most people, at one time or another, have forged someone's signature, most likely their mom or dad's signature in high school when they needed a parental signature on a permission slip or test. However, forgery is a serious crime and is punishable in a number of ways, many of which you should be aware of. Continue reading to learn more about forgery and what to do if you are facing forgery charges.

Our theft crimes services include:

• Computer Crimes
• Forgery
• Grand Theft
• Money Laundering
• Organized Fraud
• Shoplifting/Petit Theft

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 Posted on April 16, 2013 in DUI

The night began with a few drinks at a nearby bar, celebrating a work promotion with your friends, and then quickly escalated. After stumbling out to your car and managing to get halfway home, you noticed flashing red and blue lights in your rearview mirror. That sinking feeling hit you, and within a few moments, you found yourself in the backseat of a police car with a pounding headache, facing serious DUI charges. What are you to do now?

If you find yourself in this alarming situation, do not panic. The Hoffman Firm has an expert legal team lead by Miami DUI Defense Attorney Evan Hoffman, who is a former prosecutor and an experienced criminal lawyer. The Hoffman Firm can help you if you are under investigation for this serious crime; to learn more about us and our services, call 305-249-0090 or contact us online.

Our DUI services include:

• BUI (Boating)

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 Posted on March 27, 2013 in Gun & Weapons Crimes

Weapons offenses are serious charges that often stem from crimes in which firearms are involved. Oftentimes when such a weapon is involved in a crime, state and federal prosecutors seek the most severe charges and harshest penalties possible. Weapons offense charges include any arrest on any charge that involves a gun, from weapon trafficking to domestic violence that involved a gun.

If you find yourself in this alarming situation, do not panic. The Hoffman Firm has an expert legal team lead by Miami Criminal Attorney Evan Hoffman, who is a former prosecutor and an experienced criminal lawyer.

The Hoffman Firm can help you if you are wrongly accused. Pick up the phone and call us today for a FREE consultation 305-249-0090 or contact us online.

Our weapons offenses services include:

• 10-20-Life Law
• Assault/Aggravated Assault
• Battery On LEO
• Battery/Aggravated Battery
• Carjacking

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 Posted on March 14, 2013 in White Collar Crimes

Mortgage and real estate fraud cases are not uncommon in today's economy and are often complex and convoluted issues that involve piles of financial documents and hard-to-follow paper trails. Getting to the bottom of such a case requires the services of someone who has advanced knowledge of real estate law, banking, and criminal defense. If you find yourself under investigation for this accusation, you will want to employ the services of someone who has experience defending appraisers, real estate companies, realtors, appraisers, buyers and sellers, individual mortgage brokers and mortgage companies that they work for.

If you find yourself in this alarming situation, do not panic. The Hoffman Firm has an expert legal team led by Miami criminal attorney Evan Hoffman, who is a former prosecutor and an experienced criminal lawyer. The Hoffman Firm can help you if you are under investigation for this serious crime. Pick up the phone and call us today for a FREE consultation 305-249-0090 or contact us online.

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 Posted on February 27, 2013 in Gun & Weapons Crimes

In light of many recent school shootings and other well-publicized acts of violence including the Travon Martin case, guns and crimes involving guns are a big topic of discussion right now. In Florida, crimes that involve the use of guns are very harshly prosecuted. The 10-20-Life Law, also known as "Use a gun and you're done" is a statute which greatly increases the penalties of several crimes.

To learn more about how Miami Criminal Defense Lawyer, Evan Hoffman can help you with your case, contact The Hoffman Firm today.

The 10-20-Life Law is covered under section 775.087 of Florida's Criminal Code and reads as follows:

(1) Unless otherwise provided by law, whenever a person is charged with a felony, except a felony in which the use of a weapon or firearm is an essential element, and during the commission of such felony the defendant carries, displays, uses, threatens to use, or attempts to use any weapon or firearm, or during the commission of such felony the defendant commits an aggravated battery, the felony for which the person is charged shall be reclassified as follows:

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 Posted on February 14, 2013 in White Collar Crimes

Forgery is a crime which falls under the greater category of fraud. Forgery usually involves a person creating, signing, or altering a document in an attempt to deceive others.

Under Florida state law Forgery is defined as "The creation of a false written document or alteration of a genuine one, with the intent to defraud". The Hoffman Firm is very experienced in fighting forgery cases. For more information contact Miami Criminal Attorney, Evan Hoffman today!

Additional charges of forgery may come if a person attempts to use someone else's credit card, submits unemployment claims while employed, or tries to cash a bad check. Another form of forgery is counterfeiting.

Even without actually defrauding another person, charges for forgery may be brought if it can be proven that the accused person had the intent to act in a criminal manner.

Forgery charges can be prosecuted under either state or federal law. Usually, in cases involving multiple states, the charges will be brought federally.

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