Jacksonville FL Criminal Defense Attorney

Stone & Associates, PA

1830 Atlantic Boulevard
Jacksonville, Florida 32207
USA

(904) 396-3335

(904) 399-4540

www.jacksonvilledefense.com/

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Law Firm Overview

Stone and Associate’s is an AV rated law firm and is included in Martindale Hubbel’s Bar register of Preeminent Lawyers. Attorney Mitch Stone is a Florida Bar Board Certified Criminal Trial Lawyer. He is a widely-known lecturer on DUI and criminal defense strategies and has been preferred by large organizations as faculty to present his criminal defense and DUI defense strategies around the state. Becky Barlow practices in general and complex criminal litigation, with a heavy emphasis on DUI defense and DUI license suspension hearings. Prior to joining the firm, she worked for over 10 years exclusively defending DUI cases. She has been faculty of many DUI defense seminars in the state of Florida.

At Stone & Associates, proficiency and commitment that our criminal law attorney apply to the defense of the accused is demonstrated in their impressive record of verdicts, dismissals and other favorable outcomes for clients. Our unchanging delivery of high-quality legal services is a result of our exceptional qualifications of our criminal defense attorneys. The use of a team approach to each case and the assistant of the best experts investigators accessible. Proficient support of staff experienced in criminal law. Complete investigation, diligent representation, creative and aggressive defense strategies.

As criminal defense lawyers abide by both federal and Florida courts, prosecutors, and law enforcement officers, our team is generally able to resolve cases through negotiations and plea bargains. After all, we follow a policy of "diplomatic negotiation while preparing for war" - we are at all times accessible to go to trial if the process. In further to these professional credentials our attorneys have over three decade of combined practice in the specific arena of criminal law provision insight into the criminal justice system.

Practice Areas

Additional Practice Areas: Drug Trafficking Defense, Conspiracy, Social Security Fraud, Immigration Fraud, Election Fraud, Securities Fraud, Insurance Fraud, Attempted Murder, False Arrest, Police Brutality

Practice Areas Description

-Criminal Law

If you or someone you care about is under suspicion or has been charged with a crime, whether a felony or lesser offense, it is important that you seek the advice of a qualified criminal defense attorney before making any statement or responding to questions from police, investigators or prosecutors.

-Drug Crime

A drug crime conviction can have a devastating impact on your life, subjecting you to prison time and branding you as a felon forever after. This could hinder your future employability. The law firm of Stone & Associates has defended thousands of clients charged with drug crimes. We know how important it is to you to avoid a conviction for a drug offense. We have developed strategies that we successfully employ in an effort to keep your record clean and provide you with a positive result.

-DUI & Driving Offenses

To avoid jail and retain your driving privileges, you need a law firm experienced in all aspects of defending a drunk driving case, including the civil and criminal charges involved. The attorneys of Stone & Associates are recognized for cutting edge defense of DUI charges, and for effective representation in the parallel administrative drivers license suspension proceedings.

-BUI and Boating Offenses

BUI and boating offenses are not merely a "ticket." They are criminal violations that could lead to jail, a felony or misdemeanor record, steep fines, impoundment and forfeiture of your boat, loss of boating privileges, or loss of hunting and fishing privileges.

-Federal Criminal Defense

There are substantial differences between state and federal court when you are charged with a crime. The rules of evidence and procedure are different. Federal law enforcement has greater resources, and federal prosecutors, judges and federal sentencing structures can be tougher. Many federal offenses carry mandatory minimum sentences. Certain offenses such as bank fraud mandate a term of incarceration if convicted.

-Fraud & White Collar Crimes

If investigators are asking questions or you have been arrested or indicted for a white collar crime, we understand what's at stake. We realize that the mere allegation of fraud, embezzlement or corruption jeopardizes careers and professional licenses, and ruins reputations. We understand that a conviction could mean years in prison.

-Mortgage Fraud and Bank Fraud Defense

In their zeal to stop mortgage fraud, state and federal prosecutors cast a wide net. From lending and real estate professionals to homebuyers, the law firm of Stone & Associates has defended many people caught up in these investigations. If you have been indicted in relation to a mortgage investigation, or suspect you are under investigation as a party to fraud, it is critical to consult an attorney before making any statements. Even if you think you can clear your name or get credit for cooperating with law enforcement, any information you volunteer can and will be used by investigators or prosecutors to build a case against you.

-Government Fraud

If you or someone you know is suspected of defrauding a government agency, prosecutors have tremendous resources and employ heavy-handed tactics to coerce confessions and levy severe penalties.

-Identity Theft/Credit Card Fraud

State and federal agencies have invested in special investigators and high-tech resources to combat the rise in identity theft, credit card fraud and Internet crimes. If authorities have connected you to such a crime, you will need an attorney experienced in countering the government's allegations.

-Violent Crimes & Weapons Charges

At Stone & Associates, we make a point of knowing more than the prosecution about the law and about the case. This is never more important than when a client is facing hard time for violent crimes and firearms offenses. Our experienced defense attorneys present powerful defenses intended to keep our client out of prison. See Success Stories for examples of our cases across northeast Florida and statewide involving violent crime allegations.

-Murder or Manslaughter

If you stand accused of a homicide, your freedom and future are at stake, or you may be literally fighting for your life. The attorneys at Stone & Associates, understand that the stakes are high in these cases. Our attorneys have obtained favorable results for clients charged with murder and manslaughter. Based in Jacksonville, we take cases in northeast Florida and statewide. If you or someone who know has been arrested or questioned in connection with a death, contact us immediately for a free consultation.

-Assault & Battery

Police don't always talk to the right people or ask the right questions when making an arrest for assault and battery. The result is serious criminal charges based on a one-sided, half-hearted investigation. The law firm of Stone & Associates is committed to revealing the rest of the story and providing viable defenses to avoid a conviction. Our representation has led to dismissed charges, exclusion of tainted testimony and jury acquittals. (See Success Stories for examples of our proven abilities in criminal defense.)

-Sexual Offenses

If you are under investigation, have been questioned, or have been arrested for a sexual offense, you should consult with a criminal defense lawyer before answering questions or speaking to authorities. In an effort to appear cooperative and demonstrate your innocence, you may make statements that later will be used against you in court.

-Domestic Violence

It is important to understand the complexity of cases involving domestic battery. Lawyers at our Jacksonville criminal defense firm, Stone & Associates, focus on the motives of the accuser, demonstrating in many cases that domestic battery charges are unwarranted and result from unfounded accusations.

-Child-Pornography

With the advances in computer and internet technologies, prosecutions for possession, receipt, sale, distribution and production of child pornography are on the rise. Many times law enforcement discovers child pornography by using peer to peer programs on the web to search for any computer on-line that may contain images or videos of children in pornographic displays. These searches then lead to warrants issued to seize the computer thought to contain these images and/or videos. The result is someone associated with the computer is charged with a very serious offense. In state and federal courts minimum mandatory prison sentences of up to 15 years to life are often sought by prosecutors assigned to these cases. Courts have to impose such harsh sentences by law if the suspect is convicted of certain child pornography offenses.

-Juvenile Crimes

If your child or teenager has been charged with a crime, whether it is shoplifting, a minor in possession (MIP), receiving stolen property, or assault, you want to see that their rights are protected in juvenile court. Contact our Jacksonville office to arrange a free consultation with a lawyer from Stone & Associates before you or your child speaks with investigators or police.

-Law Enforcement Defense

When a police officer or other law enforcement official is charged with a crime, it is imperative they speak with an experienced and knowledgeable lawyer as soon as possible to ensure that their rights are protected. Prosecuting authorities handle cases involving law enforcement officials vigorously, to demonstrate the officer is not above the law. Because a prosecutor may feel pressure to "make an example" of the officer charged, they may seek more severe consequences than if the individual had not been a law enforcement officer.

-Grand Jury Proceedings

An important aspect of the criminal justice system is a grand jury proceeding. A grand jury is a group of individuals from the community who are sworn in for purposes of working with the state attorney or U.S. attorney to determine whether a crime should be indicted. Even if an individual was arrested, they may not be charged until a grand jury indicts them.

-Post Conviction Relief

Many times in State Court people are convicted of crimes without the assistance of a lawyer or if they had a lawyer the lawyers assistance was ineffective. In those cases we can review transcripts of the proceedings to determine if the conviction should stand. At Stone & Associates we understand that a conviction for any crime can have a dramatic long lasting impact on their lives. We have successfully challenged convictions years after the fact for charges such as robbery, burglary, domestic battery, dui, drug offenses, theft, and sexual offenses. Motions for post conviction relief must be filed within 2 years of the conviction or within 2 years of the date the person learned of a significant fact that otherwise was unavailable to them at the time of their conviction. We understand the legal, procedural and technical nature of these proceedings and we have successfully been able to reverse convictions and remove criminal records for our clients who otherwise thought they would forever be branded a criminal.