Known for Obtaining Results

 

Have you been accused of committing a crime? Don’t let the prosecution bully you. Stand up for your rights and begin by hiring a dedicated criminal defense attorney who will represent you forcefully in the face of prosecution accusations. The Hebert Law Group has more than 30 years of combined experience serving the Tampa Bay area clients in criminal cases, providing aggressive representation with proven results.

 

Ensuring your Freedom

 

The Hebert Law Group is devoted to protecting our clients’ freedom. Our attorneys strongly challenge prosecution efforts to prove their case, and they do everything in their power to avoid conviction or reduce any sentence that might be imposed. They know that witnesses may lie on the stand, crime scenes can be tampered with, and police officers can make mistakes. They personally speak with witnesses to ensure they are telling the whole truth. They can examine the alleged crime scene thoroughly, searching for evidence that can help prove your innocence. They also pore over police records and bring in experts to challenge the prosecution’s theories.

 

Protecting clients since 1994

 

The Hebert Law Group represents clients in the following criminal matters:

 

Felonies

 

If you have been charged with a felony, it is essential that you retain an experienced criminal defense attorney to zealously defend you in court. Felonies are the most serious crimes-such as murder, rape, armed robbery, credit card fraud and burglary. Felony convicts also have the most serious consequences. A person convicted of a felony is sentenced to serve at least one year in a state or federal prison, and may be committed for life. In addition, convicted felons are stripped of many Constitutional rights, including the right to vote, the right to travel out of the country and the right to own a gun. Convicted felons also have to disclose their crimes on job applications and can be deported if they are not American citizens.

 

Misdemeanors

 

Misdemeanors are crimes such as disorderly conduct, simple assault, shoplifting and trespassing that are punishable by less than a year in prison. Although misdemeanors are less serious than felonies, having a misdemeanor conviction on your criminal record can limit your employment options and can result in a jail sentence. Make sure you receive a fair trial by letting the attorneys at The Hebert Law Group represent you.

 

DUI

 

If you have been charged with operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol, The Hebert Law Group can help. Our attorneys have decades of experience in DUI and any related DUI crimes. It is extremely important that you discuss with a qualified DUI attorney the facts of your present arrest, any previous alcohol-related stops or arrests, and any DUI or similar type convictions whether in the state of Florida or anywhere else.

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Our first step within 10 days of being arrested or receiving a ticket for a DUI is to either request a formal review hearing with the Department of Motor Vehicles, or, if you are eligible, waive the hearing. Our defense attorneys will work to apply for the hearing and help you acquire a temporary hardship license. Failure to request the hearing in the initial 10 days can result in loss of driving ability for a period of time. Dependent on the circumstances this will be a loss of driving ability for at least 30 days and can increase from there. Acting within the first 10 days can give first time offenders the opportunity to never have a suspension of driving ability. A first or a second DUI is normally a misdemeanor offense. However, penalties increase with each additional conviction. A DUI can become a felony if it is the third DUI conviction and the previous conviction is within 10 years. A fourth DUI conviction is also classified as a felony.

 

Driving under the influence is defined as driving, or being in actual physical control of a vehicle while under the influence of either alcoholic beverages, any chemical substance set forth in Florida statute 877.111, or any controlled substance under Florida’s drug laws, chapter 893, when a person is affected to the extent that the person’s normal faculties are impaired.

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A law enforcement officer must have a stated legal ground to stop your vehicle. There are rules set forth in the Florida statutes as to when a person may be stopped and for what reasons, as well as how and when each of the DUI tests may be requested and/or administered. 

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Drug Crimes

 

Charges of trafficking, distributing or possessing illegal substances or drug paraphernalia can result in heavy fines and extended time in jail. We have represented individuals with prior records, pharmacists, nurses, juveniles, students, and others from every walk of life. You can rely on our knowledge of drug crimes and our history of successful results to help eliminate or minimize the charges against you.

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Many cases start out with a traffic stop and a search, or with what is called a stop and frisk situation. These types of contact implicate the Fourth Amendment which prohibits  unlawful searches and seizures. Your Fourth Amendment rights can be and are a big part of defending drug cases. One of the most serious drug offenses in the State of Florida is drug trafficking. Most people believe drug trafficking is a crime by a major drug dealer importing drugs. This is often not the situation. In the State of Florida, drug trafficking can  occur by the sale of a certain quantity of a drug, or by simply possessing a certain quantity of a drug or specific substance. 

 

Sale of a controlled substance such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, cocaine, and marijuana, are some common charges we see. The sale of most controlled substances is a second degree felony. The exception to this is the sale of marijuana less than a trafficking amount, which is a 3rd degree felony. Simple possession of a controlled substance is generally a third degree felony punishable under Florida statute 893.13. Controlled substances are listed under Florida Statute 893.03. Sales of most controlled substances are a second degree felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

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Sexual Offenses

 

Rape and sexual assault cases are among some of the hardest for defendants to win. The Hebert Law Group has the experience and skills to litigate these cases successfully. There are defenses available to sex offenses. Many of these defenses are similar to defenses and other criminal cases which may involve search warrants, the legality of a search, vehicle stop issues, consent searches or other search issues. 

 

Sexual battery or formerly known as rape. Under Florida statute this can be committed in different ways, but it normally involves some type of penetration or “union with” sexual organs. If the alleged victim is under the age of 12 a sexual battery becomes a capital felony. A capital felony is punishable by a mandatory sentence of from 25 years to life.

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Penalties for sex offenses, especially offenses involving children, are extremely harsh. Most offenses, if a person is convicted as charged, call for prison sentencing. Most sex offenses require registry as either a sex offender or a sexual predator for life. It may be possible to avoid these penalties or designations for your case. Sex offense cases must be dealt with carefully and often differently than other types of crimes.

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Sealing and Expungement of Records

 

A criminal record can prevent you from pursuing higher education, securing your dream job or traveling abroad. The Hebert Law Group can help you eliminate past criminal charges from your record or get those records sealed so that you can move on with your life.

 

 

Don’t Delay. Contact Us Today.

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When your freedom is on the line, choose a criminal defense attorney with the experience and dedication to make the important difference. Call 727-573-2622 or contact the firm online for your free initial consultation.