Finkelstein Firm, P.A.

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Finkelstein Firm, P.A.

Nearly Two Decades Years Of Criminal Defense Experience In Clearwater

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Defending You Against Sex Crime Charges In Pinellas County And The Greater Tampa Bay Area

Society’s strong views of crimes that are sexual in nature mean that even being accused of a sex crime like rape can have intense and immediate social consequences that can affect your relationships, your employment and your future. If you are officially charged with a sex crime, you are at risk of fines and lengthy prison sentences, not to mention lifelong sex offender registration.

For these reasons, a swift and zealous response is critical after being accused of a sexual crime. At the Finkelstein Firm, P.A. in Clearwater, Florida, that is exactly what I provide. Over the course of my nearly 20-year career as a criminal defense lawyer, I have built a reputation for fighting the most serious criminal charges. Count on me for strong defense against these life-changing allegations.

Building A Fierce Defense For Your Future

Sexual assault, sexual battery (rape), and other sex crime cases are aggressively charged and prosecuted in Florida, even more so when the alleged victim is a minor child.

Entire law enforcement units exist just to handle sex crimes. One example is Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office’s Sexual Predator and Offender Tracking (SPOT) unit. Sometimes, the state attorney’s office will have special prosecutors assigned to prosecute these cases only.

You need an experienced attorney who understands how these groups work and knows how to take them on successfully. These cases are not new to me, so you can be confident in my ability to defend you.

What Defense Strategies Are Effective Against Sex Crime Charges?

As soon as an accusation is made against you that you committed a sex crime, it may feel like you have already been deemed guilty by the public. Even your own friends and family may turn against you. Law enforcement will speak to you like they know you did something wrong.

In reality though, you are innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and there are many effective defense strategies that can be used to prevent a conviction and prove your innocence, or at least lead to reduced charges and penalties if you did do something wrong.

Prosecutors often get it wrong, and I have been fighting sex crime charges in Clearwater and throughout Florida long enough to know this. It is the prosecutor’s inclination to believe the stories told by alleged victims, and it is my job to expose deceitful motivations behind false accusations if they are, indeed, suspected in your case. Issues regarding consent may need to be brought to light. I also know that these charges are often overcharged by the prosecuting agency.

I have been handling these and other violent crime cases for years. I work with DNA experts, experienced investigators, independent laboratories, child psychologists and a range of other types of experts to ensure that I have exhausted every possible defense.

Fighting Against All Florida Sex Crime Charges

Types of sex crimes include:

  • Sexual assault: While Florida has no statute defining sexual assault, the term is often used as an umbrella term to cover a wide range of criminal sexual activity and is sometimes used synonymously with sexual battery by the general public.
  • Sexual battery, also known as rape, is the oral, anal or vaginal penetration of a nonconsenting individual by the use of force. It is important to know that consent is not a defense when the victim is below a certain age.
  • Unlawful sexual activity with a certain minor is a consensual or nonconsensual sexual act with a minor. The offense is driven by the age of the offender and the age of the victim. Other factors that may contribute to the degree of the offense and the range of possible penalties are whether the victim is mentally or physically handicapped, whether the victim was injured, whether the act was completed and whether there was actual penetration. A capital sexual battery is punishable by mandatory life in prison if the individual is convicted as charged.
  • Lewd and lascivious activity involves children who are under the age of 16. The charge may be filed as lewd and lascivious molestation, exhibition, battery or conduct.

I defend against these and all other Florida sex crime charges.

Trial-Ready Sex Crime Defense Representation

Should your case proceed to trial, you can expect that the state attorney’s office or other prosecuting agency has carefully built what it believes to be a strong case. I have the knowledge and skills to defend sex crimes charges aggressively at trial. Your defense begins the day you hire me. Through the use of investigators and my own independent experts, I will immediately begin to build your defense.

While I have resolved many criminal defense cases through negotiation and plea bargaining, I am also an experienced trial lawyer, ready to argue your case in front of a judge and jury.

Now Is The Time To Protect Yourself

If you or someone you know is under investigation or has been charged with a sex crime, then your defense should begin immediately. Oftentimes, evidence is not properly preserved, and delaying your defense can have significant negative consequences. Prosecuting agencies will use creative investigative tools to build their cases. You need an experienced attorney to guide you through the process, whether you have been formally charged or you suspect you are being investigated.

Do not hesitate to call my law office at 727-202-4418 or email me here for a consultation, and remember that the most innocent behavior or statements can be used against you in a court of law. Getting me involved early in your case may save your life and your reputation.