Jacksonville Criminal Lawyer

Getting you or your loved one out of jail is always the first concern, and we’ll work to make that happen. At The Mussallem Law Firm, P.A., we know how many aspects of your life are riding on it: your freedom, your job, your money, your family and your future career options. When someone is first arrested, releasing and bonding procedures vary depending on the location. Within 24 hours, an arrestee must be brought before a judge to determine release. Duval County has first appearance court twice a day, every day. Clay, Nassau and St. Johns Counties have first appearance court once a day, first thing in the morning. The majority of arrests require a judge to determine whether to release someone on their own recognizance or to set a reasonable bond. It is important to have a criminal defense attorney represent you or a loved one at this very crucial stage in all criminal cases.

You need an experienced criminal attorney in Jacksonville who has dedicated her entire career to defending people’s rights and knows the ins and outs of criminal law and what police can and cannot do when they arrest you. Call us anytime – we’ll be there to fight for you.

Our Jacksonville Criminal Law Firm handles ALL types of criminal charges in Florida.

Sex Cases

A sex case is like no other case in our judicial system. It just takes an accusation and you are off to the races. Often times, there is no physical evidence. At all. Just a person’s “word” can get you arrested and put in jail with a tremendously high bond. With most crimes, you know a crime is committed and the police have to find out who committed that crime. With sexual assault cases, it is not clear if a crime was committed in the first place. If there is even a hint that someone may be accusing you of a sex crime, call us immediately. Do not hesitate. Once the accusation is reported to the police, a detective will be assigned to begin building a case against you. Police are allowed, and taught, to lie to you about the accusations to try to get you to admit something. Anything. Don’t be fooled by the police “just” wanting to get your side of the story. Call us and we will walk you through the entire process. Our Jacksonville criminal lawyer, Victoria “Tori” Mussallem, has aggressively represented hundreds of people tragically put in this horrible situation.

Child Abuse Cases

These days, it is all too easy to be arrested and charged with child abuse in Jacksonville and anywhere in Florida. Forms of physical punishment used to be a main part of parental discipline in our country. Now, parents have justifiable fears that if they use corporal punishment on their child, they could face criminal charges. If your child goes to school and a teacher sees bruising, cuts or marks, you could be reported to the Department of Children and Families and the police. The child will be interviewed, sometimes without the parent’s knowledge, and depending on what the child says or how the child behaves, an arrest of the parent could result. Before you give any statement to the police about what happened, call our Jacksonville criminal lawyer immediately. As with sex cases, the police are there to build a case against you before they even talk to you.

Domestic Battery Cases

Our criminal law firm has represented hundreds of people charged with domestic battery in Duval, Clay, St. Johns and Nassau Counties. These cases often start with a phone call from one of the two people involved. Once the police arrive to a domestic dispute, they will separate the two parties and get the sides of the story. Many times, we have had the “victim” of the crime hire our firm to represent their loved one who was arrested. They believed that if the police came, they would just make the other person leave to cool off. This never happens. If the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is called to a domestic battery call, someone is going to be arrested. Even if there is no or little evidence of a battery, someone is going to jail. Prosecutors, the lawyers for the State of Florida, have broad discretion in deciding whether or not to file a charge of domestic battery on the accused. That is why it is so important to call us to discuss your case. A domestic battery conviction will follow you forever and be considered a “crime” of violence to future employers.

Gun Crime Cases

As United States citizens, even though we have the right to carry firearms, there are many rules and restrictions on how and when we can carry. The average person may not know every single rule and that can lead to a firearm arrest in Jacksonville. There are several gun crimes, including carrying a concealed firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. As citizens of Florida, we also have the right to defend ourselves against threats to our person or others. Police do not always recognize that right and make an arrest. Gun crimes can carry immense consequences, including minimum mandatory time in prison. Our Duval gun crime law firm has vigorously represented hundreds of citizens who have been arrested with a firearm.

At Mussallem Law Firm, we always offer a Free Consultation, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can reach our criminal lawyer in Jacksonville at (904) 365-5200.