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A violent crime allegation can change your life in an instant. Florida treats these cases as seriously as any in the system, and the penalties are among the harshest in the country, reaching decades in prison, life, and in the most serious cases, the death penalty.
The damage can start well before trial. An arrest alone can cost you your job, strain your family, and mark your reputation in the community. With that much on the line, the lawyer you choose is one of the most important decisions you will make.
At Weldon Law Group, PLLC, our Jacksonville attorneys defend people accused of violent crimes across Northeast Florida. Attorney Ian Weldon spent more than a decade as a trial lawyer in the Jacksonville Public Defender’s Office, handling homicide and death penalty trials, the most serious cases the state can bring. That is the kind of trial background a violent charge demands.
Violent charges cover a wide range of conduct, and we defend against all of them across Jacksonville and Northeast Florida. Common cases include:
Each of these demands a defense built on careful investigation and a real willingness to challenge the state’s case, not just process it toward a plea.
Homicide is the most serious category of all, and Florida divides it into several offenses that carry dramatically different consequences. Understanding which one is charged, and why, is the starting point of the defense.
Under Fla. Stat. §782.04, the levels of homicide turn on intent and circumstances:
The difference between these often comes down to intent and state of mind, which is exactly where much of the defense work happens.
One of the harshest features of Florida law surprises almost everyone. Under the felony murder rule, if someone dies during certain felonies, every participant can be charged with first-degree murder, even someone who never intended for anyone to die and never touched the victim.
That means a getaway driver in a robbery, or a lookout in a burglary where someone is killed, can face the same murder charge as the person who caused the death. Recognizing when the state is stretching this rule, and pushing back on it, can be decisive.
Florida’s sentencing laws are unforgiving, and the felony level sets the ceiling on what you face:
Felony level | Maximum penalty |
Third-degree felony | Up to 5 years prison, $5,000 fine |
Second-degree felony | Up to 15 years prison, $10,000 fine |
First-degree felony | Up to 30 years prison, $10,000 fine |
Life felony | Up to life in prison |
Capital felony | Life without parole or the death penalty |
Two realities make these sentences even heavier. Many violent offenses are subject to the 85% rule, meaning you must serve at least 85 percent of the sentence before any release, and weapon or repeat-offender enhancements can raise the exposure further. Because the sentencing framework is complex, understanding it fully is part of any serious defense, and it connects directly to how Florida handles felony sentencing overall.
Contact us for more information about our services.
In many violent crime cases, the real question is not what happened but whether it was justified. Florida has some of the strongest self-defense laws in the country, and using them well can end a case entirely.
Florida’s Stand Your Ground law does more than give you an argument at trial. Under Fla. Stat. §776.032, it allows a pretrial immunity hearing, where a judge can dismiss the case before it ever reaches a jury.
What makes this so powerful is the burden. Once self-defense is properly raised, the state must overcome it by clear and convincing evidence, one of the most defense-favorable standards anywhere. A successful immunity motion can mean complete dismissal, which is why we pursue these hearings actively when the facts support them.
Florida law gives special protection to defending your home and vehicle. Under the Castle Doctrine, if someone unlawfully and forcibly enters your home or occupied vehicle, the law presumes you had a reasonable fear of serious harm. There is generally no duty to retreat before defending yourself.
Even where self-defense does not apply, an accusation is far from a conviction. Depending on the facts, other defenses may include:
For anyone who is not a U.S. citizen, a violent crime conviction is among the most damaging in immigration law. Many are treated as aggravated felonies or crimes involving moral turpitude, which can lead to deportation regardless of the criminal sentence.
Because our firm handles criminal defense and immigration together, we defend your case with its immigration consequences in view from the start, so a resolution in criminal court does not quietly end your ability to remain in the country.
A serious violent charge is won through preparation, not hope. Our work on these cases typically includes:
You work directly with Attorney Weldon and a team that has stood in the courtroom on the most serious cases the state brings.
When you are facing years or a lifetime in prison, the difference between lawyers is not a detail. It is everything. Prosecutors know which attorneys are genuinely prepared to try a case to verdict, and that knowledge shapes every plea offer and every negotiation. A violent charge is exactly the wrong place to have a lawyer who only wants to settle.
That is what sets our defense apart:
When your freedom, and possibly your life, is on the line, that is the kind of defense the moment demands.
Question | Answer |
Is there a time limit for the state to file a violent crime charge? | For most crimes, there is, but murder and other capital or life felonies have no statute of limitations in Florida. That means the most serious charges can be filed years or even decades later, which makes preserving evidence and your account early especially important. |
Can I still claim self-defense if I started the confrontation? | It is much harder. Florida’s self-defense protections generally do not apply to the initial aggressor, though there are narrow exceptions, such as when you clearly withdrew, and the other person continued. The specific facts matter enormously here. |
Is the death penalty a possibility in my case? | Only in first-degree murder cases, which are capital offenses. The vast majority of violent charges, even very serious ones, are not death-penalty eligible, though many still carry life or decades in prison. |
Can a violent crime charge be reduced to a lesser offense? | Sometimes. Depending on the evidence, a charge can be negotiated or litigated down to a lesser offense, which can mean the difference between prison and a far better outcome. Whether it is possible depends on the specific facts and proof. |
Can I get bond on a violent crime charge? | Not always. For capital or life felonies, bond is not automatic, and the court may hold a special hearing before deciding whether release is even possible. Having a lawyer at that early stage can be critical to your freedom while the case proceeds. |
Should I talk to the police about a violent incident? | Not without a lawyer. Even an account meant to explain or justify what happened can be turned into evidence against you. You have the right to remain silent and to counsel, and using both is almost always the wiser course. |
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