Sometimes a simple mistake can spiral out of control and innocent people can find themselves on the wrong side of a criminal charge. If this happens, you will need an experienced criminal defense lawyer to thoroughly investigate and work for a favorable result.
Not long ago, a man in his 30’s was working at his family’s Sarasota convenience store when he exchanged a customer’s winning lotto ticket for $50 when it was actually worth a $200 prize. Believing this to be intentional, the woman alerted the police, who subsequently charged the man with petty theft. While this is a misdemeanor level crime and punishable by between 60 and 90 days in jail, the man’s trouble was compounded by the fact that he was working towards his U.S citizenship and a theft conviction would put his goal of staying in America at risk. With a desire to protect his freedom and preserve his legal status, he reached out to Erika Valcarcel, Criminal Defense Lawyer, P.A. and skilled attorney Erika Valcarcel.
Attorney Valcarcel began working with the prosecution and expedited a mutually agreeable outcome that allowed her client to avoid a theft conviction by participating in a Pre-Trial Intervention (PTI) program. However, on the day of the sentencing, the complaining witness protested that the arrangement was not sufficient. As a result, the prosecution withdrew the offer and decided to pursue a conviction. Undeterred by this sudden setback, attorney Valcarcel quickly moved forward and requested depositions for the officers involved as well as the complaining witness.
Despite being notified twice, the witness did not appear again and during Valcarcel’s interview with the responding police officer, it became clear there was not enough evidence to substantiate that her client had any intent to commit theft since it could have simply been an unfortunate mishandling of money in a busy environment. In the end, the entire case was dismissed and her client avoided a devastating theft conviction without needing to participate in the original PTI option.
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"Erika Valcarcel, Criminal Defense Lawyer, P.A. is the best you will find. Erika Valcarcel is completely honest and straightforward. She took a huge burden off my shoulders many times during difficult periods of my life knowing that she was doing everything that that could and should be done. Her knowledge is extensive and her advice has always been right on the mark. She is worth every penny of the fee she charges. You cannot go wrong securing her services."
Joni A. | Sarasota County
Domestic Violence Charges Dismissed in 10 Days
When a client was arrested for battery after an altercation with his girlfriend, he immediately contacted attorney Erika Valcarcel. The client was adamant that the entire situation was a misunderstanding, but nevertheless he was looking at a domestic violence conviction and potentially up to a year in jail. We acted fast on his behalf and discussed the situation with the State attorney’s office. We informed the prosecutor that our client's girlfriend did not want to proceed and highlighted the weaknesses in their case. Once they were aware of these developments, we successfully arranged to have the charges dismissed. This was all before our client's first court date and impressively all done within 10 days of the initial arrest.
