Not long ago, a man in his fifties was charged with misdemeanor stalking after a former girlfriend accused him of making harassing calls and emails. Although he claimed this was simply a relationship that ended poorly, the state was seeking a conviction, participation in an intensive 29-week diversion classes for domestic battery, and a term of probation. Not wanting to see his reputation and record unnecessarily impacted by a stalking conviction, the man reached out to Sarasota attorney Erika Valcarcel. Believing the offered sentence was not appropriate considering there was no violence or danger of violence, attorney Valcarcel argued on his behalf. After considerable research, she negotiated for him to enter the Pre-Trial Intervention Program (PTI) and complete a more suitable class over 16 weeks to deal with aggressive behavior and anger issues. Because of attorney Valcarcel’s attention to detail and dedicated advocacy, once the terms of the PTI are met, her client can have the charge dismissed and is free to pursue an expungement.
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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.
