Obstruction of Justice in Florida
Obstruction of justice is defined in 18 U.S.C. § 1503 as an act that “corruptly or by threats or force, or by any threatening letter or communication, influences, obstructs, or impedes, or endeavors to influence, obstruct, or impede, the due administration of justice.”
In layman’s terms, anyone who knowingly interferes with a criminal investigation can face charges for obstruction of justice. Being that it is a process crime and not a violent crime, many people fail to take obstruction of justice charges seriously and opt out of legal representation. However, depending on the severity of your crime, you may face numerous years in prison.
The Orlando criminal defense lawyers at The Umansky Law Firm have over 100 years of combined experience and have handled numerous cases similar to yours. People often unknowingly commit obstruction of justice. We don’t believe that you should face punishment for a crime you had no intentions of committing. Speak with an experienced attorney at The Umansky Law Firm today to discover your legal defense options concerning a Federal Obstruction of Justice Charge.
What Exactly is Obstruction of Justice?
Unlike many other criminal offenses that have a clear definition and are easily spotted, obstruction of justice is one of those somewhat obscure crimes. While some instances of the misconduct are clear-cut, some others are not as straightforward. Some of the most common examples of obstruction of justice are as follows:
- Disobeying law enforcement orders
- Bribery
- Impersonating a police officer
- Lying under oath (perjury)
- Falsifying documents
- Destroying documents
- Jury tampering or harassment
- Witness tampering or harassment
- Escaping police custody/surveillance
- Aiding an escape
- Unlawful use of police communications
- Resisting arrest with violence
- Resisting arrest without violence
- Being an accessory to a crime
Some of these actions are more serious than others and depending on the impact of your actions you may face additional charges that can lengthen your criminal sentence.
Criminal Penalties for Obstruction of Justice
Obstruction of justice is a misdemeanor in Florida punishable by up to a year in jail. However, individuals can often false additional penalties depending on the specifics of the incident. For example, someone who resists arrest with violence has committed the crime of obstruction of justice, but can be charged with a third-degree felony for violence against a law enforcement officer per Florida Statute § 843.01. Chapter 843 of the Florida Statutes has a full list of all instances of obstruction of justice and the associated penalties.
Speak With an Orlando Criminal Defense Attorney
The defense presented against your charges depends solely on the conditions that led to your arrest. The Orlando criminal defense attorneys at The Umansky Law Firm are here to provide you with the legal defense needed to combat against the charges you face. Our team consists of passionate defense lawyers with a diverse collection of skills and expertise.
Founder of the firm William Umansky takes pride in listening to your concerns and efficiently pairing you with the attorney best fit to represent you in the court of law. Contact us today at 407-228-3838 for a free case evaluation.