Clermont Conspiracy Lawyer

Even if you do not actually engage in any activity which violate Florida state law, you may still find yourself facing criminal charges for attempting or planning to break the law. There are different terms used to refer to this type of offense depending on the circumstances, but the most used term is “conspiracy.” As a qualified criminal defense attorney can explain, a conviction here can be almost as serious as a conviction for the charge you allegedly tried to commit.

Effectively contesting an accusation of conspiracy can be uniquely complicated even compared to defending against other criminal allegations, and it is not something you should try to handle on your own. Instead, you should strongly retain a Clermont conspiracy lawyer with years of experience getting good results from similar situations.

What Offenses Are Addressed Under the “Conspiracy” Statute?

Technically, there are three distinct criminal offenses defined under Florida Statutes § 777.04, which is the section of state law under which virtually all allegations of “conspiracy” are prosecuted. According to this statute, the term “conspiracy” specifically refers to someone making a plan in concert with at least one other person to commit a criminal offense. It must be followed by at least one of the parties involved in the plan committing an act “in furtherance” of that plan.

This statute also prohibits “solicitation” of a criminal offense, which entails the defendant asking, encouraging, hiring, or ordering another person to commit a specific criminal offense on the requesting party’s behalf. Finally, this statute criminalizes “attempting” to commit a criminal offense and defines it as someone independently and intentionally taking action in furtherance of a criminal offense, but being stopped by some other force or otherwise failing to commit the offense.

Building a Defense Against Conspiracy Allegations

The fact that all three of these offenses are so specifically defined in Fla. Stat. § 777.04 means that it is often possible to effectively contest these charges by proving that one or more key elements of the charge were not present in your actions. For example, if you are accused of conspiring with another person to commit a criminal offense, you can only be convicted on that charge if the prosecution can prove that you intentionally and knowingly entered an agreement to engage in criminal activity, and that one or more parties took action intended to advance the plan.

Likewise, a failure by the prosecution to establish intent to commit a crime and/or specific action in furtherance of a crime can be a major obstacle when it comes to convicting someone for attempting or soliciting a criminal act. A Clermont conspiracy attorney can discuss what the best approach might be for your specific case during a confidential consultation.

Possible Penalties for a Conspiracy Conviction

If someone is convicted of conspiring to commit, attempting to commit, or soliciting a criminal act, they can face criminal penalties commensurate with the level of offense one degree lower than that of the proposed offense. For example, if someone conspires with another person to commit a second-degree felony, an ensuing charge of conspiracy would be treated as a third-degree felony for sentencing purposes.

Notably, conspiracy to commit a second-degree misdemeanor is also treated as a second-degree misdemeanor itself, and conspiracy to commit a capital felony is generally treated as a first-degree felony offense. Once again, a conspiracy defense lawyer in Clermont can answer questions about the nature of a specific charge and the possible consequences of a conviction.

Get Help From a Clermont Conspiracy Attorney Today

No matter how the allegations arise or who else is allegedly involved, a criminal charge for conspiracy can alter the course of your life at a moment’s notice. On top of facing comparable penalties upon conviction to those associated with the crime you supposedly planned to commit, you may also have certain civil rights taken away from you.

If you have been arrested by the Clermont Police Department for conspiracy, attempting, or solicitation to commit any type of criminal offense, you have help available from an experienced Clermont conspiracy lawyer. Call us today to learn how The Umansky Law Firm could help you.

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    Clermont Conspiracy Lawyer
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