MH was a young man who got arrested on vacation in Destin with a group of friends. On the night he was arrested, he and his group went to a local bar and when they returned to their condo, a fight broke out and the police were called. Our client was the only one arrested. He was charged with Battery and was facing up to a year in county jail.
Because of the extensive injuries suffered by the alleged victim, the prosecutor was demanding a minimum of six months in jail and was threatening to send the case to felony court and our client to prison if we didn’t take the deal.
Out-of-Town Defendants Have Special Circumstances
I don’t take threats lightly when my client’s freedom is on the line, but I also don’t take kindly to being bullied. Instead of rolling over, I dug in. I focused our research on Speedy Trial grounds because I knew the alleged victim would not be available to come to court for several months.
I set our client’s case for trial and filed the paperwork to maintain and ensure his right to a speedy trial. In the end, the Judge agreed with my position and dismissed the case on the grounds that my client’s speedy trial rights would be violated had the case been allowed to continue.
Having rights is one thing, but they are no good to you unless you have someone on your side that knows how to execute them; how to make the State adhere to them.
I know what moves to make and when to make them. I know how to adapt my approach to each unique case and apply the right strategies to secure the best possible result for my clients.
If you were arrested for Battery in Destin, I can help. Call Flaherty & Merrifield today at (850) 460-7470 for a free consultation. We can meet in person, or if you’re out of town, we can talk on the phone. Either way, we welcome your call.