Orlando Violent Crimes Defense Lawyer
Legally Reviewed by Simon Wiseman on May 26, 2025
Violent crime charges in Florida are prosecuted with full force. Whether you are facing an accusation of assault and battery, domestic violence, murder, or another serious offense, the State of Florida will dedicate significant resources to building a case against you. A conviction can mean decades in prison, mandatory minimum sentences, a permanent felony record, and the loss of civil rights — including your right to vote and carry a firearm. The stakes could not be higher, and the window to act is narrow.
At The Wiseman Law Firm, Attorney Simon Wiseman has more than a quarter century of experience handling violent crime cases in Orlando and throughout Central Florida. He began his career as a state prosecutor in Orange County, where he tried over a hundred jury and non-jury trials — including murder cases. He now uses that insider perspective to build the strongest possible defense for people on the other side of those charges. When you are accused of a violent crime, you need an attorney who has stood in that courtroom before.
⚠ Time-Sensitive — Early Action Protects Your Options
The earlier an attorney is involved, the more tools are available — from challenging evidence before trial to advocating at your first appearance hearing.
Attorney Wiseman is a former Orange County prosecutor with 25+ years of trial experience, available 24/7, with a track record that includes not guilty verdicts on first-degree felonies punishable by life.
Violent Crime Cases The Wiseman Law Firm Handles in Orlando
Florida law covers a broad range of offenses under the umbrella of violent crimes. These charges share one common thread: they involve allegations of force, threatened force, or harm directed at another person, and they are almost always charged as felonies. The Wiseman Law Firm defends clients facing a wide range of these charges, including the following:
- Assault and battery: From misdemeanor battery to aggravated battery involving a deadly weapon — learn more about assault and battery charges
- Domestic violence: Charges arising from allegations of violence between family members, household members, or intimate partners — learn more about domestic violence charges
- Murder and manslaughter: First-degree, second-degree, and third-degree murder, as well as voluntary and involuntary manslaughter — learn more about murder and manslaughter charges
- Arson: Charges involving the intentional burning of property, which can carry first-degree felony penalties — learn more about arson charges
- Restraining orders and injunctions: Violations of protective injunctions and the defense of civil injunction proceedings — learn more about restraining order matters
- Armed robbery: Taking property from another person through force or threat of force, particularly when a weapon is involved — learn more about robbery charges
- Sexual assault: Non-consensual sexual contact charges, which often carry severe mandatory penalties — learn more about sex crime charges
- Kidnapping: Unlawfully confining or moving a person against their will, a serious first-degree felony under Florida law
Every violent crime case is different. The charges, the evidence, and the circumstances of the alleged offense all shape the defense strategy. Attorney Wiseman evaluates each case individually to identify where the prosecution’s theory has weaknesses.
How Florida Punishes Violent Crimes
Florida’s approach to violent crime sentencing is among the most severe in the country. Many of these offenses carry mandatory minimum sentences — meaning a judge has little or no discretion to reduce the sentence below a statutory floor, even for first-time offenders. Under Chapter 784 of the Florida Statutes, assault and battery offenses alone range from first-degree misdemeanors to first-degree felonies depending on the severity, the weapon used, and the identity of the alleged victim.
Florida’s 10-20-Life law applies to crimes involving a firearm and imposes mandatory minimum sentences of 10 years for possession of a firearm during a felony, 20 years for discharging that firearm, and a minimum of 25 years to life if someone is shot or killed. First-degree murder carries the possibility of life in prison without parole or the death penalty. Armed robbery is a first-degree felony punishable by up to life in prison. These are not negotiating positions — they are statutory floors that bind the court. Understanding those floors, and the legal arguments that may challenge whether they apply, is one of the most consequential aspects of a violent crime defense.
Defense Strategies in Florida Violent Crime Cases
Being charged with a violent crime does not mean the prosecution’s case will hold up. Many violent crime charges rest on contested facts, disputed witness accounts, or evidence that may have been improperly obtained. Depending on the specific circumstances of your case, potential defense strategies include the following:
- Self-defense: Florida law permits the use of force when a person reasonably believes it is necessary to prevent imminent harm. Florida’s Stand Your Ground law may also apply, eliminating the duty to retreat before using force in certain circumstances
- Defense of others: A person may use force to protect another individual from imminent harm, provided the belief in that threat was reasonable
- Lack of intent: Many violent crime charges require the State to prove a specific mental state. If the evidence does not support intent, the charge may be reduced or dismissed
- Mistaken identity: Eyewitness misidentification is one of the most common causes of wrongful charges. Surveillance footage, alibi evidence, and cross-examination of witnesses can all challenge identification
- Alibi: Evidence placing you elsewhere at the time of the alleged offense directly undermines the prosecution’s case
- Illegal search and seizure: Evidence obtained in violation of your Fourth Amendment rights may be suppressed, significantly weakening what the State can present at trial
- Insanity or mental health defenses: In limited circumstances, a severe mental illness that prevented the defendant from understanding the nature of their actions may form a valid defense
Attorney Wiseman has secured not guilty verdicts on first-degree felonies punishable by life in prison, including capital sexual battery cases, through rigorous cross-examination and by exposing inconsistencies in the prosecution’s case. He has also achieved pre-charge dismissals in aggravated battery and false imprisonment matters before the State ever filed charges. Results vary by case — but the quality of the defense strategy matters enormously.
What to Do If You Have Been Charged with a Violent Crime in Orlando
The decisions you make in the hours and days after a violent crime arrest can significantly affect the trajectory of your case. The most important thing you can do is exercise your right to remain silent. Do not make statements to law enforcement, even if you believe the situation is a misunderstanding or you want to explain your side. Anything you say can and will be used against you.
Contact an attorney before your first appearance hearing, which typically occurs within 24 hours of arrest. At that hearing, a judge will set bond conditions. Having an attorney present can make a real difference in whether you are released and on what terms. From there, the defense investigation begins — preserving surveillance footage, identifying witnesses, reviewing police reports, and evaluating whether any constitutional violations occurred during the arrest or investigation. The earlier that work starts, the better positioned your defense will be.
Contact The Wiseman Law Firm for Violent Crime Defense in Orlando
Attorney Simon Wiseman has tried violent crime cases across the full spectrum — from assault and battery to first-degree murder — in Orange County courts and throughout Central Florida. As a former state prosecutor who has handled the most serious cases in the system, he understands exactly how these cases are built and where they can be challenged. His clients have recognized him with 5-star Google ratings, and his peers have endorsed him for his trial skills, professionalism, and results. He is available 24 hours a day because serious charges do not follow business hours.
If you or someone you care about is facing violent crime charges in Orlando, do not wait. Contact The Wiseman Law Firm through our online contact form to schedule your free and confidential consultation today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Violent Crime Charges in Orlando
Do I have a valid case if I was acting in self-defense?
Possibly. Florida law, including the Stand Your Ground statute, permits the use of force when a person reasonably believes it is necessary to prevent imminent harm or death. If the circumstances support a self-defense claim, it can be a complete defense to charges of assault, battery, or even homicide. The strength of the defense depends on the facts — what happened, what you reasonably believed at the time, and whether any duty-to-retreat issues apply. Attorney Wiseman can evaluate whether self-defense is viable in your specific situation.
What are the penalties for violent crimes in Florida?
Penalties vary significantly depending on the charge. Simple battery is a first-degree misdemeanor carrying up to one year in jail. Aggravated battery with a deadly weapon is a second-degree felony with up to 15 years in prison. Armed robbery is a first-degree felony that can result in life imprisonment. First-degree murder carries the possibility of life without parole or the death penalty. Florida’s 10-20-Life law adds mandatory minimum sentences on top of these when a firearm is involved. The specific facts of your case — prior record, alleged victim, weapon used — all affect where within these ranges the prosecution will push.
Can violent crime charges be reduced or dismissed in Florida?
Yes, in many cases they can. A charge can be reduced when the evidence does not fully support the original allegations, when mitigating circumstances exist, or when a defense argument (such as self-defense or lack of intent) creates reasonable doubt. Charges can be dismissed entirely when constitutional violations occurred during the arrest or investigation, when evidence is suppressed, or when the prosecution cannot meet its burden of proof. Attorney Wiseman has achieved pre-charge dismissals, acquittals at trial, and favorable outcomes across a range of violent crime matters.
What does a violent crime attorney do that a public defender cannot?
A private attorney is able to dedicate substantially more time and resources to your case. Public defenders in Florida carry very high caseloads, which limits the depth of investigation possible on each individual matter. A private violent crime attorney can conduct independent investigations, hire forensic or expert witnesses, review surveillance footage, depose witnesses, and develop a defense strategy tailored specifically to your case. In high-stakes cases where decades of freedom are at risk, the difference in preparation and attention can be decisive.
What is Florida’s Stand Your Ground law and how does it apply?
Florida’s Stand Your Ground law, found in Section 776.012 of the Florida Statutes, provides that a person has no duty to retreat and may use or threaten to use force — including deadly force — if they reasonably believe it is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to themselves or another. A Stand Your Ground motion can be filed before trial, asking the court to grant immunity from prosecution. If successful, the case is dismissed entirely. This defense is fact-specific and requires experienced legal analysis to determine whether it applies to your circumstances.
What should I do immediately after being accused of a violent crime?
Do not speak to law enforcement without an attorney present. Even if you believe you did nothing wrong, statements made without legal counsel can be used against you in ways you may not anticipate. Do not contact the alleged victim or any witnesses. Preserve any evidence that may support your account — text messages, photos, video footage. Contact an attorney as soon as possible, ideally before your first appearance hearing. The Wiseman Law Firm is available 24 hours a day and offers free initial consultations.
