Criminal defense legal matters can be complicated. They can also be a source of major stress for our clients and their families. At , our legal team help families through these challenging legal procedures, providing direction and support while effectively developing the strongest possible strategy for each case.
Experienced, Aggressive, and Compassionate Criminal Defense
Criminal defense attorneys Michelle Suskauer and Leonard S. Feuer have decades of experience representing clients in a wide range of state and federal criminal matters, from DUI, property theft, and weapons cases to accusations involving bank fraud, racketeering, and other white collar crimes. As a former state prosecutor in Miami-Dade and Palm Beach Counties, Leonard Feuer has unique insight into the strategies and tactics that the state often uses when seeking a conviction. His criminal trial experience and understanding of the legal issues that arise in an array of criminal cases make him well-prepared to safeguard his clients’ rights while providing the strongest possible defense. Mr. Feuer has been recognized as a “Rising Star” among Florida lawyers by Super Lawyers and is well-respected by local judges, prosecutors, law enforcement officers, and the legal community at large.
Our lawyers have more than 40-plus years of combined experience and they have participated in hundreds of criminal defense trials, both jury and non-jury. Our dedicated law firm assists clients in the following criminal defense areas. Click on the practice area below for more information.
If you are facing a criminal charge in state or federal court, you may rely on The Feuer Law Firm when you need experience, personalized attention, professionalism and effective representation. We have successfully defended clients charged with state and federal crimes throughout the State of Florida. Our purpose is to seek justice for the accused. Some of the types of criminal defense cases that our firm regularly handles include, but are not limited to:
- DUI
- Drug & Alcohol Crimes
- Property & Theft Crimes
- Violent Crimes
- Sexual Offenses
- White Collar Crimes
- Criminal Appeals
While experience and ability are crucial points to consider in selecting a lawyer, it is Suskauer Feuer LLC’s willingness to aggressively challenge the state’s case from all angles that sets the firm apart from other criminal defense lawyers. We also understand what defendants and their families go through while facing prosecution, and we stand by our clients throughout the process with compassion and empathy. Among other notable cases, we have recently represented clients in DUI, loitering, drug possession, kidnapping, and arson charges.
Domestic Violence
If you or a loved one has been charged with a domestic violence offense in Florida, we know that it can be a very difficult and traumatic time not just for individual being charged, but also for the entire family. The potential consequences for domestic charges are serious and can include the losing family and damaging a person’s reputation within the community. The state of Florida aggressively prosecutes domestic violence charges. And whether the crime is a misdemeanor or a felony charge, these types of cases can be complex due to the state laws. It is important to consult an experienced criminal attorney that is capable of handling domestic violence cases.
West Palm Beach (DUI) Charges
Drunk driving, driving while impaired (DWI), and driving under the influence (DUI) are serious charges in the state of Florida. Possible punishments include potentially very heavy fines, loss of your driver’s license and even jail time if you’ve been charged with multiple DUI offenses. Another issue is you are likely to see increased insurance premiums. It is important that you seek the help of an experienced DUI attorney that will fight aggressively for you.
Theft Charges
The definition of theft is taking another person’s property without authorization. In Florida to be charged with theft, it must be established that the alleged defendant had criminal intent at the time of taking the property of another and that there was intent to deprive the owner of possession or use of the property either temporarily or permanently.
Almost all children are taught, and likely already intrinsically know, that it is wrong to take something that doesn’t belong to them. And although it only comes in eighth on the list of 10 Commandments, “Thou Shalt Not Steal,” is, and always has been, a fundamental tenet of civilized society.
Laws against theft are truly ancient and while the punishments for theft crimes have become less severe over the centuries (at least in many cultures), no one really questions that the act of knowingly obtaining, using, or taking the property of another, or depriving an owner of, or the use of, his or her lawful property, is a crime, punishable by a wide range of sanctions, up to and including long sentences in prison.
Robbery Charges
In Florida, robbery is the act of taking (or trying to take), by using force, intimidation or threat, something from another person. However the key factor is, the object being taken must have some value. Additionally, the victim must be present, in order to classify the crime as a robbery. Punishment for a robbery conviction often depends on whether the defendant carried or used a firearm or other deadly weapon in the execution of the crime.
The crime of robbery differs from the theft. Committing a robbery offense is always accompanied by the use of intimidation, threat, force or some type of violence to the victim. Robbery exists whenever property is unlawfully taken from another person who is either physically abused, threatened with harm, or frightened into giving up any possession of value.
And it is not always necessary for a robbery offense to include the use of a firearm, or other type of deadly weapon. However, in every case of robbery, unlike theft, the victim of the crime has to be present, or if at home, in the general area, when the theft is committed.
In Florida, robbery is a felony offense that carries penalties up to life imprisonment in a state penitentiary.
Juvenile Offenses
When a child under 18 is arrested, families are often confused and filled with questions about the charges and penalties the child will face. The laws and procedures involved in a juvenile offense in Florida can be complicated and intimidating. It is imperative to obtain the representation and guidance of an experienced and compassionate juvenile defense attorney to help protect your child’s rights.
Drug and Narcotics Charges
A drug charge is a serious offense that can carry extremely heavy jail sentences and fines. Whether you are a first time offender, recreational user or drug addict – the same legal issues and penalties apply. The decision to hire experienced legal counsel will affect the outcome of your case. The key is to act quickly. If you or a loved one has been charged with a drug offense in the state of Florida, contact us to review your case.
Sexual Offenses
If you have been accused of a sex crime, it is imperative that you seek experienced legal counsel who is skilled in criminal defense for sexual offenses. Sexual offense charges are extremely serious. These cases are aggressively prosecuted in the state of Florida and usually carry the most severe punishments. Additionally, the media follows these cases for local and national coverage. So you will need an experienced criminal defense attorney that understands sex offense charges to guide you through the process, and fight for your rights.
Violent Crimes
Being charged in Florida with a violent crime is serious offense. Jail penalties can be very severe for violent crimes. It is critical that you understand the laws and the process involved with these types of crimes. As soon as you have been accused, arrested or charged with a violent crime, you will want to obtain an experienced and aggressive criminal defense attorney who handles violent crime cases be at your side and fight for your rights.
White Collar Crimes
When most people think of the word “crime,” they tend to see pictures in their mind’s eye of violent mayhem; of malevolent street thugs with evil intent brutally harming innocent people with some form of deadly weapon. And it is true that some crimes are violent and in their commission some people are physically injured.
But there is another type of crime that is just as evil in intent as its more vicious cousin because it always seeks to defraud, deceive, or mislead. It is white collar crime and it is committed quietly, more often than not, leaving no visible marks. It is carried out in offices, in boardrooms, in banks and in many other places where professionals, business people, and public officials work and gather. And for those who engage in its practice, its weapon of choice may be as non-threatening as a fountain pen or a computer keyboard. But it is still a crime.
Federal Offenses
Wrongdoing committed against the laws of the United States of America, as opposed to violations of state statutes or municipal codes, are classified as federal crimes, or federal offenses. Federal crime laws have been part of our nation’s justice system since 1790. Penalties for the commission of a federal crime are set by the United States Congress and all federal laws are enforced by the executive branch of the national government, through its many law enforcement agencies.
Those accused of committing a federal crime are adjudicated in a federal court, whose judges are appointed for life by the President of the United States, subject to confirmation by the U.S. Senate. Those convicted of a federal crime are sentenced to one of the country’s 113 federal penal institutions managed by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons. As of today, there are 209,824 inmates incarcerated in our federal prison system for being found guilty of a federal offense.
Sealing and Expunging Criminal Records
In the Biblical book of Leviticus, there is mention of a “Jubilee Year,” which was said to have occurred twice each century. Every fiftieth year, according to Biblical regulations, slaves and prisoners were to be freed and all debts were to be forgiven. It was a way for society to wipe the slate clean and begin fresh, recognizing that civilization, itself, could be held back if old slights and offenses were never to be forgiven or forgotten.
In modern times, we don’t celebrate the Jubilee, but we still understand that once people who have committed a crime have paid their debt to society, that society should allow them to get on with their lives without having the stigma of past misdeeds constantly hovering over their heads, and perhaps preventing them from getting a job, renting an apartment, or securing a loan.
That is why Florida’s justice system has a process in place for the sealing and expunging of criminal records. If you have served your time, or otherwise had criminal charges against you dropped for any reason, you may be eligible to have your criminal history kept from public view, by having your records sealed or expunged.
Learn more about sealing and expunging past criminal records in Florida.
Computer Crimes
Computer use has fundamentally changed the way society communicates, recreates, and does business. Computers are ubiquitous now in homes, schools, offices and every other corner of modern American life. Indeed, almost every citizen in our country now has access to a home or work computer, in addition to a smart phone with computer-like capabilities.
Unfortunately, the proliferation of computers has spawned along with it a growing category of unlawful misdeeds, known as computer crime or cybercrime. Cybercrime is any offense that uses a computer, or computer technology, as a communication device in order to defraud, steal, threaten, or extort an individual or a company. Cybercrime also occurs whenever a computer or computer system is the object of unauthorized access or data theft.
Computer crime continues to play a significant role in the growth of illegal activities in our nation, as both the federal and state governments try to play catch-up by promulgating an ever expanding body of cybercrime laws and statutes.
Learn more about fighting internet and computer crime charges in West Palm Beach.
Contact a West Palm Beach Criminal Lawyer
If you or a family member has been accused of a crime or arrested for any type of criminal offense and needs an experienced, aggressive, compassionate criminal defense lawyer, contact us for a free consultation.