State and Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer in West Palm Beach

Both misdemeanor and felony charges can lead to serious consequences including fines, jail time, and loss of driving privileges. Even worse, your reputation is on the line when facing criminal charges. If you are found guilty, you risk losing the respect of friends, family members, and colleagues. Plus, your conviction can follow you for the rest of your life, closing doors that are open to others.

Fortunately, a charge is not the same as a conviction, and you have the right to defend yourself. With more than 34 years of experience defending clients against state and federal charges, Ronald S. Chapman can protect your rights during the process. Our West Palm Beach criminal defense lawyer can explore options to dismiss or reduce the charges or prepare a defense for court.

As a sole practitioner, you will work directly with Ronald S. Chapman during your case. Reach out for a consultation so an attorney can begin building your defense.

Types of Criminal Charges

Our West Palm Beach criminal defense lawyer represents clients who are facing:

  • Federal charges
  • State charges
  • Misdemeanor charges
  • Felony charges

This includes charges ranging from assault to white-collar crimes. Contact our firm today to discuss your situation with an attorney.

STATE VS. FEDERAL CHARGES IN FLORIDA

Depending on the circumstances surrounding the alleged criminal activity, you can be charged on the state or federal level. In either instance, investigators will collect evidence to support a conviction. However, the parties involved will differ depending on the charges.

Local law enforcement will investigate if you face charges on the state level. Additionally, county and state police might step in to assist. Then law enforcement will hand the evidence over to a state prosecutor.

However, federal government agencies investigate federal crimes. This might include the DEA, FBI, or ICE. Then the investigators send the evidence to the U.S. Attorney in charge of your case. Because the federal government has lots of resources at its disposal, it can often gather evidence that local police cannot.

While the penalties might be more severe for federal convictions, you also face steep consequences if convicted of a state crime. Fortunately, our West Palm Beach criminal defense lawyer has more than 34 years of experience in state and federal courts. Ronald Chapman will thoroughly investigate and review the case and help you explore all of your legal options. Contact our firm today to learn more.

STATE AND FEDERAL CHARGES FOR THE SAME CRIME

Many people are surprised to learn that they can be charged with the same crime in both state and federal courts. In this instance, the justice system does not follow the principle of double jeopardy, meaning you can be tried and convicted for the same crime in both court systems.

Our West Palm Beach criminal defense lawyer has experience in both state and federal courts so you will not have to hire two attorneys to handle your case. Reach out today to discuss your charges.

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WHY CHOOSE RONALD S. CHAPMAN, P.A.?

Investigate the prosecutor’s case against you.
Speak with your witnesses.
Present legal motions to the judge.
Investigate your defenses.
Represent you at your trial.
Try to get the best possible result for you.
  • Over 34 Years of Experience – Ronald S. Chapman has represented clients facing both state and federal charges since 1990, and he has had more than 200 trials.
  • Numerous 5-star Reviews – Our West Palm Beach law firm has accumulated five-star reviews on Google, Yelp, Lawyers.com, Avvo, and other sites.
  • Sole Practitioner– As a sole practitioner, Ronald S. Chapman works directly with each client he serves instead of handing them off to staff members.
  • Represents Clients in State and Federal Court – While some West Palm Beach criminal defense lawyers handle only state charges or federal charges, Ronald S. Chapman handles both types of charges ranging from state-level assault charges to federal-level drug trafficking and white-collar crimes.
  • Bilingual Legal Services – Ronald S. Chapman provides legal services in English and Spanish, so you won’t have any trouble communicating with him.

MISDEMEANORS VS. FELONIES

State and federal crimes are charged as misdemeanors or felonies, depending on the severity of the alleged criminal activity. Felonies are the more serious of the two charges, but even a misdemeanor conviction can lead to jail time in some instances. Our West Palm Beach criminal defense lawyer represents clients charged with state and federal misdemeanors and felonies. With over 34 years of experience working on these cases, he is well-versed in negotiating with prosecutors and challenging the prosecutor’s evidence. Contact the firm today to discuss your case with Ronald S. Chapman.

OBTAINING BAIL

Depending on the severity of your alleged crime, law enforcement might hold you in jail until your First Appearance. Then the judge can set the bond and other conditions of the release. For instance, the judge might have you wear an ankle monitoring device as a condition of your bail or force you to check in with a court official each day. Our West Palm Beach criminal defense lawyer can present evidence to support a fair and reasonable bond, with few or any restrictions upon your release. If you do not have an attorney present, the judge is more likely to side with the prosecutor. Thus, contact our firm if you or a loved one is preparing for a First Appearance hearing.

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Real Clients, Real Testimonials

Mr. Chapman, I want to thank you for all your time, effort, and good counsel given in the cases of Gonzalo C., both in the State court and in the Federal court. I was especially impressed with the attention to detail, the phone calls, the jail visits, and the interviews with Gonzalo’s wife and her nephew, all done to completely familiarize yourself with his cases. The charges and the facts were irrefutable, and a not-guilty plea was not an option. Nonetheless, though he was facing prison time as well as a large fine, through legal expertise and persuasive negotiating, you succeeded in securing his time served and one-year supervision. Thank you and well done.
William G. Taylor

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The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice.
You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship.

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Since 1990, Mr. Chapman has been representing people who have been accused of committing various types of crimes such as DUI, domestic violence, possession of a firearm, drug possession, expungement, traffic crimes, murder, manslaughter, crimes against children, sex crimes, crimes against the elderly, appeals, and violations of probation.
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The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice.You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship.