Defending Felony Charges
Experienced defense against serious felony charges with maximum stakes. Serving Miami, Miami-Dade County, and all of Florida.
Trial-Ready Defense
for Serious Charges
Serious Charges, Serious Defense
Felony charges in Miami carry the risk of years in state prison. We prepare these cases thoroughly, from the first appearance through trial.
Sentencing Strategy
Florida's point-based sentencing system determines prison exposure. We work to reduce scoresheet points, charges, and the ultimate sentence.
Full Investigation
We independently investigate — witnesses, forensics, and how evidence was gathered — instead of accepting the State's narrative.
When Your Freedom
Is on the Line
A felony conviction in Miami can mean years in prison and a lifetime of consequences — lost voting and firearm rights, closed career doors, and more. These cases demand a defense built for trial.
Your Defense Process
We handle the legal fight so you can focus on your life, your family, and your future.
Confidential Case Review
Your first consultation with HOV Law is free and confidential. We review your arrest, the exact felony defense charges, the evidence against you, and any constitutional issues in how it was gathered — then map out your options.
Investigation & Discovery
We obtain the police report, body-cam and dash-cam footage, witness statements, and lab or test results, and scrutinize every step for illegal stops, searches, or procedural errors that can weaken the State's case in Miami.
Motions & Negotiation
Where the facts support it, we file motions to suppress evidence or dismiss the case, and negotiate with the Miami-Dade County State Attorney's Office for reduced charges, diversion, or dismissal before trial.
Trial Defense
If the State will not offer a fair resolution, we are ready to try your case. HOV Law prepares every felony defense matter for trial before a Miami-Dade County jury, and that readiness is often what drives a better outcome.
Miami Felony Defense Lawyer — Protecting Your Freedom
A felony charge in Miami is one of the most serious situations a person can face. Under Florida law, felonies are punishable by more than a year in state prison — and the collateral consequences last far longer. From the moment of arrest, the State is building its case, and you need a defense that is just as serious.
HOV Law defends clients against felony charges across Miami-Dade County and Florida — drug felonies, theft and property crimes, violent offenses, weapons charges, and more. We prepare every case for trial, because that preparation is what protects your options.
Your consultation is free and confidential.
Florida Felony Classifications and Penalties
- Florida grades felonies by degree, each with its own maximum penalty:
- Third-degree felony—Up to 5 years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
- Second-degree felony—Up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
- First-degree felony—Up to 30 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
- Life felony—Up to life in prison.
- Capital felony—The most serious classification, carrying life without parole or the death penalty.
Florida's Sentencing Scoresheet
Florida uses the Criminal Punishment Code — a point-based scoresheet — to calculate the lowest permissible prison sentence in felony cases. Points are added for the primary offense, additional offenses, prior record, victim injury, and other factors. If the total exceeds a threshold, prison becomes mandatory unless the court finds a legal basis to depart.
A major part of felony defense is fighting the scoresheet: challenging charges that inflate the points, contesting victim-injury points, and arguing for a downward departure where the law allows. In Miami, we use every available tool to reduce your exposure.
Building a Felony Defense in Miami-Dade County
- Independent investigation—We do not accept the State's version. We locate witnesses, examine forensics, and reconstruct events.
- Motions practice—Motions to suppress illegally obtained evidence or dismiss legally deficient charges can reshape or end a case.
- Negotiation—Where trial is not the best path, we negotiate for reduced charges, alternative sentencing, or diversion.
- Trial—When the State overreaches, we are prepared to try the case before a Miami-Dade County jury and hold it to its burden of proof.
Related Practice Areas in Miami
Felony Defense charges often overlap with other criminal allegations. Our Miami defense attorneys also handle these related areas:
Other Criminal Defense Services in Miami
Also serving Miami for Personal Injury:
Serge Hovhanessian, Esq.
Founding Attorney at HOV Law | Florida Bar | Million Dollar Advocates Forum | Top 40 Under 40 Trial Lawyers
Attorney Hovhanessian defends the accused across Florida — protecting your rights, your record, and your freedom.Read full bio →
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Miami Felony Defense FAQs
What makes a charge a felony in Florida?
In Florida, a felony is any crime punishable by more than one year in state prison. Felonies are graded from third-degree up to capital, with penalties rising sharply at each level. The classification drives your entire defense.
Can a felony be reduced to a misdemeanor?
Sometimes, yes. Depending on the evidence and negotiations, a felony can be reduced to a misdemeanor or resolved without a conviction. We pursue every avenue to lower the charge and its consequences.
Will I definitely go to prison for a felony?
Not necessarily. Many felony cases resolve with probation, diversion, or reduced charges — especially for first-time offenders. Florida's scoresheet matters, and we work to keep your points and exposure as low as possible.
What rights do I lose with a felony conviction?
A felony conviction can cost you the right to vote (until restored), the right to possess firearms, and eligibility for many jobs, licenses, and housing. Avoiding a conviction, where possible, protects far more than just your freedom.
How long do felony cases take in Miami-Dade County?
Felony cases often take several months to over a year, depending on complexity, discovery, and motions. We keep you informed at every step and never rush a resolution that is not in your interest.
Why do I need a trial-ready lawyer even if I want to settle?
Prosecutors offer better resolutions when they know a firm is genuinely prepared to go to trial. Building your case for trial from day one is what gives you leverage. Call HOV Law at (407) 801-0101.
Facing Felony Charges in
Miami?
The stakes could not be higher. Contact HOV Law now for a free, confidential consultation with a Miami felony defense attorney.