Arson Defense Lawyer Tampa
Defending People Accused Of Arson In Tampa
By the time you’re arrested for arson in Florida, there’s a good chance that the government has already spent days or even weeks investigating the fire and drawing its own conclusions. You may be taken by complete surprise, especially if you’re trying to pick up the pieces and rebuild after a house fire or a fire at another of your real estate holdings (like a commercial property or warehouse). You need help, and fast, because you’re likely playing catch-up to a police department and prosecutor who already believe you’re guilty. Our Tampa, FL arson defense lawyer is ready to get to work building your defense as soon as you hire us.
Arson Charges In Florida
The state of Florida has extensive resources to prosecute arsonists. In fact, there is an entire department, headed by the State Fire Marshal and staffed with dozens of expert witnesses. Our firm has extensive resources, including access to several expert witnesses of our own, to meticulously pick apart the state’s case against you. The State Fire Marshall’s Department usually determines whether a fire was deliberately set (arson) and, therefore, is a crime. Florida law defines arson as the willful and unlawful damaging of a structure (any type of building, including a home, business, commercial or government building, or even a tent) through the use of explosives or fire.
Usually, arson charges are filed against one person for destroying the property of another person or entity, although in some cases, such as committing a felony (like insurance fraud), a property owner may be charged with arson for destroying their own property.
If you are convicted of first-degree arson, you could face up to 30 years in prison. Don’t face the state fire marshal’s office alone. Our Tampa arson defense lawyer has extensive experience successfully clearing people accused of felony arson.
Our Defenses Against Arson Charges In Florida
In order for you to be found guilty of first-degree arson, the prosecutor must prove that you caused a fire that:
- Damaged a building where people are normally present, such as a jail or hospital
- Damaged any other building you had reason to believe was occupied
- Damaged a residence, whether occupied or not
You can also be charged with arson if the police suspect that you:
- Set fire to a home
- Set fire to someone’s clothing or other flammable possessions inside a home
- Are growing marijuana, and the electrical system or lights malfunction and start a fire
- Burned your sheets at the county jail or state penitentiary
We help you beat first- and second-degree arson charges using tried-and-successful defenses like:
- Proving lack of intent or that the fire was an accident
- Demonstrating that there was a lack of criminal intent, such as that you did not intend to cause damage
- Lack of presence or affirming that you had an alibi for the time and place the fire occurred
- Challenging the reliability of physical or forensic evidence of a deliberate fire. In these cases, we typically deploy our own expert witnesses against those the state presents
- Mistaken identity: The police got the wrong person!
These are just a few of the defenses to arson; our Tampa arson defense lawyer will tailor your defense to the circumstances of the fire. We’re ready to help you, so please contact Stechschulte Nell today for a consultation.
