Defending You From Violent Crime Charges

At The Law Office of R. Lane Lastinger, P.A., I give my clients focused criminal representation backed with more than 17 years of experience. I am a St. Petersburg defense attorney, focusing on only criminal defense, only in Pinellas County, Florida.

If you have been arrested for or charged with assault and battery or any other violent crime, contact me. I know how important it is to get you the most lenient sentence possible, to keep you out of prison and minimize the negative consequences of a conviction on your life.

Assault and Battery Situations

Assault and battery are technical, legal terms. Assault is the threat of physical harm and battery is the actual causing of physical harm to another. Assault and battery arise in many different situations. Most commonly, assault and battery happens in these contexts:

• Domestic battery: Perhaps the most common scenario for assault and battery charges comes from right in the home.
• Barroom fights: Many assault and battery cases start with a couple of people in a bar who have had too much to drink. Harsh words fly and one thing leads to another.
• Sexual assault: There is often a carryover between violent crimes and sex crimes.
• Juvenile violent crimes: Your child might be accused of assault and battery or some other violent crime. I have extensive experience handling juvenile crimes. I can help you understand how the juvenile justice system works, and I can work within the system to help your child get the necessary help and resources so your family can get back on track.

Self-Defense

This is one of the most common defenses for battery charges. In Florida, you are not legally obligated to retreat when someone is giving you a reasonable belief that he or she will cause you serious bodily harm. For this reason, self-defense can be an effective defense against many violent crime charges.

Contact a Clearwater, Florida, Battery Defense Lawyer ∙ Free Consultations

For Pinellas County residents and out-of-state visitors facing violent crime charges, I offer a free initial consultation. You will have the opportunity to talk to a lawyer, with no charge or obligation, to learn about how the criminal justice system works, and about how I can help you avoid prison and get the most lenient sentence possible. Either call my St. Petersburg office or contact me online to schedule your free initial consultation.