criminal defense - The Frey Law Firm, LLC

What is an Arraignment in Florida?

The Frey Law Firm, LLC — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 00:30:17 GMT

In Florida, when a person is accused of a criminal offense the accused is entitled to an arraignment hearing in order to be notified of the charge and in order to enter a plea. There are many advantages to retaining counsel when a person is under investigation for a criminal offense or if a person has been accused of a crime. In Florida, the attorney for the accused will often appear on behalf of the Defendant at the arraignment hearing, or waive the arraignment hearing on behalf of the Defendant and enter a written plea of not guilty.

Arraignment hearings will generally be scheduled by the court following the filing of the criminal charges against a defendant. The Defendant should receive formal notice of the hearing location, date and time.

The arraignment process can be rather stressful for any Defendant, but is especially concerning to a first-time offender, or someone with no experience in the criminal justice system. Since the arraignment occurs at the beginning stages of the prosecution, it is often one of the first court appearances a Defendant will have. As such, it is always best to consult with counsel in order to determine the best approach and ensure all questions are answered. In many cases, it may be possible for counsel to appear on behalf of the Defendant in order to enter a not guilty plea, or even waive the arraignment and enter a written plea of not guilty. These options should be discussed with an experienced criminal defense attorney in order to determine the preferred approach for each particular case.

If you are facing criminal charges and have questions pertaining to the arraignment process, or if you have an arraignment hearing scheduled in Hillsborough County, Florida, Pinellas County, Florida, or anywhere else within the State of Florida, please do not hesitate to call The Frey Law Firm, LLC for a free initial consultation with an experienced Tampa, Florida criminal defense attorney today.

“Are my Communications Wiretapped?”

The Frey Law Firm, LLC Team — Sun, 05 Jul 2020 14:46:20 GMT

As a Criminal Defense Lawyer, I am often asked “Are my communications wiretapped?” and how prevalent the use of wiretaps or electronic monitoring of communications is by the government. There is a general concern in our society that many communications may be monitored by the government. This concern is not limited to those engaging in criminal activity.

Many are surprised to learn that the court authorized use of wiretaps or electronic monitoring by law enforcement is not as statistically widespread as one may suspect. On June 30, 2020, the United States Courts published its 2019 Wiretap Report. The report provides information as to wire, oral, or electronic intercepts that concluded between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019. (These statistics do not include interceptions subject to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978).

Question: How many wiretaps were authorized by federal judges in 2019?

Answer: 1,417. (a 3% decline form 2018).

Question: How many wiretaps were authorized by state judges in 2019?

Answer: 1,808. (a 22% increase from 2018).

In sum, 3,225 wiretaps were authorized in 2019.

94% of the applications for the interception of communications involved portable devices, such as cellular telephones. Narcotics investigations and Drug offenses comprised 76% of all wiretap applications in 2019.

Although Federal and state laws serve to limit surveillance to a period of 30 days, that period can be extended if a judge determines an extension is warranted. The longest state-authorized wiretap came out of New York where the original order was extended 27 times in order to complete a wiretap investigation into corruption that spanned 756 days.

What is the average cost of a wiretap? The average cost of a wiretap in 2019 was $75,160.

It is important to remember that these statistics do not include any foreign intelligence intercepts and do not include circumstances involving a consenting party to the communication.

In 2019, 10,584 people were arrested as a result of wiretap investigations.

The next time a person wonders whether communications are wiretapped, it might be useful to gain statistical perspective from the available reports. The United States Courts full 2019 Wiretap Report: Orders and Convictions Increase is available by clicking this link:

2019 Wiretap Report: Orders and Convictions Increase

If you have a question for a Tampa Criminal Defense Lawyer, please call Attorney Ron Frey, The Frey Law Firm, LLC for a free initial consultation.

Hillsborough County Bar Association Event in Tampa

The Frey Law Firm, LLC Team — Thu, 12 Sep 2019 13:18:01 GMT

The Hillsborough County Bar Association (HCBA) held its Welcome Back Membership Reception last evening at The Vault in downtown Tampa. It was a wonderful evening and event and demonstrated the strong collegiality and professionalism amongst the members of the Hillsborough Bar.

Tampa Criminal Defense Attorney Ron Frey, The Frey Law Firm, is an active member of the Hillsborough County Bar Association. The HCBA is a voluntary bar association in Tampa, Florida and has nearly 4,000 members consisting of judges, lawyers and other legal professionals. The HCBA’s stated mission is to promote respect for the law and the justice system through service to the legal profession and the community. The HCBA contributes greatly to both the Tampa legal community and the greater Tampa region.

The HCBA event at The Vault in downtown Tampa, Florida

HCBA at The Vault in Downtown Tampa – Membership Event

If you are in search of a Tampa Attorney, please do not hesitate to contact Attorney Ron Frey and The Frey Law Firm for a free initial consultation. Attorney Frey is an experienced criminal defense attorney who serves clients in Tampa, Florida and beyond. We look forward to speaking with you.

Tampa Criminal Attorney Ron Frey established The Frey Law Firm’s primary office in Tampa, Florida in order to better serve his clients charged with criminal offenses in Hillsborough County and beyond. If you are under investigation, or have been charged with a misdemeanor or felony offense, please do not hesitate to contact our office for a free initial consultation with an experience Criminal Defense Attorney in Tampa, Florida.

If you have questions regarding a Tampa Computer Crime, or if you are under investigation and would like to speak with a Tampa Computer Lawyer or Tampa Internet Attorney, please contact our office or visit us on the web at our Internet Crime Attorney website, InternetCrime.com.

Tampa Attorney Ron Frey – Super Lawyer 2019

The Frey Law Firm, LLC Team — Tue, 29 Jan 2019 01:47:06 GMT

The Frey Law Firm is pleased to announce that Attorney Ron Frey has been selected once again for inclusion as a Super Lawyer for 2019! This special honor is reserved for lawyers who exhibit excellence within their area of practice. Tampa Attorney Frey is a criminal defense lawyer who is widely known and recognized as a zealous advocate for his clients.

DISTINCTIVE HONOR

Less than 5% of attorneys are recognized as a SuperLawyer. Attorney Frey was first selected as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers in 2010 and has been recognized by Super Lawyers each year since.

Tampa Criminal Defense Lawyer Ron Frey – SuperLawyer Selection – 2019.

Super Lawyers are selected following a rigorous peer-reviewed process based upon the attorney’s achievements and experience. Attorney Frey and The Frey Law Firm are committed to excellence in the representation of their clients. The Frey Law Firm has offices in Tampa, Florida, Charlotte, North Carolina and Cleveland, Ohio.

CONTACT THE TAMPA CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAW FIRM

If you have a legal issue or question, please do not hesitate to contact Tampa Criminal Defense Attorney Frey and The Frey Law Firm for a free initial consultation and review.The firm has offices in Hillsborough County and serves clients throughout the State of Florida.

If you, or someone you know, is in need of a Tampa Criminal Defense Lawyer or is under investigation or has been charged with a criminal offense, please contact our law firm today.