Having a child under the age of 18 (juvenile) arrested for a crime can be traumatic not only for the youth, but for the family as well. We understand that no parent wants to see a child's employment or educational prospects affected because of an arrest for underage drinking, drug crimes, a sex crime, assault, or other offense. You have many questions, including whether your child will be able to remain in school, live with you, what his or her future holds. At Adams, Luka, & Benton, we provide outstanding legal representation and urge you to contact a Eustis juvenile defense attorney with our firm now.
Just as adults who are charged with crimes, juveniles have certain rights when taken into custody as well. These include the right to remain silent, right to an attorney, right to confront accusers, right to examine the evidence, and more. Your child's rights must be protected. Our top priority is to have charges dropped when possible, or reduced so that the damage is less severe. It is also important to note that in the Juvenile Justice System in Florida, focus is placed on rehabilitation of the juvenile rather than punishment, although some may be tried in the Criminal Justice System as an adult depending on the alleged crime committed and other factors.
Our firm brings more than 30 years of combined experience to juveniles and their families. A few of our areas of focus include:
It has become more and more common in Florida for youths who are 14 years or older to be tried as an adult, particularly in cases involving assault with a deadly weapon, rape, and other serious crimes. The problem here is that when tried as an adult, a juvenile will face the same harsh punishment if found guilty. Even if your child does go through the Juvenile Justice System, it can be a confusing and stressful time filled with anguish. What can you expect, and what will happen next? We will provide you with guidance throughout the process, and work to have charges dropped when possible. Ultimately, we want your child to be given the chance to rehabilitate and get back on the right track, or to be exonerated if he/she was wrongly accused of a crime. As with adult cases, mistakes can be and often are made by police and prosecutors.
Contact Adams, Luka, & Benton ImmediatelyWhether a child is accused of underage drinking, drug possession, possession of a fake ID, or more serious offenses including assault or a sex crime, we have the experience, skill, and committed approach to obtain the best possible results. Our focus is to help your child and your family to get through this ordeal with as little damage as possible, while giving you the legal support and guidance you need throughout the process. Contact a Eustis juvenile defense lawyer with Adams, Luka, & Benton today for a free consultation at (352) 787-2101.
I would like thank my attorney Thomas Luka. I knew from the beginning I had the right guy in my corner. While celebrating with family and friends at a Public Park in Seminole County, a fight broke out among various people. Myself, and a good friend, broke up the fight and the instigators left. Six months later, I was wrongly accused as the person who started the fight. The first attorney I hired could not even get a response from the State Attorney handling the case. Someone referred me to Tom and I felt comfortable at his demeanor and reactions.
After conversations with Tom, who knew I would settle for nothing less than a FULL DISMISSAL due to my innocence, I hired him. His firm Adams, Luka, & Benton did the due diligence by interviewing witnesses and the police who were on the scene, as well as starting a dialogue with the State Attorney. After gathering statements from witnesses, Tom was able to present a strong argument on my behalf to the State Attorney on why the case should be dismissed. If the State Attorney was not willing to dismiss the case, Tom was ready to take the case to trial.
The result by Thomas Luka: Case Dismissed.
I am 53 years old with a spotless record and glad to keep it that way thanks to the time, effort, hard work, and professionalism of Adams, Luka, & Benton.