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Manslaughter Defense Attorney Serving Bartow, Lakeland, and Central Florida
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Lakeland Manslaughter Defense Lawyer
Experienced Criminal Defense attorney providing Manslaughter Criminal Law Legal Services in Bartow, Lakeland, Winter Haven, Auburndale, Haines City, Polk County, and the greater Central Florida area.
Call 863-354-0508 today to schedule a Free Consultation with Manslaughter defense lawyer, Robert A. Norgard.
If you or a loved one are facing an allegation or formal charge of manslaughter, you are in the midst of one of the most severe legal crises an individual can encounter. While distinct from premeditated murder, manslaughter is still a category of criminal homicide under Florida law. The state prosecutes these cases aggressively, backed by the extensive investigative resources of local police departments, the Polk County Sheriff's Office, and state forensic laboratories. A conviction can result in a lengthy mandatory prison sentence, permanent loss of civil rights, and a devastated reputation
When your future, liberty, and life are on the line, relying on a general practitioner is not an option. You need an elite defense strategy crafted by a veteran trial lawyer who understands the nuances of violent crime litigation. The Law Office of Robert A. Norgard provides sophisticated, relentless criminal defense representation for individuals accused of manslaughter throughout Bartow, Lakeland, Winter Haven, Auburndale, Haines City, and all of Polk County and the greater Central Florida area.
Board-Certified Criminal Trial Lawyer
Manslaughter defense requires an extraordinary depth of legal knowledge, exceptional trial skills, and a masterful command of forensic evidence, accident reconstruction, and witness cross-examination.
A Elite Level of Legal Defense: Attorney Robert A. Norgard has defended individuals accused of high-stakes crimes in Florida for more than 40 years. He has been Board-Certified in Criminal Trial Law by The Florida Bar since 1995—a prestigious status achieved by fewer than 1% of all practicing attorneys in the state.
Our legal team analyzes manslaughter charges from both sides of the courtroom. We understand the specific evidentiary thresholds prosecutors must cross under the Florida Criminal Punishment Code, allowing us to build proactive, custom-tailored defense strategies designed to exploit gaps in the state’s case.
About Manslughter Criminal Charges
Under Florida Statute § 782.07, manslaughter is defined as the unlawful killing of a human being by the act, procurement, or culpable negligence of another, without lawful justification (such as self-defense) and where the act does not constitute murder. Florida law generally divides standard manslaughter into three legal theories, alongside specialized statutes for vehicular and vessel incidents.
Voluntary manslaughter
Voluntary manslaughter applies when an individual intentionally commits an act that is neither justifiable nor excusable, and that act directly results in the death of another person. It is critical to note that the state does not have to prove you had a premeditated intent to kill the victim; they only need to prove that you intended to commit the physical act that ultimately caused the death. This often applies to heat-of-passion altercations or sudden, unplanned disputes.
This form of manslaughter occurs when a defendant intentionally counsels, encourages, commands, persuades, or induces another person to commit an act, and that act directly results in the death of a human being.
Involuntary manslaughter
Involuntary manslaughter involves an entirely unintentional killing that results from "culpable negligence." Under Florida law, culpable negligence is defined as conduct that is more than mere ordinary civil negligence or a simple mistake. It requires the state to prove a gross, flagrant, and reckless disregard for human life, or a complete indifference to the safety of others, where the defendant knew or should have known their actions would likely cause death or great bodily harm. Examples include the reckless handling of firearms or extreme safety violations.
Aggravated Manslaughter
Under F.S. § 782.07(2)-(4), standard manslaughter is reclassified as a much more severe offense if the culpable negligence caused the death of an individual belonging to a specifically protected, vulnerable class of citizens. This includes:
- Aggravated Manslaughter of a Child (an individual under the age of 18).
- Aggravated Manslaughter of an Elderly Person or Disabled Adult.
- Aggravated Manslaughter of an Officer or First Responder (including law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics, or emergency medical technicians acting within the course of their employment).
DUI Manslaughter / Vehicular Homicide (F.S. § 316.193 & § 782.071)
If an individual operates a motor vehicle or water vessel while under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances and causes the death of a human being (or an unborn quick child), they will face charges of DUI Manslaughter or Vehicular Homicide. These charges carry separate severe statutory minimum-mandatory penalties, even if there was zero intent to cause harm.
Manslaughter Conviction Penalties
The penalties for manslaughter in Florida are exceptionally harsh. Under the Florida Criminal Punishment Code, manslaughter is scored as a high-level violent felony, meaning that even an individual with a completely clean prior record will face a substantial mandatory prison sentence if convicted.
- Standard Manslaughter (Second-Degree Felony): An unlawful killing charged under standard voluntary or involuntary theories is a Second-Degree Felony. It is punishable by up to 15 years in state prison, up to 15 years of probation, and a maximum fine of $10,000.
- Manslaughter with a Weapon or Firearm (First-Degree Felony): If a firearm or deadly weapon is carried, displayed, or used during the commission of the offense, the charge is automatically enhanced to a First-Degree Felony, elevating the maximum penalty to up to 30 years in state prison.
- Aggravated Manslaughter (First-Degree Felony): Any conviction for aggravated manslaughter involving a child, elderly person, disabled adult, or first responder is classified as a First-Degree Felony, punishable by up to 30 years or life imprisonment.
Defending your rights in Manslaughter Cases
In a manslaughter prosecution, the State of Florida bears the heavy burden of proving every single element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Because manslaughter frequently involves accidents, sudden altercations, or complex medical chains of causation, an experienced attorney can systematically challenge the prosecution’s narrative.
When the Law Office of Robert A. Norgard takes your case, our focus centers on deploying proven defense methods:
- Asserting Justifiable Homicide (Stand Your Ground): If you used force to protect yourself or another person from an imminent threat of death or great bodily harm, the killing may be deemed a Justifiable Homicide. We aggressively utilize Florida’s "Stand Your Ground" law (F.S. § 776.032) to petition the court for a pretrial immunity hearing, aiming to have your charges completely dismissed before a jury trial is ever scheduled.
- Proving Excusable Homicide: Under F.S. § 782.03, a homicide is excusable and entirely lawful when committed by accident and misfortune during the performance of a lawful act by lawful means, with usual ordinary caution, and without any unlawful intent. We work with forensic experts and private investigators to demonstrate when an event was an unavoidable, tragic accident rather than criminal negligence.
- Challenging "Culpable Negligence": Prosecutors frequently try to elevate ordinary civil accidents into criminal manslaughter. We dissect the evidence to show that your actions did not rise to the level of gross, flagrant disregard for human life required by Florida jury instructions, pushing for a dismissal or reduction of charges.
- Suppressing Unlawfully Obtained Evidence: We meticulously examine the actions of law enforcement during your arrest or interrogation. If investigators violated your constitutional rights, conducted illegal searches, or failed to properly administer your Miranda rights, we will file aggressive motions to suppress their findings and confessions from being used at trial.
A manslaughter charge is a life-altering event, but an arrest is not the same as a conviction. The steps taken immediately following an arrest or during an active investigation can completely alter the trajectory of your case. Do not speak to law enforcement detectives, investigators, or prosecutors without an experienced trial attorney present to shield you.
Contact the Law Office of Robert A. Norgard today to schedule a free, completely confidential consultation. Our veteran legal team is prepared to stand by your side and protect your rights, whether at our office in Bartow, via phone, or directly inside a local detention facility.
Call 863-354-0508 today to schedule your Free Consultation with Lakeland Manslaughter defense attorney, Robert A. Norgard.
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