"The best possible team you could have on your side! The trial knowledge, the expertise, the professionalism, relate to you on your level with respect! This firm truly cares. I wouldn't trust any other attys! They are top notch and I highly recommend them! THANK YOU MR. CHASTANG FOR YOUR COMMITMENT AND HONESTY ABOUT REPRESENTATION.
Violent Crime Defense Attorney Serving Bartow, Lakeland, and Central Florida
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Lakeland Violent Crime Defense Lawyer - Criminal Law
Experienced Violent Crime Defense attorney providing 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 violent crime defense lawyer, Robert A. Norgard.
A Violent Crime Conviction Can Put Your Future At Stake
An arrest for a violent crime is the most critical legal crisis you can face in Florida. State prosecutors and local law enforcement handle violent offenses with aggressive, unyielding severity. From a misdemeanor assault allegation to first-degree felony charges, a conviction can permanently strip you of your civil liberties, devastate your family, and result in mandatory, lengthy terms in state prison.
When the stakes are this high, you cannot afford a standard defense. At the Law Office of Robert A. Norgard, we provide elite, battle-tested criminal defense representation for individuals accused of violent crimes throughout Bartow, Lakeland, Winter Haven, Auburndale, Haines City, and the greater Polk County area. We step immediately between you and the state to protect your rights, challenge their evidence, and tirelessly fight for your absolute freedom.
Violent crime cases heavily rely on high-stakes components: forensic data, ballistic evidence, medical examiner reports, DNA tracking, and emotionally charged eyewitness testimony. Successfully defending against these charges requires an attorney who knows how to operate at the absolute highest tier of trial litigation.
Innovative Defense Strategies That Keep Your Best Interests In Mind
The Professional Advantage: Attorney Robert (Bob) Norgard has been Board-Certified in Criminal Trial Law by The Florida Bar since 1995. He has successfully defended clients in over 240 criminal jury trials.
Fewer than 1% of practicing Florida lawyers achieve this elite board-certified distinction, which marks our firm as experts in criminal trial practice. We understand exactly how the state constructs violent crime prosecutions, allowing us to expose investigative biases, procedural errors, and gaps in their evidence from day one.
In Florida, violent crimes encompass any criminal offense involving the threat of physical harm, the actual infliction of bodily injury, or the death of a victim. Under the Florida Statutes, these crimes are heavily penalized based on the severity of the injury, whether a weapon was present, and the status of the alleged victim (such as law enforcement or domestic partners).
We provide comprehensive, aggressive defense strategies against a wide spectrum of violent charges:
Assault and Battery (F.S. § 784.011 & F.S. § 784.03)
- Simple Assault: An intentional, unlawful threat by word or act to do violence to another person, coupled with an apparent ability to do so. Charged as a Second-Degree Misdemeanor (up to 60 days in jail).
- Simple Battery: Intentionally touching or striking another person against their will, or intentionally causing bodily harm. Charged as a First-Degree Misdemeanor (up to 1 year in jail).
Aggravated Assault and Aggravated Battery (F.S. § 784.021 & F.S. § 784.045)
- Aggravated Assault: An assault committed either with a deadly weapon without an intent to kill, or with an intent to commit a felony. Charged as a Third-Degree Felony (up to 5 years in prison).
- Aggravated Battery: Intentionally causing great bodily harm, permanent disability, or permanent disfigurement, or using a deadly weapon during a battery. Charged as a Second-Degree Felony (up to 15 years in prison).
Domestic Battery (F.S. § 741.28)
Any simple or aggravated battery committed between family or household members. A conviction carries unique, severe statutory enhancements, including mandatory minimum jail time if bodily injury occurs, mandatory completion of a 26-week Batterers' Intervention Program (BIP), and the permanent loss of your Second Amendment firearm rights.
Homicide, Murder, and Manslaughter (Chapter 782)
- Manslaughter (F.S. § 782.07): The killing of a human being through culpable negligence or unlawful act without legal justification. Charged as a Second-Degree Felony (up to 15 years in prison).
- Vehicular Homicide (F.S. § 782.071): The killing of a human being caused by the operation of a motor vehicle in a reckless manner. Charged as a Second-Degree Felony.
- Murder (F.S. § 782.04): Divided into first-degree (premeditated or felony murder) and second-degree (evincing a depraved mind). Second-degree murder is a first-degree felony punishable by up to life in prison. First-degree murder is a Capital Felony, carrying mandatory life without parole or the death penalty.
Florida has some of the harshest sentencing structures for violent crimes in the United States. Beyond standard statutory maximums, prosecutors frequently invoke devastating enhancements:
Florida’s 10-20-Life Law (F.S. § 775.087): If a firearm or destructive device is utilized during the commission of certain violent offenses (including aggravated assault, battery, carjacking, or murder), the court must impose severe mandatory minimum prison sentences:
- 10 Years mandatory minimum prison sentence for possessing a firearm.
- 20 Years mandatory minimum prison sentence if the firearm is discharged.
- 25 Years to Life in prison if someone is injured or killed by the firearm discharge.
The Prison Releasee Reoffender Act (PRR): If a violent crime is committed within three years of being released from a state or federal prison, the judge is statutorily required to sentence the defendant to the absolute maximum prison term available for that charge, with zero eligibility for early release or gain time.
Let’s Get Started On Your Case
An arrest for a violent crime does not mean the state has a flawless case. We thoroughly examine police procedures, interview records, and medical evidence to apply powerful legal defenses, including:
- Florida's Stand Your Ground Law (F.S. § 776.012 / § 776.013): Under current Florida law, a person is justified in using non-deadly or deadly force if they reasonably believe it is necessary to prevent imminent death, great bodily harm, or the commission of a forcible felony. We aggressively file Stand Your Ground Motions to achieve absolute immunity from criminal prosecution before a case ever goes to a jury trial.
- Self-Defense and Defense of Others: Demonstrating that your actions were entirely justifiable reactions to an immediate threat of physical harm initiated by the alleged victim.
- Lack of Criminal Intent: Proving that injuries were the result of a tragic accident, a sudden misinterpretation, or mutual combat where no criminal intent existed.
- Exposing Police Bias & Tainted Witness Identification: Cross-examining witnesses to uncover underlying motives, personal biases, or unconstitutional line-up procedures utilized by law enforcement.
If you are under investigation or have already been arrested for a violent crime in Bartow, Lakeland, Winter Haven, or anywhere in Central Florida, time is your most valuable commodity. Law enforcement is already building a case against you. Do not give statements to investigators without an elite trial specialist by your side.
Contact the Law Office of Robert A. Norgard today to schedule your legal consultation. Let a Florida Bar Board-Certified Criminal Trial Specialist fight to secure your future, your family, and your freedom.
Call 863-354-0508 today to schedule your Free Consultation with Lakeland violent crime defense attorney, Robert A. Norgard.
What Our Clients Say
"Experience, when experience counts."
