The Khonsari Law Firm Blog

Criminal Defense Attorney St. Petersburg Florida

Testimonial Privileges in Florida

As a criminal defendant, almost anything you say can be introduced later in court. However, some communications are kept private because of a privilege. Depending on the circumstances, you might be able to strengthen your defense by keeping certain statements away from the jury. Some of the more important testimonial privileges include the followin [...]

Rohom Khonsari January 26, 2018

Should a Criminal Defendant Testify?

The Fifth Amendment gives you an absolute right not to testify at your criminal trial and the jury can’t use your decision not to testify against you. But in some situations, might it be a good idea to testify anyway? Before you can answer that question, you need to analyze the evidence in your case and with your experienced defense lawyer. Many [...]

Rohom Khonsari January 24, 2018

Criminal Defense Lawyer St. Petersburg Florida

Can I Withdraw My Guilty Plea?

Often, a plea bargain is an ideal resolution for a criminal defendant. You might plead guilty to a reduced charge and avoid prison. However, defendants sometimes change their minds and want to withdraw their guilty plea. In Florida, you can sometimes withdraw an earlier plea agreement, but a lot depends on timing. Withdrawing a Plea Before Senten [...]

Rohom Khonsari January 22, 2018

Florida Doctor Sentenced for Health Care Fraud

In November, a Florida doctor was sentenced to a four-year prison term for health care fraud and money laundering. This case is a reminder that the federal government continues to pursue health care fraud aggressively and isn’t afraid to use its full resources to go after suspected scammers. Accused defendants will need a skilled health care frau [...]

Rohom Khonsari January 18, 2018

What Is Hearsay?

A fundamental rule of criminal trials is that witnesses can only testify about what they saw or heard. When witnesses try to testify to second-hand information, they may be offering hearsay, which is generally prohibited. A skilled criminal defense attorney should lodge an appropriate objection asking the judge to exclude any hearsay testimony. He [...]

Rohom Khonsari January 16, 2018

Surgery Injury Attorney St. Petersburg Florida

Were You the Victim of a Gallbladder Surgery Error?

Many people need to have their gallbladders removed for a variety of health reasons. The medical industry has developed a minimally invasive way of doing so by performing laparoscopic gallbladder surgery, and the vast majority of gallbladder removals use this technique. Laparoscopic procedures use specialized tools that only require small incisions [...]

Rohom Khonsari January 15, 2018

The Basics of Attorney-Client Privilege

If you’ve been accused of a crime, you might be tempted to talk about it with friends and family. You definitely shouldn’t. Anything you say can be used against you later in court. But there’s one person you can talk to - your criminal defense attorney. Anything you tell them is protected by attorney-client privilege, meaning your criminal de [...]

Rohom Khonsari January 13, 2018

Can a Bar Fight Lead to Jail Time?

You probably go to a bar to unwind from a long day, but after a bar fight, you might soon find yourself relaxing in jail. To protect yourself, you’ll need an experienced St. Petersburg criminal defense attorney who can analyze the evidence and come up with your best defense. Crimes You Might Commit A bar fight might start with a stray remark or [...]

Rohom Khonsari January 12, 2018

Can I Exclude an Eyewitness Identification?

Nothing can be worse for a criminal defendant than to have a witness sit on the stand and identify you as the person who victimized them. However, in some situations, you can get an eyewitness identification thrown out of court by arguing that the identification procedure was unduly suggestive. If you succeed, you’ll help your case enormously. H [...]

Rohom Khonsari January 11, 2018

Alternative Sentencing Programs in Florida

The main purpose of the criminal justice system is to punish criminals, usually with fines or jail time. However, offenders sometimes need rehabilitation more than they need a few years of prison. And sometimes rehabilitating offenders costs the state a lot less money than housing and feeding prisoners. For these reasons, Florida sometimes makes al [...]

Rohom Khonsari January 10, 2018