Miami General Criminal Defense Attorney
Some criminal cases do not fit one category, are still developing, or involve overlapping issues, across Miami-Dade and South Florida. The earlier the case is reviewed, the more the defense can shape what comes next.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is general criminal defense?+
Should I wait until charges are filed to hire a lawyer?+
Do I need a private attorney or is a public defender enough?+
Can a criminal case be dismissed before trial?+
What is the difference between a guilty plea and a no contest plea?+
What should I do if I am being investigated but have not been arrested?+
Does the firm handle cases outside Miami-Dade County?+
Cases That Don't Fit One Label
Many criminal cases arrive without a clear classification. The allegations are still developing, the charges have not been filed, or the matter touches more than one area at once.
Allegations Still Developing
The investigation is open. Nothing has been filed yet. Statements taken now will be used later. The pre-charge window is short and carries more weight than most clients realize.
Overlapping Issues
One arrest can produce several charges. Probation cases run alongside new arrests. Civil and criminal exposure can intersect. The strategy has to account for all of them.
Charges Not Yet Defined
Some matters are between investigation and filing. Misdemeanor or felony, state or federal. The right early move can shape what gets filed and what does not.
How Andre Handles a Criminal Case
Criminal cases turn on what the prosecution holds in hand and what they do not. The work of defense begins with reading the facts carefully and pressure-testing each piece of the State's case before a single court date.
Pre-Charge Window
Statements made before a lawyer is involved in many cases become the strongest evidence against the accused. Records get subpoenaed. Witnesses get interviewed. The first 48 hours can shape what the State Attorney's Office decides to file, decline, or divert. Pre-charge representation is one of the few moments where the defense can influence what the case becomes before it formally exists. If someone has just been arrested, our Miami-Dade Jail Guide covers finding them in custody and arranging release, and our Warrant Search guide covers how to check for a warrant safely. See our full Criminal Case Timeline for how the filing decision works.
Reading the Case Carefully
There is no template that works across charges, and no two case files read the same way. The substantive defense work begins with reading every page of the discovery, walking through the police narrative line by line, and identifying what the State will have to prove versus what they have on the record. Where the gap is, the defense lives.
Most criminal cases are not won at trial. They are resolved earlier, in pretrial motions and negotiation.
Pretrial Resolution
Suppression motions, charge reductions, diversion programs, and outright dismissal account for most case outcomes. Trial is the exception, not the rule. Whether one of those resolutions is realistic depends on what the discovery shows, what the prosecutor will accept, and how strong the constitutional issues are. The earlier Andre sees the case, the more of those paths are still open.
Boutique Practice Model
Clients work directly with Andre throughout the case. One attorney from first call through resolution. The same person who reviews the discovery is the one preparing the motions and appearing in court. There is no rotating staff handling the file.
When the Case Has a Clear Charge
When the matter falls into a given charge category, the firm has dedicated pages with the relevant statutes, penalties, and defense considerations.
DUI & Traffic Defense
DUI cases run on two parallel tracks: the criminal charge in court and the license suspension at DHSMV. The 10-day clock starts at arrest.
Explore DUI Defense →Drug Charges
Possession, sale, and trafficking under Florida Chapter 893. Trafficking thresholds carry mandatory minimum prison sentences.
Explore Drug Defense →Criminal Defense Across Miami-Dade and Broward
Each city carries a different set of local courts, arresting agencies, and case patterns. The pages below cover the particular details that matter in each area.
Direct attorney access at (305) 774-7000
Initial consultations are free and confidential, with no obligation to retain. Calling early in a matter in most cases creates more options than calling late.
What Our Clients Say
Verified Google reviews from clients represented by the firm across Miami-Dade and South Florida. See our full client testimonials page for more.
