When teenagers are arrested for crimes committed in Florida, they will likely consider their defense options to limit the damage convictions can do to their futures. In Florida, crimes committed by teens under the age of 19 are regarded as juvenile crimes. However, legal counsel is crucial, especially if the crimes include homicide.
Police in Coconut Creek recently arrested three teenagers — ages 16, 17 and 18 — after an investigation into the death of a 56-year-old man whose body was found in the parking lot of a 24-hour store on Oct. 12. A call from a concerned friend gave rise to the police investigation. The friend told police that the man had not returned after a late-night trip to the store, and upon investigation, police found the deceased man on the ground next to his car at about 3 a.m.
According to a police report, surveillance footage showed the 17-year-old teenager attempting to rob the man before shooting him and fleeing the scene in a vehicle. They could also identify the 18-year-old driver and the 16-year-old passenger in the car. Weeks of investigations ultimately led to the arrests of the three juveniles, and they were all charged with murder.
Facing murder charges as a teenager does not necessarily mean the young men will be prosecuted as juveniles. Anyone facing juvenile crimes charges in Florida would be well advised to retain the services of an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. A lawyer can scrutinize the charges and the available evidence before devising a defense strategy that will benefit the defendant and lead to the best possible outcome.
