The Trial Dog

Anthony Candela is the Trial Dog and a Board-Certified attorney. He opened the Candela Law Firm, P.A. in 2014 and handles criminal trials and appeals (as well as estate planning, wills, and trusts). He received his J.D. from Duquesne University School of Law in 2000 and his B.A. in Political Science from King’s College in 1996. As an expert in criminal law and procedure, he has tried over a hundred cases to verdict. Since 2008, he has been certified and recertified by the Florida Bar in Criminal Trial three times. He has also argued several dozen appeals. In the federal system, he is admitted to the Middle District of Florida and the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeal. #candelalawfirm #thetrialdog

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Felony Conviction: Personal Hell

I was able to help a client close the book on an attorney’s mistake from twenty years ago. It is helping these clients find some peace from their past that makes the practice of law tolerable, even enjoyable nowadays. It is rectifying an injustice such as hers that drives the best criminal defense attorneys to fight the good fight. It is standing up for those who cannot or do not know how to stand up for themselves that truly defines the exceptional criminal defense attorney.

Going Nowhere. Failure to Preserve Appellate Issues is Not Ok

a direct criminal appeal is completely useless without the trial attorney making doubly sure that any appellate issues were properly preserved for the appeal or beyond. In this sense, what you don’t know can hurt you, badly. And you must have lost and been convicted (otherwise, an appeal has no purpose).

Pleading: A One-Way Ticket to Ride

There are no “do-overs” usually in criminal court when a defendant “freely,” “voluntarily,” and “intelligently” enters a guilty plea with the “assistance” of “competent counsel.” Once the plea is entered, accepted by the court, and the defendant is sentenced- – the defendant must live with the whole ordeal (even if the defendant is unsatisfied for whatever reason). There is no redo or rework or second chance, and the plea is final in most respects.

A Few Reasons Why Convictions Are Forever (and What You Should Know)

Generally, outside of the rarest situation, if you are convicted of a felony, then you will live with the conviction for the rest of your life. Period. At common law, a felony was an offense that was punishable by imprisonment for more than one year. As such it is of vital importance that you understand the rights and privileges you will give up, waive, or otherwise lose as a convicted felon (whether the conviction comes by guilty verdict or plea bargain).

A few Reasons Why You Should Challenge an Unreasonable Pretrial Detention with a Writ of Habeas Corpus

Anthony Candela knows a thing or two about filing writs of habeas corpus. Candela has filed a dozen or so writs of habeas corpus with the various appellate courts of this state. While not every writ has been granted, he has had some success in having a few writs of habeas corpus granted and those clients subsequently released from custody. Not many attorneys in Florida have that invaluable experience, but he knows the procedure through and through and can assist in this regard.

DIY Estate Planning is Bad Idea

The problem is obvious with DIY estate plans. DIY estate plans are like playing Russian Roulette with your family’s livelihood after you are gone. If you muck it up, miss something, make a mistake, misunderstand a statute or law, or fail to realize the consequences of certain courses of action or estate elections, then you cannot fix the problem when you are gone, and the estate plan may be rendered useless (or worse make everything extremely complicated for the people you attempted to protect with your DIY estate plan).

Please Stop Live Streaming Your Crimes

For instance, if the “live stream” shows the person entering a restricted room the in capitol, then the person has created the evidence to proves beyond a reasonable doubt that they trespassed. If the person “live streamed” them picking up and walking off with a lectern, then the person created the evidence that proves beyond a reasonable doubt that they committed some type of theft. If the person “live streamed” themselves fighting with capitol police, then the person created the evidence that proves beyond a reasonable doubt that they committed a battery. And so, on and so forth.

Choose Wisely.

If you don’t think that hiring a good lawyer matters, think again. Not having the best advocate arguing for you in criminal matter can cost you your freedom. Worse, it can cost you your career, your family, or your life. Or maybe all of it. Don’t believe me – ask any of the individuals that have been exonerated from prison over the past 20 years about their attorneys

4 Parts of the Miranda Warnings

“They didn’t read me my rights. They have to dismiss my case, right?” This is a common refrain from the accused. Unfortunately, the answer is almost certainly “no.” This is super common misunderstanding that people have about their constitutional criminal rights. People mistakenly believe that because the police did not read them their [Miranda] rights, the case must be “thrown out of court.” Sadly, this is not how it works.