Pumphrey Law Blog

July 8, 2025 Don Pumphrey, Jr. Criminal Defense, Violent Crimes Social Share

In Florida, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon (including a firearm) is a very serious felony offense. Under Fla. Stat. Section 784.021(1)(a), an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon occurs when all of the following are true: The defendant made an intentional and unlawful threat, by word or act, to use violence against that other person At the time of …

July 8, 2025 Don Pumphrey, Jr. Criminal Defense, Violent Crimes Social Share

In Florida, aggravated assault with a firearm is a very serious felony offense. Under Fla. Stat. Section 784.021, aggravated assault with a firearm is a third-degree felony if it is done without the intent to kill the victim or with the intent to commit a felony. This is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a $5,000 fine.  …

July 8, 2025 Don Pumphrey, Jr. Criminal Defense, Violent Crimes Social Share

In Florida, vessel homicide is a very serious felony offense. A “vessel” is broadly defined as any watercraft (including a boat), regardless of size or propulsion, used or capable of being used for transportation. Under Fla. Stat. Section 782.072, the crime of vessel homicide is committed when all of the following are proven beyond a reasonable doubt: The victim is …

June 25, 2025 Don Pumphrey, Jr. Violent Crimes Social Share

In Florida, vessel homicide is a very serious criminal offense. Unlike many other forms of homicide, vessel homicide does not require someone to have intended to kill the victim for that person to be convicted. But if someone is charged with vessel homicide, what are the potential criminal and financial penalties they may face? This article will answer this question, …

June 25, 2025 Don Pumphrey, Jr. Criminal Defense, Violent Crimes Social Share

Florida’s 10-20-Life law is one of the most significant pieces of legislation in the state relating to the use of firearms. It is also one of the most frequently understood. For many felonies involving the use of a firearm, the 10-20-Life law (Fla. Stat. 775.087) provides: If a firearm is displayed but not discharged, the defendant faces a mandatory minimum …

June 25, 2025 Don Pumphrey, Jr. Criminal Defense, Violent Crimes Social Share

Florida’s “10-20-Life” law is one of the state’s most significant laws in terms of punishing crime involving firearms. If someone commits a felony while using a firearm, and the use of a firearm is not an element of that underlying felony, Florida’s 10-20-Life law creates a system of mandatory minimum sentences based on how the firearm was used.  This article …

June 25, 2025 Don Pumphrey, Jr. Violent Crimes Social Share

Florida’s “10-20-Life” law is one of the state’s most widely-discussed statutes. It plays a significant role in sentencing at criminal trials if someone is found guilty of committing a felony involving a firearm, and the use of a firearm is not an essential element of that felony. But what does the 10-20-Life law actually say? This article will discuss the …

June 17, 2025 Don Pumphrey, Jr. Criminal Defense, Violent Crimes Social Share

If someone fires a gun into the air in Florida, various criminal charges may be brought. Due to the potential for the projectile to injure or kill individuals on the ground, someone may face charges ranging from reckless discharge of a firearm to attempted second-degree murder. But given a lack of specific intent to kill another person, can someone really …

June 9, 2025 Don Pumphrey, Jr. Criminal Defense, Violent Crimes Social Share

In Florida, vessel homicide is a very serious felony offense. Unlike many other forms of homicide, vessel homicide does not require the person charged with the homicide to have intended for the victim to die. If someone operates a vessel (boat) recklessly and their actions are the proximate cause of another’s death, they may be convicted of vessel homicide. This …