Meltzer & Bell, P.A. Aggressive and Effective Criminal Defenses for FL Charges Whether you receive an unexpected summons in your mailbox, or you feel the pinch of the handcuffs clicking shut behind you, facing criminal charges is incredibly serious. Every choice you make in the next upcoming weeks will have a profound impact on your future. It’s imperative you have an effective and efficient criminal defense strategy ready before you enter that courtroom. Without it, you could be sentenced to complete the statutory penalties of the crime you committed. A criminal conviction can result in a myriad of consequences, the most common being expensive fines and possible time in jail or prison.