Longwell & Gentle, P.A.

DUI & Excessive Speed

Criminal Defense

Lake County Court

DUI, Excessive Speed: Client was accused of speeding in excess of 40 miles over the limit.  Law enforcement stopped him and subjected him to field sobriety exercises, after claiming he smelled of alcohol and admitted to drinking.  The client then allegedly had a breath test that was over the legal limit.  We filed a battery of pre-trial motions and pushed the case to trial.

Result:  The State dropped the DUI to a Reckless Driving, and the speeding ticket was dismissed.

Dismissed Injunction

Criminal Defense

Lake County Circuit Court

Hearing on Petition for Permanent Injunction for Repeat Violence. Client was served with a Temporary Injunction.  At a hearing on the matter, we were able to get the Injunction dismissed.

Child Custody

Family Law

Orange County

Client was in Orlando. There was an existing case in New York and daughter was victim of domestic violence by ex-spouse.  After contacting us we were able to work with an attorney in New York to move daughter down to Florida.

Domestic Violence Charges Dismissed

Criminal Defense

Osceola/Orange County

Client travelled out of state. Wife filed allegations of domestic violence and violation of an existing injunction. Client was arrested on felony warrant out of state. After proper motions were filed and heard the court issued a reasonable bond and the alleged violation of the existing injunction was dismissed.

Aggravated Assault With Deadly Weapon

Criminal Defense

Orange County

Client was charged with aggravated assault with deadly weapon and battery. After a thorough investigation and the alleged victim’s deposition we were able to convince the state attorney that the victim was not being truthful and all charges were dismissed. The court had placed no contact conditions of release upon the client. Upon dismissal of the charges the client was able to regain access to the home and its contents.

Possession of Firearm with Injunction

Criminal Defense

Orange County Court

Prior to hiring us, the client was served with an Injunction and ordered not to have contact with his ex-girlfriend, and not to possess any firearms.  Subsequently, the ex-girlfriend called the police and alleged that the client contacted her by telephone.  When the police went to talk to the client, they claim he had a firearm in his possession.  The client was arrested and charged with two misdemeanor counts.  That’s when he called Longwell & Gentle, P.A.  We prepared the case for trial.  On the trial day, the case was positioned to have a high likelihood of a Not Guilty verdict.  As a result, the State offered a favorable plea offer.  The client agreed to pay a $150 fine in exchange for the State agreeing to have the court withhold the conviction on count one, and drop count two altogether.

Octavius Mosley Statement

Mr. Mosley is not formally charged with any crime.  His arrest is based upon an unsupported claim of alleged misconduct that leaves a huge amount of room for reasonable doubt.  The entire case hinges on particular details and sequences of events that are unreliable, especially due to the fact that they were not reported simultaneously or even immediately after the alleged incident.

This country prides itself on the hard-earned freedoms its’ citizens enjoy, in part as a result of the presumption of innocence and due process afforded by the U.S. Constitution.  We ask that you respect these core values and principles by withholding judgment, at this time.

Longwell & Gentle accredited by the Better Business Bureau

Longwell & Gentle P.A., a criminal defense and family law firm located in Orlando, Florida has been accredited by the Better Business Bureau.  Longwell & Gentle, P.A. has become a BBB Accredited Business with an “A+” rating, the highest possible rating.

Mark Longwell, Orlando lawyer and former prosecutor, founded the law firm in 1993. Longwell & Gentle, P.A. has built a reputation for providing professional and dependable representation, yielding the best possible outcome for our clients. Over the last 19 years, the experienced family law and criminal defense trial lawyers of Longwell & Gentle, P.A. have helped thousands of individuals.

Partner and founder, Mark Longwell, stated “The Better Business Bureau’s A+ accreditation is a reflection of the pride we take in our work.  We provide excellent legal services and I am very pleased our practice has produced such a rating with the Better Business Bureau.”

Felony Reduced to Misdemeanor

Criminal Defense

Orange County

Client was charged with a felony which carried a potential life felony sentence. After obtaining relief from a bond motion and conducting depositions, the charges were reduced to misdemeanors and the client’s sentence did not contain any jail time.

Expungement v. Sealing

If you or someone you know has a criminal record it can be difficult to find a nice place to live, a decent job, or even get a loan. In today’s world, employers, landlords, and businesses administer background checks on potential employees, tenants, and even customers to ensure quality candidates are obtained. The expungement or sealing of a criminal act may help you get a second chance at life.

What is the difference between expungement and the sealing of a criminal record?
There is a difference between expungement and the sealing of a record. In most basic terms, having your record expunged, completely removes the criminal accusation from your record like a legal eraser. Notice the use of the word “accusation.” An expungement is only allowed if you were not convicted of the crime and only if you were accused and the charges were dropped.

The sealing of a criminal record removes your information from government databases which the general public can use to request a background check. However, law enforcement, federal, state, county, and city agencies may still have a legal right to access your information even if your record has been sealed.

Did you know you can only expunge/seal a record once in your lifetime?
Yes, it is true. You must keep in mind that you may only seal or expunge once in your lifetime in the State of Florida. If you have been convicted of something like a petit theft you may want to save these legal tools for later in life for a more serious crime should you need it.

Something to keep in mind.
There was a time you could expunge or seal your record, and for the most part, no one in the public would ever stumble upon your run-in with the law. However, in this digital age, the expungement or sealing of your record may not completely do the trick. There are many private companies who obtain information for their own business purposes, news outlets, online publications, or the like, who can potentially still possess your criminal history.

If you do have a criminal past that is prohibiting you from moving on in life, sealing or expunging your record may be the correct way to proceed. Contact one of our lawyers for a free consultation to explore your options in cleaning up a criminal record.