Student Legal Services

Many kids who leave for college do not have the judgment that comes with maturity, even though they are technically adults. They can make mistakes on campus that may haunt them for the rest of their lives. Common campus crimes include aggravated assault, theft of a car, underage drinking and DUIs, drug crimes, robbery, forcible sexual assault or rape, and burglary. If you are being investigated in or around Bradenton for a college campus crime (or your child is being investigated), you should make sure that you have an experienced Bradenton college campus crime lawyer at your side for both the administrative proceedings and the formal criminal charges. At Hanlon Law, we fight for the rights of the accused.

College campus crimes, ranging from forcible sexual assault to drug trafficking, can result in significant prison time. What starts out as a simple investigation by campus officials can lead to something far more drastic. Sometimes students misread signs of someone else’s romantic interest in them, borrow items without asking, or carry drugs for other people without fully understanding the potential consequences. Sometimes statements made to campus officials in an effort to cooperate with the college’s investigation of another student’s accusations may be used to pursue criminal charges later, which is why it is important that a college campus crime attorney in the Bradenton area get involved early in the case.

Different elements must be proven depending on the charges being brought. For example, a prosecutor trying to prove forcible rape (called sexual battery under Florida law) must show beyond a reasonable doubt that you committed nonconsensual oral, vaginal, or anal penetration or union with someone else’s sexual organ, either with an object or with a sex organ. Often on college campuses, drugs or alcohol are associated with a date rape. Sometimes the perpetrator and the victim are acquaintances or even friends or dating. There may be strong defenses available to sexual battery cases that arise from campus incidents. In some cases, the prosecutor is not able to prove one or more elements beyond a reasonable doubt. In other cases, we may be able to raise the defense of consent. Sometimes there is also a constitutional violation. For example, suppose that the police do not provide you with an attorney and take a statement while you are in custody without reading you your Miranda warnings. This may be a violation of the Fifth Amendment that a Bradenton college campus crime attorney can use to suppress your statement.

Drug crimes on campus can also result in harsh consequences. Often, the drug charges are for possession of a controlled substance, such as Fentanyl, Ecstasy, GHB, heroin, cocaine, marijuana, meth, oxycodone, Xanax, or a prescription drug obtained without a prescription. Sometimes the drug crime is coupled with another crime, such as date rape. For example, someone might be caught with GHB that was used to date rape another student. GHB is a Schedule I controlled substance. You can be charged with a third-degree felony for possessing less than a kilogram of it. If you are caught with a kilogram of GHB or more, you could be charged with trafficking in GHB. Trafficking may be charged even if you are caught with a kilogram of a mixture that contains GHB as well as some neutral filler substance.

For another example, an underage student who deals Hydrocodone or Oxycodone to other students could be pulled over for a DUI and caught with those substances without a prescription. If you are caught with just 7-14 grams of Oxycodone, you can face a mandatory minimum sentence of three years in prison, in addition to penalties for the DUI and underage drinking.

It is important to protect your (or your child’s) future. Too many promising students assume that an investigation is not a big deal. In fact, an investigation by campus officials can develop into criminal charges, a conviction, and a prison sentence. Statements made in an administrative proceeding could wind up being used as part of a criminal proceeding. Whether you have been accused of a college campus crime in Bradenton or your child has been accused, it is imperative to retain a tough and experienced lawyer. The earlier that we get involved, the more likely it is that we will be able to develop a strong defense strategy. Will Hanlon has aggressively and knowledgeably represented the accused since 1994. Call Hanlon Law at 941.253.0254 or complete our online form.