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Arson is a very serious crime. If you have been charged with the crime of arson, it is extremely important for you to obtain legal assistance as soon as possible. The punishments for arson can be serious and life changing. In addition, due to the high likelihood of injury and property damage, law enforcement agencies and insurance companies will vigorously investigate and prosecute all possible arson cases.
 
According to Florida Statutes § 806.01, the crime of arson is generally defined as the willful causing by fire or explosion of any damage to a dwelling or structure. It does not matter if the dwelling or structure was occupied at the time of the fire or explosion.
1st Degree Arson
1st degree arson is where you willfully, or during the commission of another felony, cause damage by fire or explosion to…
 
  • Any dwelling, whether occupied or not, or its contents;
  • Any structure, or contents thereof, where people are usually present; or
  • Any structure that you knew or had reasonable grounds to believe was occupied by a human being.
The crime of 1st degree arson is punishable by up to 30 years in state prison and/or fines up to $10,000.
 
2nd Degree Arson
2nd degree arson is where you willfully, or during the commission of another felony, cause damage by fire or explosion under any circumstance not included within 1st degree arson.
 
The crime of 2nd degree arson is punishable by up to 15 years in state prison and/or fines up to $10,000.
 
We Can Help
If you have been charged with arson, it is important to know that local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, in addition to insurance companies, have accurate and sophisticated methods of collecting and processing evidence after a fire or explosion. It is vital to have an experienced Miami criminal lawyer working on your behalf to ensure that your rights are protected at every stage of the legal process.
Pensky & Kim are Miami arson attorneys serving clients in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and throughout the rest of Florida. Contact us at 305-571-9800 or toll free at 888-533-5171 for a FREE consultation and to learn more about how our Miami arson lawyers can help you. We are available 24/7.