T. charles Shafer Attorney At Law PLLC.

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Shafer recognized for Ability and Ethics

T. Charles Shafer has received the highest possible rating for both ethical standards and legal ability from Martindale-Hubbell, for the 5th year in a row. Shafer has held the rating since 2013. For more than 130 years, lawyers have relied on the Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent® rating while searching for their own expert attorneys. Now anyone can make use of this trusted rating by looking up a lawyer’s rating on Lawyers.com or martindale.com. The Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent® rating is the highest possible rating for an attorney for both ethical standards and legal ability. This rating represents the pinnacle of professional excellence.… Read More →

Attorney Charles Shafer believes in mission of BlueBird Educational Foundation

BlueBird Educational Foundation, a local nonprofit in Fort Pierce, supports students through scholarships and provides musical instruments to students in need. The organization was founded in 2008 with the goal of deepening music appreciation and expanding cultural horizons. T. Charles Shafer has been a board member since 2012. During that time, he has been involved in numerous foundation events, including “Grooving on the Pointe,” “Recycling in the Key of E,” the foundation’s annual instrument donation drive; “Groovin’ & Tastin’” during Jazz Appreciation Month; and the Bluebird Events Concert Series. Shafer recently was invited to speak on behalf of BlueBird Educational… Read More →

T. Charles Shafer Attends Chief Judge’s “State of of 19th” Speech

On February 2, 2018 Mr. Shafer was in attendance when the Honorable Elizabeth Metzger, Chief Judge of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, comprising Martin, St. Lucie, Okeechobee, and Indian River Counties, addressed a gathering of the St. Lucie County Bar Association held at the Fort Pierce Bistro on “The State of the 19th,” reviewing notable events occurring in the circuit the past year and offering aspirations for the court system in 2018. Judge Metzger informed her audience of the preparations and actions of the court system before, during and after the recent hurricane, and the Circuit’s continued readiness for… Read More →

Treasure Coast Forensic Treatment Center Under Fire

The reporters for Treasure Coast Palm have uncovered a multitude of problems at the forensic treatment center that houses those too mentally ill to stand trial on the Treasure Coast. These problems range from daily care violations to murder. When a person commits a criminal act but is incompetent to proceed to trial, or is otherwise determined to have been insane at the time the offense was committed, such a defendant is sent to a treatment center. For the incompetent individual, treatment will attempt to restore the person’s competency so that they are able to face trial. For those determined… Read More →

Fleeing On Foot Negates Constitutional Protections

If you flee on foot after being stopped by law enforcement, know that anything you dispose of (‘abandon”) will be able to be used against you, because you lose the right to challenge the constitutionality of the stop and seizure of your person.  This is a direct result of your flight.  Thus, even if the initial stop is deemed unconstitutional, you lose constitutional protections, so that evidence otherwise inadmissible will now be used against you. For example, you are in a car that is stopped by police looking for someone. The car’s description given to police is so vague as… Read More →

Who Is Unable To Lawfully Own A Firearm In Florida?

If you’re convicted of a felony, you cannot lawfully possess a firearm. If you continually violate certain statutes pertaining to substance abuse, then you might be deemed incompetent to own a firearm. If you have been involuntarily committed (commonly referred to as being “Baker Acted”) with a finding that you posed a danger to yourself or others, then you will be unable to legally possess a firearm. In addition, certain domestic violence convictions also bar one from owning a firearm, at least for a period of time. Finally, there are various federal firearm restrictions determined by federal law. There may… Read More →

How To Defend Accusations Of Rape And Other Sex Crimes In Florida?

Sex crimes are considered some of the most serious crimes that carry draconian penalties. They are also the most socially stigmatizing crimes in existence which will jeopardize your life in ways you can’t even imagine. Simply being accused of a sex offense will have devastating effects on your life, long before guilt is actually proven in court by a judge or jury. If you are facing allegations of committing a sex crime in Florida, never make the mistake of cooperating with law enforcement without hiring a criminal defense attorney first. A criminal defense attorney understands the importance of gathering exculpatory… Read More →

Dismissal Of A Client’s Possession Of Cocaine Charges In St. Lucie County, FL

Attorney T. Charles Shafer recently used his skill and experience to secure the dismissal of a client’s possession of cocaine charges in St. Lucie County, FL The Accused retained Attorney Shafer to represent him on a charge of possession of cocaine. Videotape from the local J’ai A’lai poker room captured a small baggie of cocaine falling to the floor from the Accused’s back pocket as the Accused, a card player, pulled money from his jeans. Subsequently, he was arrested and prosecuted for possession. Because the Accused had a previous felony criminal record, the State Attorney made a plea offer of… Read More →

Possible DUI Defenses

Have you or a loved one been arrested for driving under the influence? Do you feel like there is no way to defeat your charges? Often times people charged with DUI tend to want to admit guilt and move on. Don’t fall into this lure! You can fight your charges, no matter what the circumstances are. As an experienced DUI defense lawyer, I understand the ins and outs of the court system. That being said, I know the most effective defense strategies that can be used against DUI charges. Some possible DUI defenses include the following: Lack of reasonable cause:… Read More →

Attorney Shafer Attends Bluebird Educational Foundation Event To Support “Recycling In The Key Of E”

Along with serving as an advocate for his clients accused of criminal acts, Attorney T. Charles Shafer is also committed to the betterment of our local community, particularly our youth. That is why he serves on the board of directors of the Bluebird Educational Foundation, an organization dedicated to the enrichment local students with events and programs that expose them to blues, jazz, classical music. Attorney Shafer recently attended a BEF presentation to St. Lucie County Board of Education in support of the foundation’s “Recycling in the Key of E” initiative. “Recycling in the Key of E” is a program… Read More →