Criminal Defenses in Florida: Understanding Lack of Intent

What is Lack of Intent as a Defense in Florida?

A defendant may argue lack of intent as a defense in Tampa to a charge where they did not possess the necessary criminal intent at the time they committed the unlawful act.

For a defendant to be found guilty in a criminal case, the prosecution must prove each element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Most crimes consist of two elements - actus reus and mens rea.

Actus reus is the defendant's physical actions or conduct. Mens rea (“guilty mind”) is the defendant's mental state or criminal intent at the time of the act. For a defendant to be criminally responsible for a crime, they must possess the required intent when they do the act.

At Rodriguez & Williamson, PLLC, we can examine your case and determine whether a lack of intent is a good defense. Call us today at 813-320-7500 or fill out an online form today to schedule a Free.

Example of Lack of Intent as a Defense in Florida

In most jurisdictions, a defendant is guilty of theft where they:

take someone else's property without the person's permission (actus reus)
with the intent to permanently deprive the person of it (mens rea)

So, a defendant who borrows their neighbor's lawnmower, forgets to return it, and is later charged with theft may be able to defend the charge based on lack of intent. When they took the lawnmower, they didn't intend to permanently deprive their neighbor of it.

When Lack of Intent Does Not Apply

Lack of intent in Florida is not a defense for ignorance of the law. Someone can intentionally commit an act that they do not know is illegal and be held criminally responsible for it.

Lack of intent also cannot be used as a defense to strict liability offenses. For a strict liability offense, the prosecution is not required to prove the defendant's criminal intent, only that the defendant did the act.

General and Specific Intent Crime in Tampa

Some states make a distinction between general and specific intent crimes.

General intent crimes simply require the defendant to have intended to do the act. The defendant does not need to intend or anticipate a specific outcome of their actions. Simple assault is usually a general intent crime - the defendant only needs to intend to hit the victim, not to cause them a specific injury.

To defend a general intent crime based on lack of intent, the defense needs to demonstrate the absence of any intent on the defendant's behalf.

For a specific intent crime, the prosecution must prove the defendant acted intending to achieve a desired outcome. For example, burglary requires a person to enter a property with the intent to commit a crime.

A successful defense to a specific intent crime needs to highlight that the defendant did not intend the specific outcome when they did the act, even if they possessed general intent.

How Does a Criminal Defense Lawyer in Tampa Use Lack of Intent as a Defense?

As illustrated above, a defense lawyer can use lack of intent to highlight the prosecution's failure to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant possessed the necessary intent when they did an unlawful act.

A defense lawyer can also argue lack of intent using defenses such as:

mistake of fact, where the defendant held a reasonable but mistaken belief as to the facts of the situation
involuntary intoxication, where the defendant was unable to form the necessary intent

The defenses available in an individual case depend on the specific circumstances. At Rodriguez & Williamson, PLLC, we understand each case is unique and we will help you craft a defense to clear your name. Call us at 813-320-7500 or fill out an online contact form today to schedule your Free.

What Does It Mean to Have a Lack of Intent as a Defense in the State of Florida?

While defending themselves against a charge in Tampa, a defendant can argue that they did not have the actual criminal intent at the time that they performed the unlawful act. This is known as the "lack of intent" argument.

In a criminal proceeding, the prosecutor has the burden of establishing beyond a shadow of a doubt, with absolute certainty, that the defendant committed each element of the offense. Actus reus and mens rea are the two components that make up the majority of criminal offenses.

The defendant's physical actions or conduct are referred to as the "actus reus." Mens rea, sometimes known as "guilty mind," refers to the defendant's mental state or intent to commit a crime when the act was committed. When committing an act that constitutes a crime, the defendant must have the necessary purpose to be held legally accountable.

We at Rodriguez & Williamson, PLLC, can review your case and evaluate whether or not a lack of intent is a valid defense for your situation. To schedule a free consultation, don't hesitate to contact us at (813-320-7500) or fill out the online form today.

An Illustration of the Defense of Lack of Intent in the State of Florida

A person is found guilty of the crime of theft in the majority of jurisdictions if they have:

The act of taking someone else's property without that person's permission (known as actus reus) to deprive that person of that property permanently is considered theft (mens rea)

Hence, if a defendant borrows their neighbor's lawnmower, forgets to return it, and is subsequently charged with theft, they may be able to defend themselves against the allegation by arguing that they did not intend to steal the item. When they grabbed the lawnmower, they did not aim to irreversibly deprive their neighbor of access to it.

When the Presumption of Lack of Intent Is Not Valid

In Florida, a lack of intent is not a justification for violating the law because of ignorance. Someone can be held criminally responsible for an act they knowingly do, even if they are unaware that their conduct is illegal.

It is likewise impossible to invoke the absence of purpose as a defense against strict liability charges. In the case of an offense classified as strict responsibility, the prosecution is not required to prove that the defendant had any criminal intent; instead, they need only prove that the defendant committed the conduct.

Crime with Both a General and a Specific Aim in Tampa

In some states, there are two types of crimes: those committed with general intent and those engaged with specialized intent.

The defendant must have planned to commit the conduct to be found guilty of a crime with a general purpose. The defendant is not required to intentionally or anticipate a particular effect due to their actions. The accused just needs to have the intent to hit the victim to be charged with simple assault; they do not need to intend to cause the victim any particular injury.

To successfully defend a general intent crime by arguing that the defendant lacked intent, the defense must provide evidence that the defendant did not harbor any criminal intent.

To convict the defendant of a crime involving specific intent, the prosecution must demonstrate that the defendant acted to achieve the intended result. For instance, to be guilty of burglary, a person must break into a building to commit a crime once inside.

Even if the defendant did have general intent when they committed the conduct, a winning defense to a crime that requires specific intent must emphasize that the defendant did not intend the precise outcome when they committed the act.

What does it mean for a criminal defense attorney in Tampa to argue that their client lacked the intent to commit the crime?

As was seen above, a defense attorney can highlight the inability of the prosecution to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant held the necessary intent when they committed an unlawful act by arguing that the defendant did not have the required intent.

A defense attorney may also argue that the defendant lacked intent by utilizing defenses such as:

Involuntary intoxication, which occurs when the defendant is unable to create the necessary intent to commit the crime error of fact, which occurs when the defendant holds a reasonable but incorrect view as to the circumstances of the situation

The specific circumstances of that case determine the possible defenses in a particular case. At Rodriguez & Williamson, PLLC, we recognize that every case is different, and we will work with you to develop a defense strategy that can assist clear your name. To schedule your free consultation, please call us at (813) 320-7500 or fill out the online contact form immediately.