St. Petersburg Witness Tampering Lawyer

Being accused of witness tampering in Florida can have serious consequences and complicate any existing charges against you. Even if you did not mean to do anything wrong, reaching out to someone involved in a case can lead to additional felony charges, higher bail, and a bigger fight in court.

If you face a charge like this, you need a St. Petersburg witness tampering lawyer who knows how to take action quickly. At Goldman Wetzel, our attorneys do not just sit back and wait—we build a proactive defense and handle every case together, from start to finish.

What Is Witness Tampering?

In Florida, it is illegal to try to influence, intimidate, threaten, or persuade a witness, victim, or informant in any way that affects their role in a criminal case. You may need the help of a St. Petersburg attorney if you are charged with witness tampering for:

• Asking someone not to testify
• Encouraging someone to lie or leave out details
• Offering money or favors to “stay quiet”
• Threatening or harassing someone who might talk to the police
• Indirectly pressuring someone through social media or mutual friends

This law applies regardless of whether you face charges in the underlying case. Even if the other person was not actually intimidated or did not change their story, you can still be accused of tampering.

Felony Charges With Serious Penalties

In Florida, witness tampering is a state felony and carries harsh penalties. Depending on the circumstances, a tampering charge can be a:

• Third-degree felony: Up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine
• Second-degree felony: Up to 15 years in prison if the tampering involved a criminal proceeding
• First-degree felony: Up to 30 years in prison if it involved using force or threatening physical harm

In addition, prosecutors take these charges personally, especially if they think you are interfering with their case. They may push for harsh penalties, even if you did not fully understand what you were doing.

How a Witness Tampering Lawyer Can Help

At Goldman Wetzel, we handle these cases differently. From the moment you call, you will have two attorneys working on your witness tampering case in St. Petersburg. We have defended clients against charges that other lawyers will not touch, bringing years of trial experience and a deep understanding of how the system works. We consider:

• Intent: Tampering charges are often about what you meant to do, and we can argue that your actions were not intended to interfere with a case
• No actual influence: If the witness was not affected by what you said or did, we can use that in your defense
• Free speech or regular contact: Not all contact is illegal, and we can challenge unfair charges based on the full context of your communication
• False accusations: We challenge claims of tampering made in high-conflict cases, when it is not uncommon for someone to try to make you look worse

We also examine whether the underlying case is still open or resolved, because that can affect how the judge views your intent.

Accused of Witness Tampering While on Another Charge?

Many people charged with tampering are already dealing with another criminal case, such as domestic violence, battery, or a sex crime. In those situations, tampering can complicate your defense, increase your bail, and hurt your chances in the original case.

At Goldman Wetzel, our attorneys have handled cases like this before, and we know how to fight on both fronts. Our St. Petersburg legal team will make sure nothing you say or do is used against you unfairly, and we will push to have witness tampering charges dropped if they were based on assumptions, miscommunication, or a mistake.

Get Help From a Witness Tampering Lawyer in St. Petersburg

We know how overwhelming it can feel if you have been accused of witness tampering. You will be worried about jail time, your reputation, and how this will affect your future.

If you need a St. Petersburg witness tampering lawyer, Goldman Wetzel is here to fight for you. We do not back down from tough cases, and we act fast, build smart defenses, and never treat our clients like just another file. Call us today, and let us get started on your defense.