Criminal Defense in Pinellas County 

Each year, prosecutors with the Office of the State Attorney in Pinellas County, FL, handle more than 130,000 criminal prosecution referrals in misdemeanor cases, felony cases, and juvenile delinquency cases.

Felony and misdemeanor criminal cases are prosecuted at the Pinellas County Justice Center (CJC) Courthouse on 49th Street in Clearwater. Some criminal misdemeanor traffic cases are prosecuted at the North County Traffic Court located at 29582 U.S. Hwy 19 North, Clearwater, FL 33761.

If you face criminal charges in Pinellas County, you need an experienced criminal defense attorney at every stage.

Attorneys for Criminal Defense in Pinellas County, FL

If you are being prosecuted for a crime in Pinellas County, contact an experienced criminal defense attorney at Sammis Law Firm, P.A.

Our criminal justice attorneys represent clients charged with misdemeanor and felony offenses during each stage of their criminal case, including:

• the first appearance advisory hearing within 24 hours of their arrest;
• emergency bond hearings;
• pre-file investigations;
• arraignment after formal charges are filed;
• pre-trial conferences;
• motion hearings to dismiss the charges or suppress or exclude evidence; and
• the bench or jury trial.

We can help you decide the best way to fight the accusation or resolve the case before trial. We represent clients in courtrooms throughout Clearwater, Florida.

Contact us for an initial consultation to discuss the criminal charges pending against you, the typical penalties imposed, and the best way to aggressively fight the criminal charges.

Visit the Pinellas office of Sammis Law Firm at 14010 Roosevelt Blvd Suite 701, Clearwater, FL 33762-3820.

Don’t face the judge alone. Contact our experienced criminal defense lawyers in Pinellas County, FL.

Call 727-210-7004. 

Types of Criminal Justice Cases in Pinellas County

We created our website to provide general information about particular criminal charges in the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Pinellas County. At Sammis Law Firm, our attorneys represent men and women charged with both felony and misdemeanor offenses, including:

• Criminal Traffic Crimes
  • Drunk driving or driving under the influence (DUI) ;
  • Reckless driving;
  • Driving while license suspended;
  • Habitual traffic offender (HTO) revocations and driving while license revoked as a habitual traffic offender;
• Violent Crimes
  • Domestic violence battery;
  • Domestic violence includes interference with a 911 case, stalking or violation of domestic violence restraining order or protective order;
  • Child Abuse or Aggravated Child Abuse cases;
  • Rape or Sexual Battery;
• Probation
  • Violation of Probation cases in felony and misdemeanor cases;
  • Violation of Pretrial Release in felony and misdemeanor cases;
  • Early Termination of Probation, Community Control or House Arrest;
• Seal or Expunge a Criminal Record, including information about the arrest, arrest photos, police reports, and information in the clerk’s file at the courthouse and online websites for Clearwater, Pinellas County, FL;
• Drug Crimes
  • simple possession of marijuana or controlled substances;
  • possession with intent to sell;
  • sell and delivery; or
  • drug trafficking;
• Theft crimes include shoplifting, petit theft, grand theft, embezzlement, employee theft, scheme to defraud, and fraud;
• Extradition to Pinellas County on a Fugitive Warrant;
• Resolving an outstanding warrant, including a bench warrant, an arrest warrant, or a capias for your arrest after a failure to appear or failure to comply with a court order.

Cases are handled differently at the Pinellas County Criminal Justice Center, particularly for pre-file felony investigations, violation of probation cases, and emergency bond hearings.

Contact us to discuss what you might need to do to protect your rights and increase your chances of finding the best resolution to your case.

Fighting a DUI Case in Pinellas County, FL

After an arrest for DUI, you will typically have two cases pending against you.

• First, you must answer the criminal charge of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI) at the Pinellas County Justice Center Courthouse in Clearwater, FL, or the traffic court in North County in St. Petersburg, FL, or the traffic court in South County in Clearwater, FL.

• Second, you have a civil case pending against you related to the administrative suspension of your driver’s license (regardless of the outcome of your criminal case). You only have 10 days to request a formal review hearing to fight the administrative suspension of your Florida driver’s license.

We represent clients charged with the following types of DUI offenses:

1. Refusal to submit to a chemical test;
2. Breath test on the Intoxilyzer 8000;
3. Blood test; or
4. Urine Test.

Read more about the punishments and penalties that result after a DUI conviction depending on the way in which the crime is charged, including:

1. First, Second, Third, or Fourth DUI conviction;
2. DUI with a BAC of over .15 or a child passenger;
3. DUI with property damage after a vehicle crash;
4. DUI with non-serious personal injury; and
5. Felony DUI with serious personal injury.

Track Your Felony, Misdemeanor, or Traffic Case in Pinellas County, FL

Pinellas County Criminal Cases and Traffic Infractions – Search here to research your case on the Clerk of Court Website to find information about your next court date, the judge assigned to your case, motions, and other legal pleadings filed in your case, or the disposition of an old case.

Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Jail Inquiry – Research your case here to find the information available immediately after an arrest, including the bond and booking number for any person arrested. Major Alexis Davis commands the Detention and Corrections Bureau of the Sheriff’s Office for Pinellas County through six major divisions, including Inmate Healthcare, Central, South, North, Corrections Special Operations, and Support. The inmate population typically exceeds 3,000 inmates at any given time.

Finding a Criminal Defense Attorney for Pinellas County, FL

If you were arrested for a criminal offense in St. Petersburg or Clearwater, FL, contact an experienced criminal defense attorney at the Sammis Law Firm, P.A.

Our attorneys represent clients on DUI, misdemeanor, and felony offenses throughout Pinellas County. Our main office is in downtown Tampa, FL. We also have a second office in New Port Richey, Pasco County, across from the West Pasco Judicial Center.

We fight cases throughout Pinellas County after an arrest in any of the 24 incorporated municipalities, including St. Petersburg, Gulfport, Pinellas Park, Clearwater, Safety Harbor, Dunedin, Seminole, Tarpon Springs, St. Pete Beach, or Largo, FL.

The attorneys at the Sammis Law Firm fight for the best results at every stage of the case, including the pre-file investigation, the first appearance advisory hearing, the arraignment, depositions, and pre-trial negotiations through trial.

Call 727-210-7004.

This article was last updated on Tuesday, March 26, 2024.