Criminal Defense for Pasco County

If you were accused of a misdemeanor or felony in the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Pasco County, FL, your case is assigned to a judge in the New Port Richey or Dade City courthouse. The clerk’s office assigns a circuit or county criminal, juvenile delinquency, or traffic case to either:

• The Robert D. Sumner Judicial Center in Dade City for East Pasco County cases when the offense location is east of US Highway 41
• The West Pasco Judicial Center in New Port Richey for West Pasco County cases when the offense location is west of US Highway 41

The Pasco County Detention Facility (also known as the “county jail”) is located between these two cities in Land O’Lakes, FL. The Office Of The State Attorney for the Sixth Judicial Circuit of Florida has offices in New Port Richey and Dade City, FL.

Most criminal cases begin with an investigation by officers with one of the following local law enforcement agencies:

• the Pasco Sheriff’s Office
• the New Port Richey Police Department
• the Port Richey Police Department
• the Dade City Police Department
• the Zephyrhills Police Department
• the Florida Highway Patrol

If you were arrested or given a “notice to appear” in court, find an experienced criminal defense attorney to represent you. Find an attorney as early as possible so that all defenses are available.

We fight all criminal accusations, from the least serious misdemeanor to the most serious felony and everything in between. Our experienced criminal defense attorneys can help you fight the accusation. The best result is getting the charges dismissed and expunging any record of the arrest or prosecution.

Attorneys for Criminal Defense in Pasco County, FL

Contact an experienced criminal defense attorney at the Sammis Law Firm to discuss the best ways to fight criminal accusations. Our six attorneys are devoted to  fighting criminal charges in and around the Sixth Judicial Circuit for Pasco County, FL.

We help people after an arrest or criminal investigation in New Port Richey, Port Richey, San Antonio, Zephyrhills, Land O’Lakes, Dade City, Trinity, St. Leo, Meadow Pointe, and Concord Station, FL.

Our office is conveniently located at 7509 Little Road, New Port Richey, FL, 34654, directly across from the West Pasco Judicial Center courthouse.

Contact us to discuss your felony or misdemeanor case during a free and confidential consultation. Find out more about the charges pending against you, ways to avoid potential penalties, and the best way to fight the charges.

Call 727-807-6392.

Overview of Criminal Charges in Pasco County

• Criminal Cases in East Pasco or West Pasco
• Judges in Pasco County for Criminal and DUI Cases
• Different Types of Criminal Cases Prosecuted in Pasco County
• Courthouses for Criminal Cases in Pasco County, FL
• Criminal Trials During COVID in Pasco County, FL
• Pasco County Criminal and Traffic Cases
• Pasco County Law Enforcement Agencies
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Additional Resources

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Criminal Cases in East Pasco or West Pasco

For the prosecution of criminal cases in Pasco County, the county is organized into two distinct areas:

• East Pasco
• West Pasco

Determining the separation line within the county is difficult because no easily identifiable geographical separation exists. As a general rule, the cases are divided depending on whether the incident occurred to the east or west of US Highway 41. Another way to determine if the case is an East or West Pasco case is by identifying the law enforcement agency involved.

Circuit and county court judges preside over cases in the judicial facilities in New Port Richey and Dade City. If the case is being handled by an East Pasco County law enforcement agency, it will probably be heard at the Robert D. Sumner Judicial Center in Dade City at 38053 Live Oak Avenue. If the case is being handled by a West Pasco law enforcement agency, it will probably be heard in the Pasco Government Center in New Port Richey at 7530 Little Road.

The East Pasco County Law Enforcement Agencies include:

• the Dade City Police Department;
• the Zephyrhills Police Department;
• the Sheriff’s Office – East Pasco; or
• the Sheriff’s Office – East Pasco Patrol Division.

The West Pasco County Cases Law Enforcement Agencies include:

• the New Port Richey Police Department;
• the Port Richey Police Department;
• the Sheriff’s Office – West Pasco; or
• the Sheriff’s Office – West Pasco Patrol Division.

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Judges in Pasco County for Criminal and DUI Cases

The most recent judicial assignments for criminal cases in the Circuit Courts in Pasco County, FL, were announced in Administrative Order No. 2022-003 PA-CIR. Effective February 14, 2022, the East Pasco Judicial Assignments in the Criminal Court Sections in Circuit Court in Dade City include:

Sections 1, 2

• Judge Gregory G. Groger – All Criminal cases, including violations of probation, excluding technical violations
• Judge Linda H. Babb – Technical violations of probation
• Judge Susan Barthle and Judge Kemba Johnson Lewis – Criminal jury trials, as needed

Section 30

• Judge Shawn Crane – Adult Drug Court, Veterans Court

JUVENILE COURT SECTIONS
Sections 5, 28

Judge Linda H. Babb – All Juvenile Delinquency

Judge Susan Barthle—During the absence of the assigned juvenile dependency judge, Judge Susan Barthle is designated as a juvenile court judge in Pasco County to handle shelter hearings and other juvenile matters in the juvenile dependency division.

FAMILY COURT SECTIONS

Section C

Judge Alicia Polk – 50% of domestic violence cases, including any indirect criminal contempt affidavits prosecuted by the State Attorney’s Office

Section C1

Judge Brian Gnage – 50% of domestic violence cases, including any indirect criminal contempt affidavits prosecuted by the State Attorney’s Office

Section C2

Judge Linda H. Babb – Dating, repeat, and sexual violence and stalking cases.

WEST PASCO JUDICIAL ASSIGNMENTS

The West Pasco Judicial Assignments in the Criminal Court Sections in Circuit Court in New Port Richey include:

CRIMINAL COURT SECTIONS

Section 3

Judge Mary M. Handsel – 50% Criminal cases, including section 3 violations of probation; Indirect criminal contempt affidavits filed in Section Q1 and prosecuted by the State Attorney’s Office

Section 4

Judge Kim Campbell – 50% Criminal cases, including section 4 violations of probation; Indirect criminal contempt affidavits filed in Section Q2 and prosecuted by the State Attorney’s Office

Criminal jury trials, as needed Judge Kimberly Sharpe Byrd
and Judge Declan P. Mansfield

Section 31

Judge Shawn Crane – Adult Drug Court, Veterans Court

The East Pasco Judicial Assignments for Criminal Court Sections in Dade City, FL, include:

• Judge William G. Sestak is assigned to Sections 10 and 14 for Misdemeanors, DUI, criminal traffic, violations of probation, and orders to show cause relative to cases heard under this jurisdiction while presiding.

The West Pasco Judicial Assignments for Criminal Court Sections in New Port Richey, FL, include:

• Judge Joseph A. Poblick, in Section 16, presides over misdemeanors, DUI, criminal traffic, violations of probation, and orders to show cause relative to cases heard under this jurisdiction while presiding;

• Judge Anne Wansboro, in Section 15, presides over misdemeanors, DUI, criminal traffic, violations of probation, and orders to show cause relative to cases heard under this jurisdiction while presiding; and

• Judge Debra Roberts, in Section 17, presides over misdemeanors, DUI, criminal traffic, violations of probation, and orders to show cause relative to cases heard under this jurisdiction while presiding.

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Different Types of Criminal Cases Prosecuted in Pasco County

We created this website to provide general information about criminal offenses under Florida law. This website also explains many possible defenses for charges prosecuted in Pasco County, FL. At Sammis Law Firm, our lawyers represent people charged with both felony and misdemeanor crimes in Pasco County, FL, including:

• Driving under the influence (DUI) or drunk driving
  • First DUI in Pasco
  • Second DUI in Pasco
• Reckless driving;
• Driving while license is suspended or revoked

• • Habitual traffic offender (HTO) revocations, including filing an appeal to remove the HTO five-year revocation so that the client can get their driver’s license reinstated, as well as representing someone charged with driving while HTO
  • Simple battery or aggravated battery with great bodily harm or a deadly weapon
  • Assault or Aggravated Assault

• Domestic violence can include domestic battery, interference with a 911 call, child abuse, aggravated child abuse, child endangerment, stalking, or violation of a domestic violence restraining orders
• Injunctions for protection against domestic violence, repeat violence, stalking, dating violence
• Petitions for a Risk Protection Order
• Violation of probation cases in Pasco County for both felony and misdemeanor cases
• Early termination of probation, community control or house arrest
• Investigations by Pasco County Child Protective Team and Investigations
• Seal or Expunge a Criminal Record from an arrest in Pasco County for Dade City or New Port Richey
• Drug Crimes in Pasco County include:
  • simple possession
  • possession with intent to sell
  • trafficking in a controlled substance

• Marijuana crimes include simple possession, possession of cannabis with intent to sell, cultivation or manufacture of cannabis, operating a marijuana grow house, trafficking in cannabis
• Theft offenses, including shoplifting, petit theft, grand theft, fraud, or scheme to defraud
• Property crimes, including burglary and robbery
• Resolving an outstanding warrant, including an arrest warrant, bench warrant, or capias for your arrest after a failure to appear or failure to comply with a Pasco County court order in Dade City or New Port Richey
• Extradition on a Fugitive Warrant to Pasco County in Dade City or New Port Richey, FL
• Arrest on a felony or misdemeanor arrest warrant in Pasco County
• Ordinance violations.

Our juvenile defense attorneys in Pasco County also represent young people accused of a crime in juvenile court in New Port Richey and Dade City, FL.

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Courthouses for Criminal Cases in Pasco County, FL

Criminal cases in Pasco County will be held at either the New Port Richey or Dade City Courthouse.

Pasco County Courthouse in Dade City

Robert D. Sumner Judicial Center 

38053 Live Oak Avenue
Dade City, FL 33523

Pasco County Courthouse in New Port Richey
West Pasco Judicial Center
7530 Little Road
New Port Richey, FL 34654

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Criminal Trials During COVID in Pasco County, FL

Update: In March 2020, the Florida Supreme Court put all jury trials on hold. In September, the 6th Judicial Circuit in Pasco County transitioned to Phase 2 and started jury trials in October. The courts reversed course on resuming in-person court proceedings because the spread of the virus prevented them from doing so safely. On December 9, 2020, jury trials were temporarily suspended in Pasco County.

The order imposing the new restrictions did not affect the grand jury in Pasco County, which was scheduled to convene on Thursday, December 10, 2020. The State Attorney was cleared to proceed with grand jury selection and presentations for murder cases. On Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, the chief judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit modified the Sixth Circuit’s operational plan as it affects Pasco County based on a review of the most recent COVID-19 data. As of March 15, 2021, criminal and civil jury trials resumed in Pasco County.

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Pasco County Criminal and Traffic Cases

Pasco County Clerk of Court for Criminal Cases – Click here to research your misdemeanor or felony case through the Pasco County Clerk’s Office. Find out more about the three courthouses in Pasco County, including:

• The Robert D. Sumner Judicial Center, 38053 Live Oak Avenue, Dade City, Florida;
• The West Pasco Judicial Center, 7530 Little Road, New Port Richey, Florida; and
• The Pasco Historic Courthouse, 37918 Meridian Avenue, Dade City, Florida.

Pasco County Traffic Infractions – Click here to find information about any traffic ticket, infraction, or citation in Pasco County, FL. Find the traffic fine schedule and traffic citation guide for electing to attend a driver improvement course or contesting the citation during a trial after entering a “not guilty” plea. You can also find the sample forms used in traffic court, including the motion to continue the civil traffic infraction hearing, the election to attend a driver improvement course, or the form for entering a plea of not guilty or no contest.

Uniform Bond Schedule in Pasco County – Read more about the uniform bond schedule and special procedures in New Port Richey and Dade City for the first appearance and emergency bond motions.

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Pasco County Law Enforcement Agencies

Pasco County Sheriff’s Office – The Pasco Sheriff’s Office (PSO) was the first Sheriff’s Office in the central Florida region to adopt a full-scale body camera program for all patrol officers that began in early 2015. To request public records, contact the records department at Records@pascosheriff.org or call (813) 235-6118 or fax (813) 235-6119.

• Pasco County Sheriff’s Office in New Port Richey is located at:

8700 Citizen Drive
New Port Richey, Florida 34654
Phone Number: 727-847-5878

• Pasco County Sheriff’s Office in Land O Lakes is located at:

20101 Central Blvd.
Land O Lakes, Florida 34639
Phone Number: 813-996-6982

• Pasco County Sheriff’s Office in Dade City is located at:

36409 State Road 52
Dade City, Florida 33525
Phone Number: 352-518-5000

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Frequently Asked Questions

• Where are criminal cases prosecuted in Pasco County, Florida?

  Criminal cases in Pasco County are prosecuted in the Sixth Judicial Circuit at either the Dade City or New Port Richey courthouse. Generally, cases are assigned based on whether the alleged offense occurred east or west of U.S. Highway 41. Felony, misdemeanor, juvenile delinquency, and many traffic-related criminal cases are handled through these two judicial centers.

• What is the difference between East Pasco and West Pasco cases?

  East Pasco cases are typically heard at the Robert D. Sumner Judicial Center in Dade City, and West Pasco cases are typically heard at the West Pasco Judicial Center in New Port Richey. The east/west split is often determined by the incident location relative to U.S. 41 and sometimes by the law enforcement agency involved. Knowing which side your case falls on matters because judges, procedures, and scheduling can differ.

• Which law enforcement agencies investigate crimes in Pasco County?

  Investigations often begin with the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, Florida Highway Patrol, or municipal agencies like New Port Richey, Port Richey, Dade City, or Zephyrhills Police Departments. The investigating agency can also provide clues about whether the case will be handled in East or West Pasco. An attorney can intervene early during the investigation to protect your rights.

• What should I do if I was arrested or received a Notice to Appear in Pasco County?

  You should contact a criminal defense attorney as early as possible, before making statements or trying to “explain” the situation to law enforcement. Early representation helps preserve defenses and can prevent mistakes that make the case harder to fight. Your attorney can also confirm where the case is filed and what your next court date requires.

• Where is the Pasco County jail located?

  The Pasco County Detention Facility (the county jail) is located in Land O’Lakes, Florida, between Dade City and New Port Richey. Many cases involve first appearance proceedings connected to the jail process. An attorney can help with bond issues, emergency bond motions, and early court appearances.

• Can Sammis Law Firm help if there is a warrant for my arrest in Pasco County?

  Yes. Warrants may involve new charges, a failure to appear, or an alleged failure to comply with court orders. In many situations, an attorney can address the warrant proactively through court filings and hearings aimed at minimizing jail exposure and improving bond conditions.

• Can my Pasco County record be sealed or expunged?

  If your case ends in a way that qualifies under Florida law, you may be eligible to seal or expunge the record tied to an arrest or prosecution in Dade City or New Port Richey. Eligibility depends on your disposition and criminal history. An attorney can evaluate the outcome and guide you through the process after the case resolves.

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Additional Resources:

DUI Attorneys in Pasco County – If you were arrested for DUI in Pasco County, you only have ten (10) days to file a request for a formal review hearing with the DMV to protect your driver’s license from being suspended. Visit our DUI information centers for articles about how to protect yourself after a DUI arrest to avoid a conviction for cases involving a DUI in New Port Richey or a DUI in Dade City, FL.

Seal or Expunge a Criminal History Record in Pasco County, FL – Read more about the process to seal or expunge a criminal history record at the courthouse in New Port Richey or Dade City.

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Finding a Criminal Defense Lawyer in Pasco County, FL

If you have been arrested for a DUI, felony, or misdemeanor offense in Pasco County, Florida, contact an experienced criminal justice attorney at Sammis Law Firm to discuss the details of your case.

Our main office is located in Tampa in Hillsborough County, FL. We also have a second office located in New Port Richey in Pasco County. We represent clients in criminal cases throughout Pasco County, FL, and the surrounding areas, including New Port Richey, Dade City, Zephyrhills, and Wesley Chapel.

We provide a free and confidential consultation to discuss your case. We can also schedule same-day consultations with individuals who are being held at the Pasco County Jail, for a confidential meeting to review the charges and possible defenses.

Let us put our experience to work for you.

Call (813) 250-0500.

This article was last updated on Thursday, January 23, 2025.