In January of 2026, our client was arrested for “battery domestic” under Florida Statute Section 784.03, a first degree misdemeanor, by a deputy with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. At the first appearance hearing the next morning, before we were retained, the Court imposed a “no contact” provision that prevented our client from returning to her home, seeing her husband (who was the alleged victim), or her child (who was present for the incident). Instead, the Court only allowed our client a “one time residential visit in the presence of law enforcement for retrieval of personal belongings.” Shortly after being released from jail, the client hired Katherine Aranda, an attorney at Sammis Law Firm. Ms. Aranda requested that the client take an “anger management” course and be careful not to violate the “no contact” provision. Ms. Aranda investigated the case and presented favorable evidence to the State Attorney’s Office showing that no crime occurred and the alleged victim did not want to prosecute. Although the State Attorney’s Office wanted us to send a written waiver of speedy trial which might have delayed the case, we refused since our client had already completed the Anger Management court. A motion to modify the “no contact” provision was filed, although Judge Holly Grissinger denied that motion since our client had not taken the longer 26-week batterers intervention program course and submitted to a mental health evaluation. Nevertheless, a few day later, the State Attorney’s Office filed a “no information” on February 5, 2026 that dropped the case. At that moment, the “no contact” provision terminated, allowing our client to return home and begin the process of petitioning the court to expunge the case since she had no prior record and was otherwise eligible.
