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Criminal Defense Case Results
Many of our clients ask the same question: “What kinds of cases have you taken in the past, and what was the outcome in those cases?” If you would like to view the case results in felony and misdemeanor cases listed below, please read the following disclaimer:
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- The Florida Bar does not approve or routinely review case results posted by attorneys.
- The facts and circumstances of your case may differ from the facts and circumstances discussed here.
- Not all case results are listed here or provided.
- The case results discussed here do not necessarily represent the results obtained in all cases.
- Each case is different and must be evaluated and handled on its own merit.
Assigned Attorney: Josh Monteiro
We were contacted about a person sitting in jail after being removed from a domestic violence diversion program for failing to complete the original requirements. After being retained, we negotiated with the prosecutor at the State Attorney’s Office in Hillsborough County, FL, to have our client reaccepted into the program and secured her release from custody.
The client then completed the program successfully, and the charge was dismissed on July 10, 2025. The case ended without a conviction and without the matter remaining on her record.
On June 25, 2025, the State filed a Nolle Prosse officially dismissing the charge against our client allowing him to maintain a clean record. The charge was Battery (Domestic Violence) in Hillsborough County before Judge Scott. In order to get the charges dropped, we investigated the case before reached out to the State Attorney to find an agreeable resolution for everyone. We suggested that the State drop the charges after our client voluntarily completed an Anger Management Course online. The State Attorney agreed after proof was submitted to them.
Our client was originally arrested for Battery and Domestic Battery by Strangulation on March 8, 2024, in Hillsborough County. Ms. Vento contacted the State Attorney’s Office in Hillsborough County shortly after the arrest. In communicating with the State, Ms. Vento realized there were discrepancies between what was reported to law enforcement, what was told to the prosecutor, and what the alleged victim was saying on social media. Ms. Vento provided the prosecutor with copies of the alleged victim’s social media statements, proving the discrepancies. The State elected not to file formal charges against the client on March 27, 2024, allowing our client to move on with his life free of any domestic violence or felony charges.
Our client was charged with domestic violence battery. On January 25, 2022, at the scheduled Jury Trial hearing date, the State announced a Nolle Prosse which dismissed the charge.
Felony False Imprisonment and DV Battery Charges Dropped in Tampa
On December 5, 2017, in case number 17-CF-011XXX, pending before the Honorable Judge Vivian T. Corvo in Felony Division G in Hillsborough County, the prosecutor dropped charges of False Imprisonment and Domestic Violence Battery.
Our client’s mother filed an injunction against him. We continued the initial hearing and began discovery, issuing interrogatories and requests for production. Following negotiations, the petitioner agreed to a stipulated settlement agreement and did not appear at the final hearing, leading the Judge to dismiss the injunction.
Our client was charged with domestic violence battery. Our office engaged in depositions of the alleged victim and several other witnesses in the matter. In the depositions, we identified inconsistencies in the testimony of the victim. On February 22, 2023, the day before the scheduled Jury Trial hearing, the State announced a Nolle Prosse, which dismissed the charge.
On August 10, 2023, the State Attorney’s Office in Hillsborough County agreed not to file formal charges against our client, who was arrested for two counts of Domestic Battery after we presented evidence in mitigation and explained the potential defenses.
Our client who was the real victim in a domestic incident with her husband was arrested and taken to jail on a Battery case in 21-CM-XXXX99. Fortunately, justice was served as we were able to achieve a quick Notice of Termination of Prosecution from the State on July 23, 2021, in front of Judge Taylor. This pending case would have had huge ramifications in her divorce and custody case with her children.
On January 21, 2020, the State Attorney’s Office in Tampa was forced to drop a Domestic Violence Battery charge against our client in 19-CM-XXXX01 after the case was set for a Jury Trial. Prior to the day of trial the State was insistent that they would not drop the case despite the alleged victim not wanting to prosecute. At the Pretrial Conference, the State indicated it would attempt to prove the cases at trial based on our client’s statements regardless of whether the alleged victim cooperated or not. Had our client accepted the State’s offer, he would have been subject to the very expensive and inconvenient burden of Domestic Violence Intervention, a program that typically requires 26-29 weeks of Batterer Intervention classes. Because our client had confidence in our process, he was spared the inconvenience of DVIP and can now apply to expunge his record.
On July 20, 2020, the Assistant State Attorney filed a “letter of release” to drop the charges for False Imprisonment and Domestic Violence Battery. As a result, the charges were “no-filed.” Prior to that decision, we were able to talk with the alleged victim and provide exculpatory evidence to the prosecutor showing that our client was not guilty of the incident that allegedly occurred on June 9, 2020, in Hillsborough County, FL.
On August 19, 2020, the prosecutor in Tampa, FL, filed a “Notice of Case Statute – Letter of Release” which indicated “no-filed” as the filing. The reason listed was that the “victim has recanted the original facts given to law enforcement or has given statements that are inconsistent or not credible. There is no other admissible evidence to support the charge.” As a result, the arrest warrant was recalled and our client did NOT have to go into custody for the outstanding arrest warrant issued on July 27, 2020, for aggravated battery on a pregnant female or great bodily harm under Section 784.045(1)(b). Shortly after the incident, we were able to meet with the alleged victim who provided us with a “drop affidavit” requesting that the case not be prosecuted. We provided the drop affidavit to the prosecutor along with information from additional witnesses showing that our client was not guilty of the accusation.
On June 27, 2019, the State Attorney’s Office in Tampa, FL, filed a “Notice of Termination of Prosecution” with the clerk of the court which provided: “Having reviewed the charge(s) contained in the Criminal Report Affidavit and/or Notice to Appear, the State Attorney’s Office informs you that the charge(s) contained therein is/are dismissed and prosecution is terminated as of this date and that the defendant need not appear for any further proceedings in this matter. This notice is also authority to inform the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office to release the bond, if bond has been posted.” In this case, we presented information to the State Attorney’s Office showing why the charge for domestic violence battery should be dismissed immediately.
Domestic Violence Battery Dropped in Tampa, Florida
August 2, 2018 – Our client’s DV Battery case was dropped on July 25, 2018, after we pushed the case to Jury Trial. Based on the State’s refusal to drop the case earlier and offer of probation, we elected to schedule a trial. On the date of Pretrial in front of the Honorable Margaret Taylor in Division E, the State dropped 18-CM-001XXX.
DV Injunction Dismissed in Tampa
September 18, 2018 – In 18-DR-014XXX, our client was falsely accused of egregious untruths in a Petition for Injunction Based on Domestic Violence. On September 18, 2018, in Division H in front of Judge Smith, our initial inclination was to continue the case to take the deposition of the Petitioner. However, we made an Ore Tenus Motion to Dismiss based on the fact that the Petition was devoid of any allegations of Domestic Violence. At best, there was one allegation that could just barely meet a single incident required for Domestic Violence. However, the remaining allegations were from 20+ years prior. Judge Smith granted our oral motion to dismiss finding there was not competent and substantial evidence.
No File in Domestic Violence Battery by Strangulation and Domestic Violence Injunction Dismissed in Tampa, Florida
Our client was arrested for Domestic Violence Battery by Strangulation in 18-CF-014XXX. The alleged victim also filed for an Injunction in 18-DR-014XXX. Our office engaged in depositions of the alleged victim and several other witnesses in the Injunction matter while the felony case was pending in intake at the State Attorney’s Office. In the depositions, we were able to identify inconsistencies in the testimony of the State’s witnesses. The Injunction was dismissed on October 16, 2018, in Division X in front of Judge Weis in Plant City. In addition, the deposition transcripts were provided to the State Attorney and on November 28, 2018, the State Attorney filed a Letter of Release and declined to file any formal charges in his felony case.
Stand Your Ground Immunity Motion Granted after Hearing
On December 9, 2016, in case number 16-CM-008XXX in Division X with Judge Weis, we filed a Motion to Dismiss based on Stand Your Ground Immunity in a domestic violence case. The Court heard testimony from several witnesses and then decided to grant the motion which dismissed the criminal charge pending against our client.
The client was arrested on January 3, 2024, for Battery Domestic Violence under Florida Statute 784.03(1)(A)(1) in Hillsborough County. Ms. Vento made contact with the alleged victim, who initially indicated she did not want to proceed with charges before cutting off any communication. Ms. Vento made contact with the State Attorney’s Office, raising concerns of potential mischaracterization of the events that occurred prior to an arrest being made and a note that was left in the Client’s belongings when they retrieved their items from the mutual home. As a result, the State proceeded to not file formal charged against the Client.
