Criminal Defense Case Results

Attorney: Katherine Aranda

After an argument with his girlfriend, our client was arrested for misdemeanor battery and felony burglary with battery. Pursuant to Florida Statute § 810.02(2)(a), the crime of felony burglary with battery is punishable by life in prison. After completing an initial investigation, attorney Katherine Aranda spoke with the alleged victim who did not want the case prosecuted. After explaining the alleged victim’s wishes to the prosecutor and pointing out other problems with the case, our attorney convinced the prosecutor not to file any formal charge. As a result, the case was dismissed on June 10, 2026.

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.

Assigned Attorney: Josh Monteiro

Our client and their partner were both arrested after a public argument. We obtained drop affidavits from both parties and presented them to the State. As neither party wished to prosecute, the State dismissed the case, recognizing it as a mutual misunderstanding.

Our client was initially arrested for Domestic Violence Battery on January 4, 2024, in Pinellas County. Attorney Idalis Vento contacted the State Attorney’s Office prior to charges being filed. The alleged victim was cooperative in not wanting charges to be filed and signed a notarized “Drop Affidavit” saying as much. Ms. Vento filed the Drop Affidavit and presented other mitigating information to the State. The State elected not to file charges against the client on February 6, 2024, filing a “No Information.”

Our client was formally charged with Battery by Strangulation under Fla. Stat. 784.041 in a case pending before Pinellas County Judge Meyer. We conducted discovery depositions and elicited testimony from the alleged victim, showing that our client did not strangle her. We then filed a Motion to Dismiss the charge based on the alleged victim’s testimony and the State’s inability to prove the charge. We presented the State with mitigation from our client and information surrounding the alleged victim’s statements, which called into question the credibility of witness testimony. Before the Motion to Dismiss being heard by the Judge, the State filed a Nolle Prosse of the case on October 2, 2024, officially dropping the charge against our client. Our client was formally charged with Battery by Strangulation under Fla. Stat. 784.041 in a case pending before Pinellas County Judge Meyer. We conducted discovery depositions and elicited testimony from the alleged victim, showing that our client did not strangle her. We then filed a Motion to Dismiss the charge based on the alleged victim’s testimony and the State’s inability to prove the charge. We presented the State with mitigation from our client and information surrounding the alleged victim’s statements, which called into question the credibility of witness testimony. Before the Motion to Dismiss being heard by the Judge, the State filed a Nolle Prosse of the case on October 2, 2024, officially dropping the charge against our client.

On October 31, 2024, the Honorable Aaron W. Hubbard, County Judge in Pinellas County, dismissed an injunction for protection from domestic violence after the petitioner presented testimony about alleged wrongdoing by her estranged husband. We questioned the petitioner in order to show the lack of evidence and inconsistencies in her testimony. The court dismissed the injunction finding that the evidence presented was insufficient to allow the court to issue an injunction for protection.

On January 11, 2023, the State Attorney’s Office in Pinellas County agreed not to file formal charges against our client, who was arrested for a Domestic Battery Charge.

On May 1, 2023, we attended a hearing on a motion to dismiss an injunction for protection against domestic violence pending in Pinellas County, FL. We represented the respondent who filed the motion. After questioning the petitioner, the court found a change in circumstances and granted our request to dismiss the injunction since the petition was not in immediate and present danger of domestic violence.