Criminal Defense Case Results

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.

Our client was arrested for resisting without violence (obstruction) under Florida Statute Section 843.02 in early November 2025. We were retained shortly thereafter. The criminal report affidavit authored by an officer with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office claimed our client was observed exiting a local bar near the location of his arrest.

The deputy alleged that he interfered with an investigation of a third person who was being arrested. We contact the State Attorney’s Office and supplied them with information and case law showing their problems with trying to prove the accusations.

On December 2, 2025, an Assistant State Attorney filed a “no information” that found the State Attorney, having conducted an investigation into the matter, concluded that the facts and circumstances revealed do not warrant prosecution.

Attorney Leslie Sammis was the lead attorney in the case.

On August 9, 2023, the State Attorney’s Office in Pinellas County agreed not to file any formal charges against our client after we presented mitigation and explained defenses that existed in the case that would make a successful prosecution difficult. Our client was arrested for Battery of a Person 65 or Older, Resisting an Officer without Violence, and Disorderly Intoxication.

On July 8, 2022, our client was charged with Resisting with Violence, Depriving an Officer of Means of Communication, and Possession of Marijuana following a traffic stop in Pinellas County. Our client was facing mandatory prison time, which was the State’s only offer. When our client hired us in November 2022, the police department had still not turned over any body worn camera footage of the traffic stop. This footage was pivotal to our client’s defense that he was profiled, manhandled, and wrongfully arrested by police. Our office made multiple demands to the State Attorney’s office and the police department for the video. We also conducted depositions of several officers on scene, all of whom claimed their footage had mysteriously been deleted or misplaced. In response, our attorney filed several motions including a Motion to Suppress and Motion to Dismiss. Upon seeing what motions were filed, the Honorable Judge Andrews urged the State Attorney to critically review the issues in the case. The State Attorney then offered to potentially reduce our client’s charges to misdemeanors for time served. Our client trusted our expertise and advice and rejected the State’s proposal electing to proceed with a hearing on the motions. Prior to the motion hearings, the State announced a Nolle Prosse, which dismissed all charges against our client.

Our client hired us for two separate Battery charges. We set both for Non-Jury Trial in front of Judge Taylor in Hillsborough County. By not backing down, we successfully had both cases dropped, 20-CM-XX76 on July 14, 2021, and 20-CM-XX92 on August 17, 2021.

On July 9, 2021, the State Attorney’s Office in New Port Richey, Pasco County, was forced to drop a Battery charge against our client in 20-MM-XXXX03AXWS after the case was set for a jury trial. The State was insistent that they would not drop the case despite the alleged victim not wanting to prosecute. While our client was fearful that the State may elect to pursue the charges, we would not stand down and take the State’s offer of probation and a conviction. At the Calendar Call in front of Judge Poblick, State and Defense announced ready for trial. Prior to the scheduled Jury Trial, the State filed a written Nolle Prosse dropping the charge against our client.

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.

Assigned Attorney: Josh Monteiro

Our client was charged with battery, assault, and threats to law enforcement officers. After providing the State with mitigating records detailing our client’s mental health history, all charges were dismissed, avoiding any felony conviction.

On August 13, 2025, the jury returned a NOT GUILTY verdict to the charge of Aggravated Battery with the use of a Deadly Weapon in Pinellas County before Judge LaBruzzo. To achieve that result, we flew to another state to conduct the deposition of the alleged victim in this case. Our attorney showed during the deposition through questioning the alleged victim that this case involved self-defense. After the depositions the State Attorney still pursued the charge so despite facing a minimum of 34 months up to 15 years in prison, our attorney, with the approval of our client, set the case for trial knowing there was a valid and legal defense to the case. At trial, our attorneys showed the jury that this was a case where the justified use of force was applicable and the jury ultimately agreed by returning a Not Guilty verdict, allowing our client to go home and maintain his clean record.

On or about August 4, 2025, after the first court date the State filed a Nolle Prosse officially dismissing the charge against our client allowing him to maintain a clean record. Early on our attorney reached out to the State Attorney and provided mitigating factors for the situation.
Our client was formally charged with Disorderly Conduct in Orange County before Judge Miller.

In mid-July 2025, at the final court date before trial, Pre-Trial, we announced ready for trial. The State, a few days later on July 18, 2025, the State filed a Nolle Prosse officially dismissing the charge against our client allowing him to maintain a clean record. Our client was formally charged with Resisting Arrest Without Violence and Disorderly Conduct in Hillsborough County before Judge Gutman. In order to obtain this result, we watched hours of Body Worn Camera footage and showed the State Attorney that there were reasons for the escalation in the incident that were not our client’s fault.

On August 14, 2025, at the final court date before trial, Pre-Trial, we announced ready for trial. The State then announced a Nolle Prosse officially dismissing the charge against our client allowing her to maintain a clean record. The charge was Resisting Arrest Without Violence, a misdemeanor, in Hillsborough County, before Judge Scott. In order to get the State to drop the charge, we watched hours of Body Worn Camera footage and showed the State Attorney that there were reasons for the escalation in the incident that were not our client’s fault.

Our client was originally arrested on a charge of battery. We were retained before the prosecutor formally filed any charge. We contacted the prosecutor and provided additional information about the case that made the chances of a successful prosecution look less certain. After receiving information about problems with the case, the State decided to Nolle Prosse the charge on January 17, 2024.

Our client was originally arrested on a charge of Tampering with a Witness. We were retained before any charges were formally filed by the prosecutor. We contacted the State Attorney’s intake division to discuss the charges and provide additional information about the case. Shortly thereafter, the State Attorney’s Office filed a notice on January 17, 2024, that they were no longer pursuing prosecution on the case.

Our client faced felony charges for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. By presenting evidence from the night of the incident that the State had not initially reviewed, we were able to demonstrate our client’s innocence, resulting in the State dismissing the charges.

Our client was charged with Aggravated Battery and Great Bodily Harm. Our office gathered extensive evidence showing that our client was not at the scene of the alleged incident. On February 22, 2023, the day before the scheduled Jury Trial hearing, the State announced a Nolle Prosse, which dismissed the charge.

On August 21, 2023, we convinced the State Attorney’s Office to drop an Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon charge. We also got the court in another county to dismiss the accusation of violation of probation a few weeks later.

In Judge Taylor’s courtroom, we set multiple cases for Non Jury Trial on August 17, 2021. Despite the State’s adamant position that they will not drop cases even though they lacked recent contact with a willing victim, we took the cases to trial. The State was forced to drop all three cases – 21-CM-000XX6, 21-CM-00XX63, 20-CM-XX92.

On January 21, 2020, in Division F in Tampa, Florida, the State was forced to “nolle prosse” or drop, a Double Information charging our client with two Battery charges. We set the case for trial as we knew the alleged victim did not wish to prosecute and the second alleged victim did not live in the area. Despite the State’s threat to revoke all offers, we pressed on and were able to provide our client a clear record in 19-CM-XXXX55.

The jury returned a “NOT GUILTY” jury verdict in Polk County at the courthouse in Bartow, FL. The defense involved extensive impeachment of the State’s only witness in addition to Justifiable Use of Non-deadly Force and Stand Your Ground in a Felony Battery case.

Battery Charges Dropped in Clearwater, FL

On January 4, 2018, the State Attorney’s Office in Clearwater, FL, dropped the battery charge pending against our client. The charge was dropped when the prosecutor filed a written “Nolle Prosequi”. The charge was dropped after we filed a “Motion to Dismiss Based on Statutory Immunity Pursuant to Section 776.032 (“Stand Your Ground”)”. The battery charge was pending in Pinellas County, FL, before the Honorable Judge Holly Grissinger.

Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon Charge No Filed in Tampa

On May 2, 2018, the State Attorney’s Office in Hillsborough County elected to not file any charges against our client after we presented information to them to show that our client was actually the victim in this case and should never be prosecuted. This was a situation where our client was not arrested. However, an investigation was conducted and the State Attorney’s Office had the file in their Intake division. We wrote a very compelling letter to the Intake Department and spoke with the State at length prior to their intake appointment with the “victim” and attached CAD calls, photos, and additional evidence to show that the real victim was our client. No case number was ever created as we caught this case so early on and prevented our client from ever being arrested and having a mugshot out there, and never having to step foot in a courtroom.

Warrant Withdrawn and Aggravated Battery Deadly Weapon/Battery Case No Filed in Hernando County

July 19, 2018 – Our client who lived out of state discovered a warrant in Hernando County. Our firm was retained and immediately got to work to withdraw the warrant. We filed a motion to withdraw the warrant, and addressed with the State Attorney’s Office why this charge should never be filed and if it was we intended to file a Stand Your Ground motion. The State, in 18-CF-001XXX, agreed to withdraw the warrant and entered a no file on July 19, 2018 on very serious charges. Our client avoided a trip to Florida and never set foot in a courtroom.

Battery Charges Dropped Completely in Pinellas County 

On January 12, 2017, in case number 16-09XXX-MM with the Honorable Judge Dorothy Vaccaro, Division E, in Pinellas County, we prepared the case for trial and showed the prosecutor with the State Attorney’s Office favorable evidence that suggested that our client was actually innocent of the battery charges. The prosecutor decided to drop the charges completely before trial.

Charged for Assault on a Licensed Officer Dropped in Tampa

On February 9, 2017, in case number 16-CM-013XXX, pending before the Honorable Judge Miriam Valkenburg in Division A in Hillsborough County, the prosecution entered a “Nolle Prosse” (dropped the charges) of “Assault on a Licensed Officer.” We were able to achieve this resolution after presenting several defense witnesses to the State. Those witnesses explained all of the reasons that our client was actually innocent.

Prosecutor Filed a Letter of Release after Our Client was Arrested for Aggravated Battery

Our client was arrested for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon on July 10, 2017. The offense of Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon under Florida Statute 784.0451A2 is a second-degree felony punishable by up to 15 years in Florida State Prison. During the first 21 days after the arrest, we were able to present evidence showing that our client acted in self-defense. We were also able to show how past difficulties between the parties showed that our client was not guilty of the offense. On September 6, 2017, the State Attorney’s Office agreed and filed a “letter of release” which showed the case filing decision was “no-filed.”

Battery Case Dropped in Tampa, FL

On December 15, 2017, in case number 17-CM-007XXX, pending before the Honorable Judge Vogel in Division F in Hillsborough County, the prosecution entered a written “Nolle Prosse” (dropped the charge) of “Battery”.  The alleged victim had insisted she did not want the State to prosecute this case.  The State refused, however, to drop the charges and instead offered 60 days Hillsborough County Jail.  At the Pretrial Conference, the State amended the offer to an adjudication and court costs and we left the case set for Jury Trial.  The State Attorney’s Office at that time revoked all offers.  Two days later, the State Attorney filed a written “Nolle Prosse” dropping all charges on the Friday before the Jury Trial was set.  We fought aggressively to have our client cleared of all charges despite threats from the State and ultimately we won when we showed the State we are not afraid to go to trial.