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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.
Attorneys Katherine Aranda and Dominique Celerin took their client’s boating under the influence (BUI) case to trial on May 22, 2024. The jury returned a “not guilty” verdict.
On June 18, 2024, an HSMV Field Hearing Officer at the Tampa Bureau of Administrative Reviews (BAR) office issued a final order invalidating our client’s 12-month administrative suspension for the alleged refusal. The hearing officer “determined that there is insufficient evidence to support the suspension because of conflicting evidence or discrepancies.”
On July 8, 2024, a DHSMV Field Hearing Officer with the Bureau of Administrative Reviews in Tampa, FL, issued a final order setting aside the suspension of the driving privilege dated January 3, 2024, for refusal to submit to a breath, blood, or urine test. The order provided: “[u]pon reviewing the facts of the case, the Department Hearing Officer has determined that there is insufficient evidence to support the suspension because of no or improper Implied Consent Warning.” The arresting officer that issued the notice of suspension was a trooper with the Florida Highway Patrol.
On August 21, 2024, the HSMV Field Hearing Officer invalidated an 18-month suspension because there was insufficient evidence to support the suspension since the “DUI evidentiary packet was not received” from the Tampa Police Department in time.
Our client faced DUI charges. After reviewing bodycam footage and police reports, we presented mitigating evidence to the State, leading to a reduction of the charge to reckless driving.
Our client discovered a DUI incorrectly listed on her driving record for over 20 years due to a friend’s arrest under her name. We gathered court-certified documents to clarify the error, enabling her to have the DUI annotation removed and to restore her driving privileges.
Our client was originally investigated for a DUI following a traffic crash. Our client was formally charged with DUI (above 0.15) on December 11, 2023, in a case pending before Polk County Judge Green. We filed a motion to exclude the medical blood results, which were the basis for the enhanced DUI charge. To avoid a hearing on the motion to exclude the medical blood results, the State offered to reduce the enhanced DUI charge to a reckless driving charge for a withhold of adjudication and court costs. Our client was able to avoid probation and having to do any DUI-related sanctions. Our client is also eligible to petition to seal this charge from her record.
Our client was facing a second DUI charge, with the first DUI occurring over 20 years ago. We presented extensive mitigation to the State, highlighting our client’s lengthy military service. Although the State initially sought jail time, we set the case for trial. One week before trial, the State agreed to reduce the charge to a dry reckless, allowing our client to plead to reckless driving with a $500 fine, avoiding harsher penalties.
On December 30, 2024, the HSMV Field Hearing Officer invalidated an administrative suspension because there was insufficient evidence to support the suspension since the “DUI evidentiary packet was not received” from the Tampa Police Department in time.
On May 16, 2025, the HSMV Field Hearing Officer with the Bureau of Administrative Reviews (BAR) office in Tampa, FL, issue a Final Order invalidating the 6 month administrative suspension because “there is insufficient evidence to support the suspension because the arresting officer [with the Bartow Police Department] failed to appear. As a result, the administrative suspension was lifted, instantly restoring the client’s full driving privileges.
On May 28, 2025, the HSMV Field Hearing Officer with the Bureau of Administrative Reviews (BAR) office in Tampa, FL, issue a Final Order invalidating the 6 month administrative suspension because “the DUI evidentiary packet was not received” from the New Port Richey Police Department in time for the formal review hearing. As a result, the administrative suspension was lifted, instantly restoring the client’s full driving privileges.
On June 9, 2025, the HSMV Hearing Officer at the Tampa Bureau of Administrative Reviews entered an order finding insufficient evidence to support the administrative suspension for refusing to submit to a breath test because the DUI evidentiary packet was not received by the date of the hearing.
