Pasco County Criminal Defense Lawyer

Getting a charge reduced, dismissed, or resolved without a conviction on your record is the result most people in a Pasco County case are working toward, and it usually depends on who is sitting across the table from you. King Law Group is a criminal defense firm that represents people accused of misdemeanors and felonies in Pasco County, along with Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties and the wider Tampa Bay area. A Pasco County criminal defense lawyer who works only on criminal cases can spend the early days of a case on the things that move outcomes: bond, evidence, and the first conversations with the state attorney’s office.

Pasco County sits in the Sixth Judicial Circuit, which it shares with Pinellas County. Cases from the western side of the county, including the communities around New Port Richey, are handled at the West Pasco Judicial Center, while eastern Pasco cases are heard at the Robert D. Sumner Judicial Center in Dade City. Where your arrest happened can affect which courthouse, which judges, and which prosecutors you deal with, so that is one of the first things a defense lawyer sorts out.

The charges that bring people to a defense firm in this area range from a first-offense DUI to a felony theft allegation to a vehicular homicide case, and each has its own penalty structure and its own best lines of defense. The sections below walk through the charges that come up most often, what to do in the first days after an arrest, and what Florida law actually says about penalties, license consequences, and clearing a record.

Why Choose King Law Group as Your Pasco County Criminal Defense Attorney

King Law Group is led by founder Cameron King, a Tampa Bay native and former Florida state prosecutor. The firm handles criminal defense and nothing else, and it represents clients in Pasco County, Pinellas County, Hillsborough County, and communities including Clearwater, New Port Richey, St. Petersburg, and Tampa. The team is available 24/7, because arrests do not happen on a schedule, and it offers a complimentary case evaluation so you can learn where you stand before committing to anything.

Cameron King earned his law degree at Florida State University, where he concentrated his studies in criminal law. As a prosecutor he handled cases ranging from murder to DUI, and he then spent years as a criminal defense attorney at a prominent litigation firm before building his own dedicated defense practice. That path matters in a Pasco County case. Having prosecuted cases, he knows how the state evaluates evidence, what makes a prosecutor willing to negotiate, and where a case is weak even when the file looks strong. The firm’s own phrase for this is knowing the players and the game, and it shows up in the work: looking for a favorable plea, a charge reduction, deferred prosecution, or an outright dismissal, depending on what the facts support.

Former clients describe Mr. King as honest, straightforward, effective, and a tireless advocate. Their reviews mention quick returned calls, patient explanations at every step, and a willingness to listen to all the details. One client who hired him for a serious felony charge and another who saw his charges dropped both point to the same quality: they always knew where their case stood. The firm’s work also does not stop at a plea. It handles bond hearings before trial and record sealing and expungement afterward, so one team can follow your case from arrest to the end of its consequences.

Criminal Charges Handled in Pasco County Courts

• DUI: Florida defines the offense under s. 316.193, which covers impairment and a breath-alcohol level of 0.08 or more. Traffic stops on U.S. 19 and State Road 54 are common starting points, and cases often turn on the reason for the stop, field sobriety testing, and breath-test procedure.
• DUI Manslaughter and Vehicular Homicide: DUI manslaughter is a second-degree felony with a 4-year mandatory minimum prison term and permanent license revocation. Vehicular homicide jumps to a first-degree felony when the accused has certain prior homicide-type convictions.
• Theft Crimes: Under s. 812.014, value drives the grade of the offense, from misdemeanor petit theft up through grand theft in the first, second, and third degrees. Retail theft, shoplifting, and employee theft cases all fall here.
• Drug Crimes: Possession, possession with intent to sell, and trafficking allegations often rest on how the evidence was found, which makes the legality of a vehicle or home search a central question.
• Domestic Violence and Violent Crimes: Battery and assault allegations frequently arise from disputes between people who live together, and an arrest can bring release conditions that affect where you can live.
• Driving While License Suspended: Under s. 322.34, a knowing first offense is a second-degree misdemeanor, a repeat is a first-degree misdemeanor, and certain habitual offender or DUI-linked cases reach felony level.
• Guns and Weapons Violations: These cases often begin with a traffic stop or a search, so suppression of evidence can decide the outcome.
• Probation Violations: A missed report, a failed test, or a new arrest can trigger a violation hearing where the judge has wide discretion.

What to Do After a Pasco County Arrest

Start with silence. You have the right to remain silent and the right to a lawyer, and you should use both. Officers may press you to explain yourself or to sign a statement, but you have no obligation to do either. If you must say something, keep it short and give no account of what happened. Anything you say before or after arrest can be used against you, and statements made in the first hour often become the centerpiece of the state’s case. If someone tells you they cannot reach a lawyer for you, a family member can contact a defense attorney on your behalf, and police who refuse to let you contact counsel are violating your rights.

Next, deal with release. First appearance is where a judge sets conditions and a bond amount, and a defense lawyer can argue for release on bond or without cash bail, along with conditions you can live with. Cases arising in western Pasco are typically heard through the West Pasco Judicial Center in New Port Richey, and eastern Pasco matters go through the Robert D. Sumner Judicial Center in Dade City. Knowing which one applies tells you where court dates will be and who your judge may be.

Then protect the evidence. Write down everything you remember while it is fresh: why you were stopped, what officers said, who was present, and whether anyone recorded the encounter. Do not delete texts, photos, or social media posts, which can look like destruction of evidence, but stop posting about the case. If officers searched your car or home, note whether they had a warrant and what it covered. Searches that go beyond a warrant’s scope, or that rest on consent you never gave, can lead to a motion to suppress. In DUI cases, remember that your license faces an administrative process separate from the criminal case, so raise it with your lawyer immediately.

Finally, hold off on any plea until you know the collateral consequences. A plea that looks small can mean a license revocation, a bar to expunction, or an immigration problem. People without U.S. citizenship should be especially careful: even lawful permanent residents can face deportation after convictions for aggravated felonies, crimes of moral turpitude, drug offenses, certain firearms offenses, and domestic violence, and sometimes even a misdemeanor can trigger it. Talk to a Pasco County criminal defense attorney before accepting any offer.

DUI Penalties and License Consequences in Pasco County

Because DUI is the charge that brings in more Pasco defendants than almost any other, the penalty structure deserves detail. A first conviction carries a fine of $500 to $1,000 and up to 6 months in jail. If the breath or blood alcohol level was 0.15 or higher, or a passenger under 18 was in the car, the first-conviction fine rises to $1,000 to $2,000 and the maximum jail term to 9 months. A second conviction carries a fine of $1,000 to $2,000, or $2,000 to $4,000 in the higher tier, with up to 12 months in jail for the higher tier. A third or later conviction in the higher tier carries a fine of at least $4,000. A DUI that damages the property or person of another is a first-degree misdemeanor.

The court must also place every DUI offender on monthly reporting probation and require a substance abuse course through a licensed DUI program, including a psychosocial evaluation. License revocation follows its own schedule: at least 180 days and up to a year for a first conviction without a death, at least 5 years for a second conviction within 5 years of a prior, and at least 10 years for a third within 10 years. A fourth conviction means permanent revocation, as does a DUI manslaughter conviction. A first offense with bodily injury carries a minimum three-year revocation. Some repeat offenders can seek hardship reinstatement after one or two years depending on the timing of the prior convictions.

Those numbers are ceilings and floors the court works within, not predictions. The real fight in many DUI cases happens earlier, over whether the stop was lawful, whether the officer’s observations hold up, and whether breath testing was done correctly. Cameron King’s years as a prosecutor give him a working sense of which of those issues move a state attorney and which do not.

Theft, Felony Grading, and How Penalties Work

Florida sorts offenses into classes, and the class sets the ceiling. A second-degree misdemeanor carries up to 60 days and a $500 fine, and a first-degree misdemeanor up to a year and a $1,000 fine. A third-degree felony carries up to 5 years, and a second-degree felony up to 15. Theft shows how this plays out. Property valued at $750 or more but under $20,000 is grand theft of the third degree. At $20,000 up to $100,000 it becomes a second-degree felony, and at $100,000 or more a first-degree felony. Theft of a firearm or motor vehicle is a third-degree felony regardless of value, with narrow exceptions, and theft from a dwelling or its curtilage can be a felony at a much lower dollar value.

Because value controls the grade, valuation itself is often contested. How the state arrived at a price, whether the item was used, and whether multiple items were properly aggregated can move a case between felony and misdemeanor levels, which changes everything from bond to long-term consequences.

Sealing and Expunging a Pasco County Record

A criminal record keeps costing people long after a case ends, in job applications, housing, and licensing. Florida allows certain records to be sealed or expunged, but the rules are strict. An expunction petition must be accompanied by a certificate of eligibility from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, valid for 12 months, along with a certified statement from the state attorney confirming the record meets the criteria. You generally cannot have been adjudicated guilty of a criminal offense, and you cannot have had a prior sealing or expunction, with a narrow exception for a record sealed for 10 years. An adult conviction cannot be sealed or expunged, while some juvenile records can be after waiting periods and conditions are met. Because a plea can close this door permanently, the time to think about expunction is before you accept a deal, not after.

Pasco County Criminal Defense Questions Answered

Do I really need a lawyer for a misdemeanor in Pasco County?

Often, yes. A misdemeanor can carry up to a year in jail, probation, a lasting record, and in some cases license or immigration consequences. A lawyer can look for suppression issues, negotiate toward dismissal or diversion, and keep a plea from closing off later options like expunction.

What happens at a first appearance after an arrest?

A judge reviews the charges, sets or reviews bond and release conditions, and advises you of your rights. A lawyer can argue for release without cash bail or a lower bond, which matters because staying out of jail makes it far easier to help prepare your defense and keep your job.

Can the police search my car or home without a warrant?

Not always, but sometimes. Without a warrant, you can refuse a request to search, though officers may still search if they have probable cause, such as during a DUI stop. Your home gets stronger protection. Evidence found beyond a warrant’s scope may be challenged in a motion to suppress.

Is there a three strikes law in Florida?

Florida has a habitual offender law that increases sentences for people with two or more prior qualifying felonies, or a second violent crime within five years. Depending on the underlying charge, exposure can reach 10 years, 30 years, or life, though prior convictions for possession of a controlled substance are excluded.

What is the difference between sealing and expunging a record?

Sealing hides the record from public view, while expunction eliminates it. Both require eligibility, and an adult conviction cannot be sealed or expunged. The route you qualify for depends on how the case ended.

Will a DUI affect my license even if the criminal case is dismissed?

It can. A DUI arrest triggers an administrative license process that runs separately from the criminal case, with its own deadlines. Revocation periods for convictions are set by statute, but the administrative side can affect your driving before the case is resolved.

How are Pasco County cases divided between the New Port Richey and Dade City courthouses?

The West Pasco Judicial Center in New Port Richey serves western Pasco, and the Robert D. Sumner Judicial Center in Dade City handles circuit and county criminal cases for eastern Pasco. Your arrest location generally points to the courthouse where the case will proceed.

Is driving on a suspended license a felony?

A knowing first offense is a second-degree misdemeanor, and a second or later offense is a first-degree misdemeanor. It becomes a third-degree felony in certain situations, including driving while designated a habitual traffic offender or a third or later offense tied to a DUI, refusal, a serious injury or death traffic offense, or fleeing.

Can a plea deal hurt me if I am not a U.S. citizen?

Yes. Even lawful permanent residents can face deportation after convictions for aggravated felonies, crimes of moral turpitude, drug offenses, certain firearms offenses, and domestic violence, and sometimes after a misdemeanor. Raise your status with your lawyer before any plea discussion.

What is Trenton’s Law?

It raised vehicular and vessel homicide from a second-degree to a first-degree felony when the accused already has a prior conviction for DUI manslaughter, BUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide, or vessel homicide. It signals how seriously Florida treats repeat homicide-type driving offenses.

Is it worth hiring a lawyer if I plan to plead guilty anyway?

Often, yes. A lawyer may find evidence problems you did not know about, negotiate a better offer, or steer you toward deferred prosecution or a charge that preserves your ability to expunge or keep your license.

Serving Criminal Defense Clients Across Pasco County and Tampa Bay

King Law Group represents clients throughout Pasco County, from New Port Richey, Port Richey, and Holiday in the west, through Trinity, Land O’ Lakes, and Odessa in the south, and east to Zephyrhills, Dade City, San Antonio, and Wesley Chapel. We also serve people arrested in Hudson, Shady Hills, Spring Hill’s northern edge, Lutz, and Aripeka, as well as the communities along U.S. 19 and State Road 54.

Because Pasco shares a judicial circuit with Pinellas County, the firm also defends clients in Clearwater, Largo, Dunedin, Tarpon Springs, and St. Petersburg, and across the bay in Hillsborough County, including Tampa and the surrounding communities. Wherever the arrest happened in the Tampa Bay area, the same focus on criminal defense applies.

Talk With a Pasco County Criminal Defense Attorney Today

The decisions made in the first days after an arrest, about bond, statements, evidence, and any early plea offer, tend to shape everything that follows. King Law Group is available 24/7 and offers a free consultation, so you can speak with a Pasco County criminal defense attorney about your charge, your options, and what can realistically be done. Call today and find out where your case stands.