Odessa Criminal Defense Lawyer

If you live or work in Odessa and have been arrested, or learned that police want to talk to you, the next few days will shape how your case ends. King Law Group is a criminal defense firm that represents adults and juveniles charged with misdemeanors and felonies in Pasco County, Pinellas County and across the Tampa Bay area, and a Odessa criminal defense lawyer from our team can get involved before you say anything that hurts you.

Odessa sits in the Pasco County portion of the Sixth Judicial Circuit, so charges arising here are filed and prosecuted through Pasco’s courts. Felony cases and juvenile cases go to circuit court. Misdemeanors, criminal traffic cases and traffic infractions go to county court. Which track your case lands on determines the penalties you face, the judge you appear before and the options available to resolve it.

Early moves matter. Statements made to officers, consent given to a search and the bond conditions set at first appearance all carry forward. We start building the defense while the State is still putting its case together.

What the Charge Level Means for Your Case

Florida sorts crimes by degree, and the degree sets the ceiling on punishment. A first-degree misdemeanor carries up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. A third-degree felony carries up to five years in prison and up to $5,000 in fines. A second-degree felony carries up to 15 years and up to $10,000. A first-degree felony can reach 30 years, or life when a specific statute provides for it.

These are ceilings, not predictions. Plenty of first-time defendants resolve cases well below the maximum, and the outcome often turns on the evidence, the person’s record and what the prosecutor is willing to accept. One detail that surprises people: under Florida’s fine statute, “convicted” includes a guilty or no contest plea even when the judge withholds adjudication. A withhold can protect you in other ways, but it does not make the case disappear.

Why Choose King Law Group for Odessa Criminal Defense

King Law Group is led by Cameron King, the firm’s founder and a former felony prosecutor for the Sixth Judicial Circuit, the circuit that covers Pasco and Pinellas Counties. The firm’s practice is focused solely on criminal defense, and it represents clients in Odessa and throughout Pasco County, Pinellas County and the greater Tampa Bay area, from pre-arrest investigation through trial and record sealing.

As a prosecutor, Cameron handled thousands of cases, ranging from murder, manslaughter and armed robbery to DUI, drug possession and domestic violence. He earned both his business degree and his law degree at Florida State University, where he concentrated on criminal law, and he later practiced defense at a prominent litigation firm. That history means he has sat on the side of the table that decides whether to reduce, divert or dismiss a charge, and he knows what makes a prosecutor reconsider.

Clients describe him as honest, straightforward and tireless. Reviews on the firm’s site mention fast callbacks, patient explanations at every step and, in one case, charges that were ultimately dropped. Our phone is answered around the clock, and your first consultation and case evaluation are free. As a criminal defense attorney serving Odessa, Cameron also looks beyond the courtroom result to what you need to protect, whether that is your job, your license or your family.

Charges We Defend for Odessa Residents

• DUI and Refusal Cases: A first DUI conviction carries a fine of $500 to $1,000, up to six months in jail, and a license revocation of at least 180 days and up to one year. Probation and a DUI program course are required. An ignition interlock can be ordered for at least six months when the breath or blood alcohol level was .08 or higher. Refusing a breath test brings a one-year license suspension for a first refusal, and a first refusal is now itself a second-degree misdemeanor.
• DUI Manslaughter and Vehicular Homicide: A DUI that causes a death is at least a second-degree felony. Convictions for manslaughter, DUI with serious bodily injury or vehicular homicide carry a three-year license revocation on top of any prison exposure.
• Theft Offenses: The felony line is $750. Petit theft under $100 is a second-degree misdemeanor, and $100 up to $750 is a first-degree misdemeanor. Grand theft from $750 to under $20,000 is a third-degree felony, with higher tiers above that. Theft of a firearm or a motor vehicle can be a felony regardless of value.
• Drug Possession and Delivery: Possessing 20 grams or less of cannabis is a first-degree misdemeanor, as is delivering that amount without payment. Possessing other controlled substances without a valid prescription is unlawful, and the charge level depends on the substance and amount.
• Domestic Violence and Battery: Simple battery is a first-degree misdemeanor. Domestic battery by strangulation is a third-degree felony. If a person is adjudicated guilty of domestic violence that intentionally caused bodily harm, the law requires at least 10 days in county jail for a first offense, and more if a child under 16 was present.
• Probation Violations: A violation can send you back before the judge, who may impose any sentence that could have been given originally. Filing a violation affidavit pauses the clock on your probation until the court rules.
• Sex Crimes, Violent Crimes and Weapons Offenses: These cases often involve felony exposure, long limitation periods and evidence disputes that reward early investigation.
• Juvenile Offenses: Young people charged in Pasco are handled in circuit court, and the goals differ from adult cases, with sealing and future opportunities weighing heavily.

What to Do After an Arrest or Investigation in Odessa

Stop talking. Be polite, say you want a lawyer, and decline consent to any search. Officers are allowed to keep asking questions, and anything you say can be used later. Call us before you agree to an interview, even if you have not been arrested.

After an arrest in Pasco, people are generally taken to the county jail in Land O’ Lakes. A judge reviews probable cause and sets release conditions at first appearance, usually within about 24 hours. A lawyer can argue for a lower bond or release without cash bail at that hearing or at a later bond hearing. That is why the phone call should come early.

Your case will then be heard in Pasco’s circuit or county court, at the West Pasco Judicial Center in New Port Richey or the Robert D. Sumner Judicial Center in Dade City. Most western Pasco matters go to New Port Richey, and we appear at both locations. Show up to every hearing, follow every release condition and keep every document you receive, including citations, bond papers and notices from the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

If your license is at stake after a DUI arrest, the administrative suspension runs separately from the criminal case, so ask about it in your first call. Avoid posting about the incident online, contacting the accuser or discussing facts with friends who could become witnesses.

How These Cases Usually Unfold

The sequence is predictable even if the outcome is not. First comes the arrest or notice to appear and the first appearance. Then the prosecutor reviews the file and decides what to file. At arraignment you enter a plea, and your lawyer begins collecting police reports, body camera video and other evidence.

The long middle stretch is where defense work happens. We look for problems with the stop, the search, the statements and the testing. Motions to suppress can change the entire case. Many matters resolve through negotiation, and not every case is about proving innocence. Sometimes the best result is a reduced charge, a withheld adjudication or a pretrial diversion program that ends with dismissal. If the State will not move, the case can go to trial.

Timing rules also matter. Florida generally allows four years to start a first-degree felony prosecution, three years for other felonies, two years for a first-degree misdemeanor and one year for a second-degree misdemeanor. Cases involving death, capital offenses and life felonies have no deadline, and some sex and abuse offenses involving minors have extended periods.

Sealing or Expunging the Record Afterward

Getting through the case is not always the end. Florida lets a person seal or expunge only one arrest record in a single proceeding, and you must attest that you have never had a record sealed or expunged before. You first apply to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for a certificate of eligibility, and the expunction certificate stays valid for 12 months.

If adjudication was withheld, or not every charge was dismissed before trial, expunging generally requires the record to have been court-sealed for at least 10 years. That waiting period does not apply when charges were dismissed before trial or you were acquitted. Certain offenses are not eligible. We review your record and tell you honestly what is available.

Odessa Criminal Defense Questions

Where will my Odessa case be heard?

Odessa cases are prosecuted in Pasco County. Felonies and juvenile matters go to circuit court, while misdemeanors and criminal traffic cases go to county court. Hearings are held at the West Pasco Judicial Center in New Port Richey or the Robert D. Sumner Judicial Center in Dade City, depending on the case.

How soon should I call a lawyer?

As soon as you know of an arrest or investigation. Bond is addressed at first appearance within about 24 hours, and statements to police cannot be taken back.

Do I need a lawyer for a misdemeanor?

A first-degree misdemeanor can mean up to a year in jail, probation, fines and a record that appears on background checks. A lawyer can often secure a reduction, dismissal, diversion or a withheld adjudication that keeps your record eligible for sealing.

Should I talk to police if they just want to ask a few questions?

No. You may decline politely and ask for an attorney. Even casual conversations before an arrest can supply evidence against you.

Can I refuse a breath test?

You can, but refusal has consequences. A first refusal means a one-year license suspension and is now a second-degree misdemeanor in its own right. A second or later refusal means an 18-month suspension and a first-degree misdemeanor.

Will I go to jail on a first DUI?

The statute allows up to six months for a first conviction, along with a fine of $500 to $1,000, probation, a DUI program and a license revocation. Jail is a ceiling, and the facts and any plea terms drive what actually happens.

What is the difference between petit theft and grand theft?

The dividing line is $750 in value. Below it, theft is a misdemeanor. At or above it, theft is a felony, and certain items such as firearms and motor vehicles can make it a felony regardless of value.

Can a criminal charge affect my job or professional license?

It can. Employers and licensing boards often review arrests and convictions, and some offenses trigger reporting duties. Tell us your profession in the first consultation so we can weigh those consequences before any plea.

What happens if I violate probation?

A violation affidavit can lead to a warrant or notice to appear and pauses your probation period. If the judge finds a violation, the court can impose any sentence that was available at the start. Technical violations, such as missed reporting, are treated differently from a new offense.

I am not a citizen. Can a plea affect my immigration status?

Yes. Drug, firearm and domestic violence convictions, aggravated felonies and crimes of moral turpitude can lead to removal, even for permanent residents. We weigh these consequences before any plea is considered.

Is a withheld adjudication the same as a dismissal?

No. A withhold avoids a formal adjudication of guilt in many respects, but it can still count as a conviction for fine purposes and does not erase the case. Dismissal and acquittal are the outcomes that most easily open the door to expungement.

How long can the State wait to file charges?

It depends on the offense. Time starts the day after the offense, and the periods range from one year for a second-degree misdemeanor to unlimited for capital and life felonies and felonies resulting in death.

Serving Odessa and Surrounding Criminal Defense Clients

We defend people charged in Odessa and across Pasco County, including Land O’ Lakes, Lutz, Wesley Chapel and Dade City. In western Pasco we represent clients from New Port Richey, Port Richey, Hudson, Bayonet Point, Holiday, Trinity, Elfers, Jasmine Estates and Beacon Square.

Just across the county line in Pinellas County, we serve Clearwater, Largo, Dunedin, Palm Harbor, Tarpon Springs and St. Petersburg, where cases are prosecuted by the same State Attorney’s Office. Whether the arrest came from a sheriff’s deputy, a city officer or a highway patrol trooper, our work covers misdemeanors and felonies for adults and juveniles throughout the Tampa Bay area.

Call an Odessa Criminal Defense Attorney Today

An Odessa criminal defense attorney at King Law Group can step in at the first hearing, protect you from questioning and start building your defense right away. Former prosecutor Cameron King and our team answer the phone 24/7, and your consultation is free.

Call us any time, day or night, or reach out to schedule a free case evaluation. The sooner we talk, the more options you are likely to have.