Dade City Criminal Defense Lawyer

Criminal cases that start in the eastern half of Pasco County are heard at the Robert D. Sumner Judicial Center in Dade City, where felonies go to circuit court and misdemeanors and criminal traffic cases go to county court. King Law Group is a criminal defense firm that handles adult and juvenile cases in Pasco County, Pinellas County and across the Tampa Bay area, and it appears in the Dade City courthouse regularly. If you need a Dade City criminal defense lawyer, the details of how a case moves through this courthouse will shape nearly every decision you make in the first few weeks.

The charge that brought you here matters, but so does its classification. In Florida, 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, a second-degree felony up to fifteen, and a first-degree felony up to thirty or life when a statute says so. Those ceilings drive how prosecutors in Dade City evaluate an arrest, what they offer, and how much leverage a defense lawyer has when challenging the evidence behind it.

Many people charged in East Pasco do not realize how much can be resolved before a trial date is ever set. Evidence problems, a weak traffic stop, a defective search, or a witness who will not cooperate can change the charge or end the case. The work a defense lawyer does in the first weeks, before the State files formal charges or at the first hearings, often determines which of those options are still available.

Why Choose King Law Group for Criminal Defense in Dade City

King Law Group is a criminal defense firm led by founder Cameron King, a former felony prosecutor for the Sixth Judicial Circuit, which covers Pasco and Pinellas Counties. The firm’s practice is focused solely on criminal defense. It represents adults and juveniles accused of DUI, drug crimes, domestic violence, theft, sex crimes, violent crimes, weapons offenses, white collar crimes and probation violations, and it serves clients throughout Dade City, East and West Pasco, Pinellas County and the greater Tampa Bay area. Cases are handled from pre-arrest investigation through trial and, when eligible, record sealing. The first consultation is free, and the phone is answered around the clock because arrests do not wait for business hours.

Cameron King earned both his undergraduate business degree and his law degree at Florida State University, where he concentrated on criminal law. As a state prosecutor he was promoted to felony prosecutor and handled thousands of cases, from murder, manslaughter and armed robbery to DUI, drug possession and domestic violence. He later practiced criminal defense at a prominent litigation firm. That history matters in a courthouse like Dade City’s because he has sat at the State’s table and knows how prosecutors in this circuit weigh an arrest, which evidence they lean on, and what it takes to move them toward a reduction, a diversion program or a dismissal.

Clients describe him as honest, straightforward and tireless, and many mention fast callbacks and clear explanations at each stage. Some clients wrote that their charges were ultimately dropped, and others said he took the time to hear every detail of their situation. Not every case is about proving innocence. Sometimes the best result is a reduced charge, a withheld adjudication, or completion of a pretrial program that ends in dismissal, and the firm pursues whichever outcome actually protects a client’s job, license, immigration status or family.

Charges We Defend in Dade City and East Pasco

• DUI and Refusal Cases: A first DUI conviction carries a fine of $500 to $1,000, up to six months in jail, monthly reporting probation, a DUI school and substance abuse evaluation, and a license revocation of at least 180 days up to one year. A court may order an ignition interlock for at least six continuous months when the blood or breath alcohol level was .08 or higher. Refusing a breath test brings a one-year license suspension for a first refusal, and under the current implied consent statute a first refusal is itself a second-degree misdemeanor.
• Drug Possession and Delivery: Possessing 20 grams or less of cannabis is a first-degree misdemeanor, as is delivering that amount without payment. Possession of other controlled substances is unlawful unless they were obtained lawfully through a valid prescription, which makes the source of a pill bottle a real defense issue.
• Theft Offenses: Petit theft under $100 is a second-degree misdemeanor, and $100 to under $750 is a first-degree misdemeanor. At $750 and above, theft becomes a felony, and grand theft of a firearm or most motor vehicles is a third-degree felony regardless of value. Taking property valued at $40 or more from a dwelling or its curtilage is also third-degree grand theft.
• Domestic Violence and Battery: Simple battery is a first-degree misdemeanor, while domestic battery by strangulation is a third-degree felony. If a person is adjudicated guilty and intentionally caused bodily harm, state law requires a minimum of 10 days in county jail for a first offense, and 15 days if a child under 16 in the household witnessed it.
• Probation Violations: A violation can be a new arrest or a technical one such as a missed payment or report. If probation is revoked, the judge may impose any sentence that could have been imposed originally, which is why violations deserve a defense of their own.
• Vehicular Manslaughter and DUI Manslaughter: DUI manslaughter is at least a second-degree felony, and convictions for manslaughter, DUI serious bodily injury or vehicular homicide carry a three-year license revocation.
• Sex Crimes, Child Abuse and Weapons Offenses: These cases can reach back years because time limits are extended or removed in many of them, and they often involve evidence from phones, social media and interviews with children that has to be examined closely.
• Juvenile Offenses: Pasco circuit court hears juvenile cases, and the goal is often to keep a young person’s record clean and eligible for later sealing.

What to Do After an Arrest or Investigation in East Pasco

The first rule is to say nothing about the facts to officers, deputies or investigators. You can be polite, give your name, and state that you want a lawyer before answering anything else. Do not consent to a search of your car, phone or home, and do not assume that a friendly conversation is off the record. Statements made before an arrest are used just as readily as statements made afterward, and many cases are won or lost on what a person said in the first ten minutes.

If you were arrested, you will generally be booked at the county jail in Land O’ Lakes and brought before a judge for first appearance within about 24 hours. That hearing reviews probable cause and sets bond or release conditions. A lawyer who is involved early can argue for a lower bond or release without money bail, and can raise issues at a later bond hearing if the first one goes poorly. Family members should gather the booking information, the charge listed, and any paperwork from the arrest, and call a defense lawyer before the first appearance if possible.

Felony cases are filed in Pasco circuit court, while misdemeanors, criminal traffic offenses and traffic infractions go to Pasco county court. Both are heard at the Robert D. Sumner Judicial Center in Dade City for cases arising in the eastern part of the county, and the Pasco Historic Courthouse is used only when a proceeding is specifically designated there. Missing a court date creates a new problem on top of the old one, so write down every date and appear on time, dressed appropriately and prepared to follow your lawyer’s lead.

Mistakes that hurt people most are posting about the case online, contacting an alleged victim or witness, ignoring release conditions, and assuming a misdemeanor is minor. Even a misdemeanor can cost you your license, your job and your record. Keep the paperwork you receive, preserve texts and photos that may help, and write down your own account privately for your lawyer only.

Time Limits, Sealing and the Long Tail of a Florida Charge

Florida sets deadlines for the State to bring charges, and they vary by severity. A second-degree misdemeanor must generally be prosecuted within one year, a first-degree misdemeanor within two years, any non-first-degree felony within three years and a first-degree felony within four years. Prosecutions for capital felonies, life felonies and felonies that resulted in a death may be brought at any time. The clock starts the day after the offense, and it can be extended by up to three years if a defendant is continuously absent from the state. Certain offenses, including cyberstalking, abuse of elderly or disabled persons, and some sex and child abuse cases, follow longer or different rules, so an old allegation is not automatically barred.

When a case ends, the record does not disappear on its own. Florida allows a person to seal or expunge only one arrest record in a proceeding, and the applicant must attest to never having had a record sealed or expunged before in the state. Before filing, you apply to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for a certificate of eligibility, and an expunction certificate is valid for 12 months. If adjudication was withheld, or not every charge was dismissed before trial, expunction requires the record to have been sealed for at least 10 years first. That 10-year wait does not apply when there was no plea and all charges were dismissed before trial, or when the result was an acquittal.

These rules are why the way a case ends matters as much as the result itself. A withheld adjudication or a pretrial diversion can keep a record eligible for sealing later, while a conviction on a plea, even with adjudication withheld, still counts as a conviction for fine purposes. The firm plans resolutions with the long term in mind and helps eligible clients clean up their records afterward.

Dade City Criminal Defense Questions Answered

Where will my case be heard if I was arrested in Dade City?

Felony and juvenile cases are heard in Pasco circuit court, and misdemeanors, criminal traffic and traffic infraction cases are heard in Pasco county court. For East Pasco, hearings are held at the Robert D. Sumner Judicial Center in Dade City, which is separate from the jail in Land O’ Lakes where people are booked.

What happens at first appearance?

A judge reviews whether there was probable cause for the arrest and sets bond or other release conditions, usually within about 24 hours of booking. A lawyer can argue for a lower bond or release without money bail, and can ask for another bond hearing later.

Do I need a lawyer for a misdemeanor?

Yes, in most cases. A first-degree misdemeanor can mean up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000, plus a lasting record that appears on background checks. A lawyer can often negotiate a reduction, dismissal or withheld adjudication that keeps the record eligible for sealing.

Should I talk to the police if they want to question me?

No. You have the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney. Decline questions politely, refuse consent to searches, and call a lawyer before agreeing to any interview.

What is the difference between a felony and a misdemeanor in Florida?

A first-degree misdemeanor carries up to one year in county jail, while felonies are punishable by prison: up to five years for third-degree, fifteen for second-degree and thirty for first-degree, or life when a statute provides. Felony convictions also bring larger fines, up to $10,000 for first- and second-degree felonies.

Can I be charged with a felony for shoplifting?

Yes, if the value reaches $750, or in certain circumstances such as taking a firearm. Below that line, retail theft is a misdemeanor, with petit theft under $100 a second-degree misdemeanor and $100 to under $750 a first-degree misdemeanor.

Is a first refusal of a breath test now a crime in Florida?

Under the updated implied consent statutes, a first refusal of a breath or urine test is a second-degree misdemeanor, and it becomes a first-degree misdemeanor if the driving privilege was previously suspended or the person was fined for an earlier refusal. A refusal also carries a one-year license suspension for a first refusal, and 18 months for a repeat.

Does a domestic violence arrest mean I will automatically go to jail?

Not automatically, but the stakes are real. If a person is adjudicated guilty and intentionally caused bodily harm, a minimum jail term applies: 10 days for a first offense, 15 for a second and 20 for a third or later, with higher minimums when a child under 16 was present. Many cases are resolved on other terms, and the evidence often has gaps.

What happens if I violate probation in Pasco County?

The State files an affidavit alleging the violation, and a warrant may issue, though a judge can use a notice to appear instead for some probationers. Once that happens, the probation period stops running until the court rules. If the court finds a violation, it can impose any sentence available at the original sentencing.

Can a criminal charge affect my immigration status?

Yes. Even lawful permanent residents can face removal for certain convictions, including drug offenses, firearms offenses, domestic violence and crimes involving moral turpitude. Immigration consequences should be reviewed before any plea is considered.

Can my arrest be sealed or expunged after the case ends?

Possibly. You need a certificate of eligibility from FDLE, and Florida allows only one record to be sealed or expunged in a proceeding. If adjudication was withheld, expunction generally requires the record to have been sealed for at least 10 years.

How long can the State wait to file charges?

It depends on the offense: one year for a second-degree misdemeanor, two for a first-degree misdemeanor, three for most felonies and four for a first-degree felony. Capital felonies, life felonies and felonies that resulted in death have no deadline.

Serving Dade City and Surrounding Communities

King Law Group defends clients in Dade City and throughout Pasco County, including the nearby communities of San Antonio, St. Leo, Zephyrhills, Lacoochee, Trilby and Land O’ Lakes, where arrests are booked and processed. The firm also regularly represents people charged in West Pasco, including New Port Richey, Port Richey, Hudson, Bayonet Point, Holiday, Trinity, Elfers, Jasmine Estates and Beacon Square. Because the Sixth Judicial Circuit covers both Pasco and Pinellas Counties, the firm also takes cases from Clearwater, Largo, Dunedin, Palm Harbor, Tarpon Springs, St. Petersburg and the wider Tampa Bay area. Whether a client’s case is filed in circuit court or county court, the same prosecutors’ office reviews it, and that familiarity carries from one courthouse to the next.

Speak With a Dade City Criminal Defense Attorney Today

If you have been arrested, summoned or told you are under investigation, a Dade City criminal defense attorney at King Law Group can explain the charge, the penalties and the options before you decide anything. Cameron King and the firm handle cases from the first hearing through resolution, and the consultation is free. Call any time, day or night, to talk through what happened and what comes next.