New Port Richey Criminal Charge Lawyer

A New Port Richey arrest usually means a first appearance within a day or so, a bond decision, and then a long stretch of waiting while the State Attorney’s Office decides what it will actually file. King Law Group is a Florida criminal defense firm that handles misdemeanor and felony cases only, and we represent people charged in New Port Richey, throughout Pasco County, and across Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties and the wider Tampa Bay area. We take calls around the clock because arrests do not keep office hours.

What you can expect depends on the charge. A first-offense DUI, a grand theft count, and a felony drug case each move on different tracks, carry different exposure, and offer different openings for negotiation or a motion to suppress. The pages of a criminal case are written early, in the first few weeks, and the choices made then tend to shape the New Port Richey criminal charge lawyer work that follows: what gets said to police, whether the arrest holds up, and what the prosecutor is told about you before charges are formally filed.

How a New Port Richey Criminal Case Moves From Arrest to Resolution

Most cases that begin in west Pasco County are heard at the West Pasco Judicial Center in New Port Richey, which handles criminal, traffic, civil, family and probate matters. Cases from the eastern side of the county are generally heard at the Robert D. Sumner Judicial Center in Dade City. Pasco sits in the Sixth Judicial Circuit, which it shares with Pinellas County, so a lawyer who works both counties is dealing with the same circuit but different local habits, dockets, and prosecutors.

The first court event is the first appearance, where a judge reviews probable cause, sets conditions of release, and advises you of the charge. Bond is where early advocacy matters most. Arguing for release on your own recognizance or a reasonable bond, backed by proof of work, family ties, and a clean history, can keep you employed while the case develops. After that comes arraignment, where a plea of not guilty is entered and the case enters the discovery phase.

Discovery is where the defense does its real work. We look at the police report, body camera and dash camera footage, witness statements, lab results, and any phone or surveillance evidence. Gaps between the report and the video are common, and they are often the first sign that a stop, a search, or a statement can be challenged. From there the case branches. Some resolve through a negotiated plea, a reduced charge, or a deferred prosecution arrangement. Some are dismissed after a successful motion. Others go to trial. The defense team’s job is to keep every one of those doors open for as long as possible and to tell you honestly which one is most realistic.

Why Choose King Law Group for a New Port Richey Criminal Case

King Law Group is a criminal defense firm led by founder Cameron King, a former Florida state prosecutor and a Tampa Bay native. We serve clients in New Port Richey and the rest of Pasco County, along with Pinellas County, Hillsborough County, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tampa, and the surrounding communities. The firm takes on only criminal defense, so the attorney on your case is not splitting attention with divorce, injury, or business work.

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, then spent years as a criminal defense attorney at a prominent litigation firm before building a practice devoted entirely to defense. That history matters in a Pasco courtroom. Having stood on the State’s side of the table, he knows how prosecutors weigh a file, what makes them move on a plea, and where a case is weaker than the charging document suggests.

Former clients describe him as honest, straightforward, effective, and a tireless advocate. Their reviews return to the same points: he listens to the full story, explains each step, returns calls quickly, and in some cases saw charges dropped. The firm offers a complimentary case evaluation, and the team is available 24/7.

Charges We Defend for New Port Richey Clients

• DUI: A breath or blood alcohol level of 0.08 or higher meets one definition of the offense. A first conviction carries a fine of $500 to $1,000 and up to 6 months in jail, rising to a $1,000 to $2,000 fine and up to 9 months when the level is 0.15 or higher or a minor was in the car. Probation, a licensed DUI program with a psychosocial evaluation, and a license revocation of at least 180 days follow a conviction.
• DUI Manslaughter and Vehicular Homicide: DUI manslaughter is a second-degree felony with a mandatory minimum of 4 years in prison and permanent license revocation. Under a recent change, vehicular homicide becomes a first-degree felony for someone with a prior DUI manslaughter or vehicular homicide conviction.
• Theft Crimes: Under section 812.014, theft of $750 or more but under $20,000 is third-degree grand theft, a felony punishable by up to 5 years. From $20,000 to under $100,000 it is a second-degree felony, and $100,000 or more is a first-degree felony. Theft from a dwelling, a firearm, or a motor vehicle can also be a felony regardless of value.
• Drug Crimes: Possession, trafficking, and prescription-related charges often turn on how the drugs were found, which makes traffic stops and vehicle or home searches the central battleground.
• Domestic Violence and Violent Crimes: These cases frequently start with a single 911 call and a conflicting account, and the no-contact conditions set at first appearance can affect where you live while the case is pending.
• Driving on a Suspended License: A knowing first offense is a second-degree misdemeanor, and a repeat is a first-degree misdemeanor. Driving as a designated habitual traffic offender is a third-degree felony.
• Sex Crimes, Child Abuse, and White Collar Offenses: These allegations carry lasting consequences beyond any sentence, including registration, employment loss, and immigration exposure.
• Probation Violations and Juvenile Offenses: A violation hearing uses a lower standard than a trial, and a juvenile record can still be addressed later through sealing or expungement.

What to Do in the First Days After an Arrest in Pasco County

Say as little as possible to police and ask for a lawyer. You have the right to stay silent and to have an attorney present, and officers who ignore a request for counsel are violating that right. If you must answer something, keep it short and avoid explaining or apologizing. Anything you say can be used against you, and statements made in the first hour often become the centerpiece of the State’s case.

Ask someone to call us right away. Early involvement lets us prepare for first appearance and press for release on reasonable terms. Write down everything you remember while it is fresh: where you were stopped, how many officers were present, what was said, whether cameras were running, and who else saw it. Do not delete texts, photos, or social media posts, since destroying material can create new problems. Do not contact the accuser or any witness, particularly if a no-contact order is in place.

Keep every piece of paper you are given, including the arrest affidavit, bond paperwork, and any notice about your driver’s license. A DUI arrest triggers a separate administrative process against your license that runs apart from the criminal case and has its own short deadlines, so raise it with your lawyer immediately. Show up for every court date at the West Pasco Judicial Center or wherever your case is assigned. Missing one can mean a bond revocation and a new warrant.

The most common mistakes are talking to detectives without counsel, consenting to a search of a car or phone, posting about the case online, and taking a quick plea at first appearance without understanding the consequences. A conviction can affect employment, professional licenses, firearm rights, housing, and for non-citizens, immigration status.

Sealing, Expunging, and Protecting Your Record Afterward

Winning or resolving a case is not always the end. Florida allows certain records to be sealed or expunged, but the rules are narrow. You generally cannot qualify if you have ever been adjudicated guilty of a criminal offense, so a result such as a dismissal, a no-file decision, or a withhold of adjudication can matter enormously. The process begins with a certificate of eligibility from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which stays valid for 12 months, and requires a certified statement from the State Attorney confirming the record meets the criteria. Someone who has already had a record sealed or expunged is usually barred from doing it again, with a limited exception for a record sealed for ten years.

That is why the way a case ends deserves attention from the start. Two plea offers that look similar on paper can leave you with very different options for clearing your record years later.

Questions People Ask About New Port Richey Criminal Cases

Do I really need a lawyer for a misdemeanor in New Port Richey?

A first-degree misdemeanor carries up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine, and a second-degree misdemeanor up to 60 days and a $500 fine. Beyond that, a conviction can follow you into background checks, licensing, and immigration review. Many misdemeanors can be reduced, diverted, or dismissed, but you rarely get those outcomes without someone pressing for them.

Which court will hear my case?

Western Pasco cases are generally handled at the West Pasco Judicial Center in New Port Richey, and eastern Pasco cases at the Sumner Judicial Center in Dade City. Misdemeanors go to county court and felonies to circuit court, both part of the Sixth Judicial Circuit.

How long does a criminal case take?

There is no fixed timeline. A simple misdemeanor may resolve in a few months, while a felony with lab work, forensic evidence, or contested motions can take considerably longer. Defense motions, witness availability, and the court’s calendar all affect the pace.

Can the police search my car without a warrant?

You never have to consent, and you should not. Officers may still search without consent if they have probable cause, such as when a stop for suspected DUI gives them grounds. If a search goes beyond what the law allows, a motion to suppress can keep the evidence out.

Can a conviction be removed from my record?

Adult convictions generally cannot be sealed or expunged. Cases that end without an adjudication of guilt may qualify, subject to the eligibility certificate and other requirements described above.

What is Florida’s habitual offender law?

It enhances sentences for people with two or more prior qualifying felonies, or a second violent offense within five years. Depending on the charge, the exposure can reach 10 years, 30 years, or life. Simple possession of a controlled substance is excluded from the prior-conviction count.

Will a DUI cost me my license even if the case is dropped?

A criminal conviction triggers court-ordered revocation, but a DUI arrest also starts an administrative suspension through the state, separate from the criminal case. That is why license deadlines need attention right away even when the criminal charge looks beatable.

What happens if I picked up a second DUI within five years?

A second conviction brings a fine of $1,000 to $2,000 and, within five years of the prior conviction, a license revocation of at least five years, though hardship reinstatement may be possible after one year. A third within ten years brings a revocation of at least ten years, and a fourth is a permanent revocation.

If I am not a citizen, can a plea get me deported?

It can. Aggravated felonies, crimes of moral turpitude, drug offenses, certain firearm offenses, and domestic violence convictions can all lead to removal, even for green card holders, and sometimes even for a misdemeanor. Discuss immigration consequences with your defense lawyer before accepting any plea.

Is deferred prosecution or a plea to a lesser charge realistic?

Often, depending on the facts, your history, and the strength of the State’s evidence. Prosecutors respond to documented mitigation, weak spots in the evidence, and a lawyer they know will take the case to trial if needed. A former prosecutor knows which of those factors carries weight.

What does it mean if I have a suspended license charge and prior DUI-related suspensions?

A third or later knowing offense can become a third-degree felony, but only when the current or most recent suspension is tied to serious conduct such as DUI, refusal to test, a traffic offense causing death or serious injury, or fleeing and eluding. The reason for the underlying suspension drives the severity.

King Law Group’s Defense Work Across Pasco, Pinellas, and Hillsborough Counties

From downtown New Port Richey and the neighborhoods around the West Pasco Judicial Center, our team represents clients across western Pasco County. That includes Port Richey, Holiday, Hudson, Trinity, Odessa, Land O’ Lakes, Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills, San Antonio, and Dade City, along with the communities of Elfers, Seven Springs, and Bayonet Point. We also appear in the Sumner Judicial Center for eastern Pasco matters.

Because Pasco and Pinellas share the Sixth Judicial Circuit, we regularly defend clients in Clearwater, Largo, Dunedin, Tarpon Springs, Palm Harbor, Safety Harbor, Oldsmar, Pinellas Park, and St. Petersburg. Across the bay, we handle cases in Tampa and throughout Hillsborough County, including Brandon, Plant City, Temple Terrace, Carrollwood, and Riverview. Whether the charge is DUI, theft, a drug case, a violent allegation, or a probation violation, the same attention goes into every file.

Speak With a New Port Richey Criminal Defense Attorney Today

If you or someone you care about has been arrested in Pasco County, the decisions made in the next few days will matter. A New Port Richey criminal defense attorney at King Law Group can review the arrest, explain the likely path through the Sixth Circuit, and begin working on release, evidence, and negotiation right away. Call to schedule a free case evaluation, any hour of any day.