New Port Richey Criminal Defense Lawyer

Most criminal cases in west Pasco do not begin or end with a trial; they are decided in a courtroom hallway, in a prosecutor’s office, or in a plea offer that arrives before the defendant has even seen the police report. King Law Group is a criminal defense firm that handles misdemeanor and felony cases for people in New Port Richey, throughout Pasco County, and across neighboring Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties and the wider Tampa Bay area. A New Port Richey criminal defense lawyer has to understand both the evidence and the habits of the people deciding what happens to it.

Cases from New Port Richey are heard in Pasco County, which sits in Florida’s Sixth Judicial Circuit alongside Pinellas County. West Pasco matters generally run through the West Pasco Judicial Center in New Port Richey, while the Robert D. Sumner Judicial Center in Dade City handles circuit and county criminal cases for eastern Pasco. Knowing which courthouse your case belongs to, and what its calendar looks like, is part of building a defense from the first day.

The charges that bring people to a criminal defense attorney in this area range from a first-time DUI to a theft allegation that crosses a felony value line to a drug or weapons case built on a vehicle search. Each carries different exposure, different defenses, and different long-term fallout for a license, a job, or an immigration status. The sections below walk through how those cases tend to unfold and what you can do right now to put yourself in the strongest position.

Why Choose King Law Group for Pasco County Criminal Defense

King Law Group is a criminal defense firm founded by Cameron King, a Tampa Bay native who built his practice around people accused of crimes in his home region. The firm represents clients in New Port Richey and throughout Pasco County, and also in St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Tampa, and across Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties. It handles only criminal defense, so the attorney on your case is not splitting attention with divorce files or injury claims. The firm is available around the clock, offers a complimentary case evaluation, and takes cases from arrest through trial and beyond, including bail and bond hearings, plea negotiations, and record sealing and expungement.

Cameron King holds a law degree from Florida State University, where he concentrated his studies in criminal law. He then worked as a Florida state prosecutor, handling cases ranging from murder to DUI, before spending years as a criminal defense attorney at a prominent litigation firm. That sequence matters to a defendant. He has sat on the side of the table that decides what to charge, what to offer, and when to hold firm, and the firm’s own description of that experience is simple: it knows the players and knows the game. When a prosecutor makes an offer, someone who has made those offers can judge whether it reflects the real strength of the evidence or an opening position.

Former clients describe Mr. King as honest, straightforward, effective, and a tireless advocate. Their reviews return to the same themes: he listens to every detail, explains each step, returns calls quickly, and keeps clients informed about where their case stands. One client who hired him for a very serious felony charge and another who saw his charges dropped both point to that steady communication. For anyone weighing a New Port Richey criminal defense attorney, that kind of access is often what separates a manageable process from an anxious one.

Charges We Handle for New Port Richey Defendants

• DUI and DUI Manslaughter: A DUI can rest on a breath alcohol reading of 0.08 or more, or on impairment of normal faculties. A first conviction carries a fine of $500 to $1,000 and up to 6 months in jail, and the fine and jail ceiling rise when the reading is 0.15 or higher or a minor was in the car. DUI manslaughter is a second-degree felony with a 4-year mandatory minimum prison term and permanent license revocation.
• Theft Crimes: Under section 812.014, value drives the charge. Theft of $750 or more but under $20,000 is third-degree grand theft, $20,000 to under $100,000 is a second-degree felony, and $100,000 or more is a first-degree felony. Taking property valued at $40 or more from a home or its curtilage can also be a third-degree felony.
• Drug Crimes: Possession, trafficking, and prescription-related cases often turn on how police found the substance. Traffic stops, consent searches, and warrants are frequent starting points, which makes suppression issues central to these defenses.
• Driving on a Suspended License: A knowing violation is a second-degree misdemeanor on a first conviction and a first-degree misdemeanor on later ones. A third or later offense can become a felony only when the suspension traces to DUI, test refusal, a crash causing death or serious injury, or fleeing and eluding. Driving as a habitual traffic offender is a third-degree felony.
• Domestic Violence and Violent Crimes: Allegations often arise from a single call and a single night. Prior history, witness accounts, and injuries documented at the scene shape both the charge and the available outcomes.
• Vehicular Homicide: A recent change to Florida law makes vehicular homicide a first-degree felony, rather than second-degree, when the accused has a prior conviction for DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide, or the vessel equivalents.
• Weapons Violations: Firearm charges frequently follow a vehicle stop or a domestic call, and the defense often depends on whether the search and seizure were lawful.
• Probation Violations: A missed payment, a failed test, or a new arrest can put a sentence back in front of a judge, and the standard of proof at that hearing is far lower than at trial.

What to Do After an Arrest in Pasco County

The most useful thing you can do right away is say very little. You have the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney, and officers may still press you to talk or sign a statement. You are not required to, and you can ask for a lawyer before answering anything. If you must respond to an officer, keep it short and do not explain, apologize, or guess at what happened. Statements made before an arrest can be used just as readily as those made after one.

Next, deal with release. Early in a case, a first appearance sets conditions, and a lawyer can argue for release on bond or without any bail money. At the same time, write down everything you remember while it is fresh: where the stop or contact happened, what the officers said, who else was there, and whether anyone recorded it. Preserve texts, receipts, and photos that bear on the accusation, and do not delete anything, since that can create a separate problem. Do not discuss the case on social media or with anyone who could become a witness.

Know where your case will be heard. Most new Port Richey matters are handled through the West Pasco Judicial Center, which hears criminal, traffic, civil, family, and probate cases for western Pasco County. Misdemeanors go to the county court, while felonies are filed in circuit court. If the arrest happened in the eastern part of the county, the case may be at the Sumner Judicial Center in Dade City instead. Missing a court date is among the costliest errors a defendant can make, because it can produce a new warrant and a new charge on top of the original one.

Do not accept a plea before understanding what it does beyond the sentence. A conviction can trigger license revocation, restrictions on firearms, and professional consequences. For non-citizens, even a misdemeanor can carry deportation risk, and green card holders can be removed for certain offenses, including aggravated felonies, crimes of moral turpitude, drug offenses, certain firearms offenses, and domestic violence. Raise your immigration status with your lawyer before any plea is discussed, not after.

How DUI and License Consequences Work in Florida

A DUI case is really two cases running side by side: the criminal prosecution and the effect on your driving privilege. On the criminal side, the court must place every DUI offender on monthly reporting probation and require a substance abuse course through a licensed DUI program, including a psychosocial evaluation. A DUI that damages another person’s property or injures a person is a first-degree misdemeanor, which carries up to a year in jail.

The license consequences scale with your history. A first conviction, other than one involving a death, brings revocation of at least 180 days and up to a year. A second conviction within 5 years of a prior one means at least 5 years of revocation, though hardship reinstatement may be possible after one year. A third conviction within 10 years of a prior one means at least 10 years, with possible hardship reinstatement after two years. A fourth conviction, or any DUI manslaughter conviction, carries permanent revocation. A first offense involving bodily injury has a minimum three-year revocation.

The penalty tiers also climb when the breath or blood reading is 0.15 or higher or a passenger under 18 was in the vehicle. In that tier, a first conviction carries a fine of $1,000 to $2,000 and up to 9 months in jail, a second carries a $2,000 to $4,000 fine and up to 12 months, and a third or later carries a fine of at least $4,000. Because the numbers move so much on the facts, early work on the stop, the testing, and the reading often matters more than anything that happens later.

Clearing Your Record After a Case Ends

A criminal case does not have to follow you indefinitely if you qualify for relief. Sealing hides a record from public view, while expungement removes it. To expunge, you must obtain a certificate of eligibility from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which is valid for 12 months before you have to reapply. You must also provide a written certified statement from the state attorney confirming that the record meets the statutory criteria.

Eligibility is narrow. You generally cannot have ever been adjudicated guilty of a criminal offense, and you cannot have been adjudicated delinquent for any felony or for certain specified misdemeanors. A person who has previously had a record sealed or expunged is generally barred from doing it again, with a limited exception for a record sealed for 10 years that otherwise qualifies for expunction. Adult convictions cannot be sealed or expunged, which is one more reason a case that can end in a dismissal or non-conviction outcome is worth fighting for.

Questions People Ask About Criminal Defense in New Port Richey

Do I really need a lawyer for a misdemeanor?

A misdemeanor can still mean up to a year in jail for a first-degree offense or up to 60 days for a second-degree offense, plus fines of up to $1,000 or $500 respectively. It also leaves a record. A lawyer can often negotiate a reduction, a diversion, or a dismissal that a self-represented defendant would never think to ask for.

Can the police use everything I say against me?

Yes. Statements made to officers can be used against you even before an arrest. You have the right to stay silent, and the safest course is to politely decline questions and ask for a lawyer.

Do I have to let police search my car or home?

If officers have a valid warrant, you must allow the search within the scope it describes. Without a warrant, you do not have to consent, though police with probable cause, such as during a DUI stop, can search regardless. 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 enhances sentences for people with two or more prior felonies or qualifying offenses, or a second violent crime within five years. Depending on the charge, exposure can reach 10 years, 30 years, or life, even for a relatively minor third offense. Convictions for possession of a controlled substance are excluded.

What is the difference between sealing and expunging a record?

Sealing keeps the record out of public view, while expungement eliminates it. Both require meeting statutory conditions, and neither is available for an adult conviction.

How long does a criminal case take in Pasco County?

There is no fixed timeline. A misdemeanor with a clean negotiated resolution can finish in weeks, while a contested felony with suppression issues and expert testimony can take many months. Your attorney can give you a realistic expectation once the evidence and the court calendar are known.

Will a plea deal hurt my immigration status?

It can. Certain convictions, including some misdemeanors, can lead to deportation, even for green card holders. Tell your lawyer your status before any plea is considered so the consequences can be weighed first.

What happens if I miss a court date?

The court can issue a warrant for your arrest, revoke your bond, and add a new charge. If you realize you have missed a date, contact your attorney immediately so the problem can be addressed before it grows.

Can a DUI arrest cost me my license even if I am not convicted?

The administrative side of a DUI arrest can affect your driving privilege separately from the criminal case. That is why license issues deserve attention from the first days after an arrest rather than waiting for the criminal outcome.

Can a conviction affect my job or professional license?

It can. Many employers and licensing boards look at criminal history, and some convictions carry consequences beyond the sentence itself. Raise your occupation with your lawyer early, since the choice between a plea and a fight may turn on it.

Is it worth hiring a lawyer if the evidence against me looks strong?

Often, yes. A lawyer can find weaknesses in how evidence was gathered, pursue a reduced charge, or negotiate a deferred prosecution or favorable plea. Self-represented defendants are more likely to face the maximum penalty.

King Law Group’s Criminal Defense Representation Across Pasco and Tampa Bay

King Law Group represents people charged with crimes throughout Pasco County, beginning with New Port Richey and the surrounding west Pasco communities. From Port Richey and Holiday through Hudson, Elfers, Trinity, and Odessa, the firm takes cases arising from stops and arrests across the county. It also serves clients in Land O’ Lakes, Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills, San Antonio, and Dade City in eastern and central Pasco, along with Shady Hills, Spring Hill’s Pasco side, and the neighborhoods that run along the Gulf coast.

Beyond Pasco, the firm handles cases in Pinellas County, including Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Largo, Pinellas Park, Dunedin, and Tarpon Springs, and in Hillsborough County, including Tampa, Brandon, Plant City, and Temple Terrace. Because these counties sit within two judicial circuits, with Pasco and Pinellas in the Sixth Circuit and Hillsborough in the Thirteenth, the firm is comfortable moving between courthouses, prosecutors’ offices, and local procedures as a case requires.

Talk With a New Port Richey Criminal Defense Attorney Today

If you or someone you care about has been arrested or is under investigation, the decisions made in the first days often shape everything that follows. Speaking with a New Port Richey criminal defense attorney at King Law Group gives you someone who has worked both sides of a prosecution and who will tell you plainly where you stand. The firm is available around the clock, and your first conversation about the case is free. Call King Law Group to schedule a complimentary case evaluation and start building your defense.