Pasco County Felon in Possession of a Firearm Lawyer

The best result in a felon-in-possession case is one where the gun charge never reaches a conviction, because that conviction can mean a prison sentence, a second felony on your record, and a lifetime of being barred from firearms again. King Law Group is a Florida criminal defense firm that represents adults and juveniles charged with guns and weapons violations, and it serves people arrested throughout Pasco County, from New Port Richey and Hudson to Dade City, as well as Pinellas County and the wider Tampa Bay area. If you need a Pasco County felon in possession of a firearm lawyer, the firm handles these cases from the first hours after an arrest through trial.

These cases are different from most weapons charges because the gun itself is often not the contested issue. The State has to show you were previously convicted of a qualifying offense, and then show that you knowingly had a firearm, ammunition, or in some situations a weapon within your reach. That second part is where many Pasco cases get litigated. A firearm found in a shared car, a bedroom closet in a house with other adults, or a bag that was not yours raises real questions about who possessed it, and those questions often decide the outcome.

The charge usually comes out of something else: a traffic stop on US-19, a domestic call, a search tied to a drug investigation, or a probation visit. That origin matters. If the stop, the search, or the questioning that led to the gun was unlawful, the evidence may be suppressed, and a felon-in-possession case can collapse without it.

Why Choose King Law Group for a Felon in Possession Defense

King Law Group is led by Cameron King, the firm’s founder and a former felony prosecutor for the Sixth Judicial Circuit, which covers both Pasco and Pinellas Counties. As a prosecutor he handled thousands of cases, ranging from murder, manslaughter and armed robbery to DUI, drug possession and domestic violence. He earned both his undergraduate business degree and his law degree at Florida State University, and he later practiced criminal defense at a prominent litigation firm. The firm’s practice is focused solely on criminal defense, and it represents clients in West Pasco, East Pasco, Pinellas County and across the Tampa Bay area.

That prosecutorial background is useful in a gun case. Cameron knows how the State Attorney’s Office reviews an arrest, what evidence prosecutors lean on to prove possession, and where those cases tend to fall apart. Clients describe him as honest, straightforward and tireless, and many say he returns calls quickly and explains every step of the process. The firm answers its phone around the clock, which matters because arrests rarely happen during business hours.

For a felon-in-possession client, the work usually involves several tracks at once: pushing for release at first appearance, reviewing how the firearm was found, filing motions to suppress when the search or stop was flawed, and negotiating when the facts leave room for a reduced charge or a better resolution. The first consultation is free, and the firm offers a complimentary case evaluation.

Situations That Lead to Felon in Possession Charges in Pasco County

• Firearm Found During a Traffic Stop: A stop on US-19, State Road 54, or a neighborhood road in Holiday, Hudson or Trinity can turn into a vehicle search. If the gun was in a glove box or console shared with passengers, possession is often disputed, and the legality of the stop and search becomes central.
• Guns Located in a Shared Home: Officers executing a warrant or responding to a call may find a firearm in a residence with several adults. Florida law distinguishes between actual possession and constructive possession, and the State must connect you to the gun rather than simply to the address.
• Ammunition Only: A charge can rest on ammunition rather than a working firearm. Cases involving a few loose rounds in a car or a drawer raise their own questions about knowledge and control.
• Firearm Discovered After a Domestic Violence Call: An argument that brings deputies to a home in Port Richey or Bayonet Point can produce a second, more serious charge when a gun is located. Both cases need to be defended together.
• Possession While on Probation: A gun found during a supervision check can bring a new felony charge and a probation violation at once, exposing you to a separate sentence on the underlying case. Probation violations are a practice area the firm handles directly.
• Prior Out-of-State or Juvenile Records: Whether an earlier case actually qualifies can be a real legal question. Some prior outcomes, including certain juvenile adjudications and cases where adjudication was withheld, require careful review before anyone concedes the prior-conviction element.
• Drug Cases With a Firearm Attached: When a drug arrest in Pasco includes a gun, the firearm count often drives prosecutors’ leverage. Resolving both charges may depend on attacking the search that found everything.
• Violent Felony Prior Records: A history that includes offenses such as burglary or robbery can raise the stakes, because Florida’s repeat offender laws can increase potential sentences for those with qualifying priors.

What to Do After a Felon in Possession Arrest in Pasco County

The first thing is to say nothing about the gun, the car, the house, or your past record to law enforcement. Officers will often ask casual questions about whose firearm it is or whether you knew it was there. Those answers become the State’s proof of knowing possession. Politely decline to answer, do not consent to any search, and ask for a lawyer. Then call King Law Group as soon as you can.

People arrested in Pasco are generally booked into the county jail in Land O’ Lakes, and a first appearance before a judge usually follows within about 24 hours. That hearing is where release conditions are set, and it is the earliest chance to argue for a reasonable bond. A lawyer who is already involved can present your ties to the community and work history before the judge decides.

Felony cases in Pasco are heard in Circuit Court, and the Pasco Clerk lists felony proceedings at both judicial centers: the West Pasco Judicial Center in New Port Richey and the Robert D. Sumner Judicial Center in Dade City. Where yours lands depends on where the arrest occurred. If you are on probation, a new arrest can also trigger a violation affidavit, and a warrant can follow. Once a violation affidavit is filed and a warrant is issued, the clock on your probation stops running until the court rules, so you do not want the matter hanging unaddressed.

A few practical mistakes come up repeatedly. People discuss the case on recorded jail calls and in text messages. Others try to move or dispose of weapons, which creates new exposure. Some assume that because the gun belonged to a spouse or roommate, the case will go away on its own. It will not, and what you say early can undermine every defense available later. Write down what you remember about the stop or search, gather the names of anyone who was present, and bring documents about your prior case to the consultation, including the judgment and sentence if you have them.

How Florida Treats Felon in Possession Cases and How They Get Defended

Florida law makes it a crime for a person convicted of a felony to own, possess, or control a firearm. A conviction here means more than a prison sentence: under Florida’s penalty statutes, being convicted includes a guilty or no contest plea even when the judge withholds adjudication. So an older case that ended with a withheld adjudication can still be treated as a prior for purposes of this charge in some situations, and that is a point to analyze closely rather than assume.

The general sentencing ceilings help frame what is at stake. A third-degree felony carries up to 5 years, a second-degree felony up to 15 years, and a first-degree felony up to 30 years, along with fines of up to $5,000, $10,000 and $10,000 respectively. Where a particular felon-in-possession count falls, and whether any enhancement applies, depends on the facts, the prior record, and how the State charges it. Habitual offender designations can also double the maximum sentence in qualifying cases, which is why reviewing a client’s full record early is essential.

The defenses tend to cluster around a few themes. The first is the stop, search or seizure that produced the gun, since an unlawful encounter can lead to suppression. The second is possession: when a firearm was in a shared space, the State must prove you knew it was there and had the ability to control it. The third is the prior conviction element, including whether the earlier case legally qualifies and whether the State can prove it with proper records. The fourth is the statements made to officers, which may be challenged if they were taken without proper warnings. In some cases the strongest path is negotiation, and the right outcome might be a reduction or an arrangement that limits long-term damage.

Beyond the sentence, there are collateral consequences. A new felony conviction can affect probation, employment, housing, and for non-citizens, immigration status. The firm takes those consequences into account before any plea is considered, and it keeps your longer-term goals in view, including the possibility of sealing or expunging eligible records down the road.

Common Questions About Felon in Possession Charges in Pasco County

What counts as possession if the gun was not on me?

Florida recognizes constructive possession, meaning the State claims you knew about the firearm and could control it even though it was not on your body. When others had equal access, such as passengers in a car or other adults in a home, the State generally needs more than proximity to tie the gun to you.

Can I be charged if the gun belongs to my spouse or roommate?

Yes, prosecutors can charge anyone they believe possessed it, but ownership by someone else is a meaningful defense fact. The question becomes whether you had knowledge and control. Evidence like where the gun was kept, who had access, and what you said to officers all matter.

Does ammunition alone support a charge?

It can. Florida’s felon-in-possession law reaches ammunition as well as firearms, so a handful of rounds can be enough for an arrest. The same questions about knowledge, control, and the legality of the search still apply.

Is a withheld adjudication treated as a conviction for this charge?

Under Florida’s penalty statutes, a plea of guilty or no contest counts as a conviction even if adjudication is withheld. Whether a specific older case qualifies as a prior for this charge needs to be checked against the actual court records rather than assumed either way.

What happens if I am on probation when the gun is found?

You can face the new felony charge and a separate violation of probation. If probation is revoked, the court can impose any sentence it could have imposed originally on the underlying case. Because the two cases interact, they should be defended together.

Can the gun be suppressed as evidence?

Sometimes. If the stop lacked a lawful basis, a search went beyond what was permitted, or consent was not truly voluntary, a motion to suppress may be filed. When the firearm is the heart of the State’s case, a successful motion can end the prosecution.

Which court will hear my case?

Felony cases in Pasco are heard in Circuit Court, at either the West Pasco Judicial Center in New Port Richey or the Robert D. Sumner Judicial Center in Dade City. Where the arrest took place usually determines which building handles it.

Should I talk to a detective who wants to hear my side?

No, not without a lawyer. Statements about the gun, such as saying you forgot it was in the car, are often the evidence prosecutors rely on to prove knowing possession. Decline politely and call the firm first.

Could a case with only a few rounds of ammunition still be taken seriously?

Yes. The amount does not change the nature of the charge, and prosecutors may still file a felony count. A small quantity can, however, support arguments about knowledge and may influence negotiations.

How long does one of these cases take in Pasco?

Timing depends on whether motions are filed, whether discovery is contested, and whether the case is resolved or goes to trial. Cases with suppression issues usually take longer because the hearing has to be scheduled and decided before the State decides how to proceed.

What if my prior case was out of state or as a juvenile?

Those records need careful review. Whether an out-of-state or juvenile case qualifies depends on the nature of the offense and how it was resolved, and the State must be able to prove it. The firm examines the underlying documents before any position is taken.

Can a felon-in-possession arrest be sealed or expunged later?

Possibly, but it depends on how the case ends. Expungement is typically available when charges are dropped, dismissed or end in acquittal, while a conviction generally forecloses it. A person may seal or expunge only one arrest record, and an FDLE certificate of eligibility is required first, so the result of this case can affect your long-term options.

Serving Felon in Possession Clients Across Pasco County and Tampa Bay

King Law Group defends people charged with firearm offenses throughout Pasco County. In West Pasco, that includes New Port Richey and Port Richey, Hudson and Bayonet Point to the north, and Holiday, Trinity, Elfers, Jasmine Estates and Beacon Square toward the south and along the Gulf side. The firm also handles cases arising in Dade City and the rest of East Pasco, where the Sumner Judicial Center hears felony matters.

Because Pasco and Pinellas share the Sixth Judicial Circuit, the firm also represents clients across the county line in Clearwater, Largo, Dunedin, Palm Harbor, Tarpon Springs and St. Petersburg, as well as throughout the greater Tampa Bay area. Whichever agency made the arrest, whether the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, a municipal police department or the Florida Highway Patrol, the same prosecutors’ office reviews the case, and Cameron King’s experience on that side of the courtroom applies.

Call a Pasco County Felon in Possession Attorney Today

If you have been arrested, or you believe you are under investigation, for having a firearm after a prior felony, speak with a Pasco County felon in possession attorney before anyone questions you further. King Law Group answers its phone around the clock and offers a free consultation. Call to talk through what happened, what the State will have to prove, and how a defense can be built from the very beginning of your case.