Pasco County Felony Lawyer
A felony charge in Pasco County is filed and prosecuted in circuit court, the court that hears felony and juvenile cases for the county, which means a different judge, a different set of deadlines, and far higher penalties than a misdemeanor in county court. King Law Group is a criminal defense firm that handles felony and misdemeanor cases for adults and juveniles across Pasco County, Pinellas County and the wider Tampa Bay area, and a Pasco County felony lawyer is often the difference between a charge that sticks and one that gets reduced or thrown out.
The felony label alone changes the math. Florida sorts felonies into degrees, and the degree sets the ceiling on prison time and fines. 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, or life when a specific statute provides for it. Fines run as high as $5,000, $10,000 and $10,000 for those three degrees. A felony conviction also follows you into job applications, housing, gun ownership and voting rights.
What many people do not realize is that the charge on the arrest report is not always the charge the State ultimately files. Prosecutors review each arrest, and the felony you were booked on can be filed as written, filed as something lesser, or not filed at all. The work done in the first weeks, before that decision is final, often shapes everything after it.
Felony Degrees in Pasco County and What Each One Means
Florida law grades felonies by seriousness, and knowing where your charge falls tells you what is actually at stake. Life felonies and capital felonies sit at the top. Below them, a first-degree felony means up to 30 years, a second-degree felony means up to 15 years, and a third-degree felony means up to 5 years. When a statute makes something a felony without naming a degree, it is treated as a third-degree felony unless it carries life imprisonment for a first offense.
Those figures are maximums, not predictions. Actual sentences depend on the scoresheet, your prior record, the facts, and what the State is willing to accept. Still, the maximum matters, because it frames the plea offers and tells you how much leverage the State believes it has.
One point 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 erase the fact of a conviction for purposes of fines.
Why Choose King Law Group for a Pasco County Felony Defense
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, and it represents adults and juveniles from pre-arrest investigation through trial and, when a client qualifies, record sealing. Clients in Pasco County, from New Port Richey and Hudson to Dade City, reach the firm around the clock, since the phone is answered 24/7.
Cameron King earned both his undergraduate business degree and his law degree at Florida State University, where he focused on criminal law. As a prosecutor he handled thousands of cases, ranging from murder, manslaughter and armed robbery to DUI, drug possession and domestic violence. He later practiced criminal defense at a prominent litigation firm before turning to defense work full time in his home community.
That history matters on a felony. He has sat on the side of the table that decides whether to file, how to charge, and what to offer, so he knows which evidence prosecutors lean on and where an arrest tends to come apart. Clients describe him as honest, straightforward and quick to return calls, and several mention that he explained every step and that their charges were ultimately dropped. The first consultation is free, and the firm offers a complimentary case evaluation.
Felony Charges We Defend in Pasco County
- Grand Theft: Theft of property worth $750 or more is a felony. Value of $750 up to $20,000 is a third-degree felony, $20,000 up to $100,000 is second-degree, and $100,000 or more is first-degree. Theft of a firearm or a motor vehicle can be charged as grand theft regardless of value, and taking $40 or more from a dwelling or its curtilage is also third-degree grand theft.
- Drug Trafficking and Felony Possession: Possession of 20 grams or less of cannabis is only a first-degree misdemeanor, but larger amounts, other controlled substances, and intent-to-sell allegations move the case into felony territory under Chapter 893.
- Felony Battery and Domestic Battery by Strangulation: Simple battery is a misdemeanor, but felony battery and domestic battery by strangulation are third-degree felonies. Strangulation covers impeding breathing or circulation of a household member or dating partner by pressure on the throat or neck or by blocking the nose or mouth.
- DUI Manslaughter and Vehicular Homicide: A DUI that causes a death is at least a second-degree felony, and a conviction for manslaughter, DUI serious bodily injury or vehicular homicide carries a three-year license revocation on top of any prison exposure.
- Burglary, Robbery and Violent Crimes: Offenses involving entry into a structure, force against a person, or weapons are routinely filed as felonies in Pasco circuit court, with exposure that climbs quickly if a firearm is alleged.
- Sex Crimes and Child Abuse: These cases carry long prison exposure, sex offender consequences, and extended filing windows when the alleged victim is under 18.
- White Collar Crimes and Conspiracy: Fraud, forgery and related financial allegations are often built on records and digital evidence, and the value involved drives the felony degree.
- Felony Probation Violations: A violation of felony probation can send you back before the judge who sentenced you, with the full original sentencing range back on the table.
What to Do in the First Days After a Felony Arrest in Pasco County
Say nothing to investigators. You can decline questions politely, refuse consent to a search, and ask for a lawyer. Statements made before or after arrest become evidence, and people regularly talk themselves into a worse charge while trying to explain.
People arrested in Pasco are generally held at the county jail in Land O’ Lakes, and a first appearance before a judge usually comes within about 24 hours. That hearing reviews probable cause and sets release conditions. A lawyer involved early can argue for a lower bond or release without money bail, and if bond is set too high, a separate bond hearing is available.
Felony cases 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, depending on where the case belongs. Misdemeanors and criminal traffic matters go to county court. If the State adds a felony count to a case that began as a misdemeanor, or the reverse, the case can move between them.
Write down everything you remember while it is fresh: who was present, what was said, what officers did, and whether you were read your rights. Save texts, photos, receipts and names of witnesses. Do not contact the alleged victim or discuss the case on social media, because both can create new problems and new charges. Keep every court date, since a missed appearance adds a warrant to a felony case.
Pay attention to the clock on the State’s side too. Florida sets time limits for filing charges, generally 3 years for most felonies and 4 years for a first-degree felony, with no limit for capital felonies, life felonies, or felonies that resulted in a death. Time starts the day after the offense, and being absent from the state can extend the period by up to 3 years. Some offenses have longer windows, such as abuse of the elderly or disabled at 5 years, and cases involving a victim under 18 can begin the clock later. If you are under investigation and nothing has been filed, these limits are part of the analysis.
How Felony Cases Are Won, Reduced or Resolved
Not every felony ends in a trial, and not every outcome is an acquittal. Common results include a dismissal when the evidence is thin, a reduction from a felony to a misdemeanor, a withheld adjudication, or entry into a pretrial diversion program that ends with the charge dropped. The right target depends on your goals, whether that is a job, a professional license, immigration status, or your family.
Many felony defenses begin with how the evidence was obtained. A stop without a lawful basis, a search without consent or a valid warrant, or a statement taken after you asked for a lawyer can all support a motion to suppress. When suppression removes the key evidence, the State’s case may not survive. For theft and drug cases, the valuation or the weight and identity of a substance can be contested. In violent cases, credibility, self-defense and inconsistent accounts take center stage.
Repeat offender laws can raise the stakes. Florida has habitual felony offender, habitual violent felony offender and three-time violent felony offender designations, and under the habitual felony offender statute the maximum sentence can double. Simple drug possession convictions generally do not count toward habitual felony offender status. If the State signals it will seek an enhancement, that needs to be addressed early.
Probation is another place felonies resurface. If probation is revoked, the court can impose any sentence it could have originally imposed. Once a violation affidavit is filed and a warrant issued, the probation clock is tolled until the court rules. Technical violations, meaning ones that are not a new felony, misdemeanor or criminal traffic offense, are handled differently from new-law violations, and the difference can change both your custody status and the outcome.
Common Questions About Felony Charges in Pasco County
Do I need a lawyer if I have not been formally charged yet?
Yes, if you know you are under investigation. Pre-arrest representation can mean a lawyer communicates with investigators for you, advises you on what not to say, and sometimes presents information to the State before a charging decision is made.
What is the difference between a felony and a misdemeanor in Florida?
The difference is the potential punishment. A first-degree misdemeanor carries up to 1 year in county jail, while felonies carry prison terms of up to 5, 15, 30 years or life depending on the degree. Felony cases also go to circuit court rather than county court.
Can a felony charge be reduced to a misdemeanor?
Often it can, depending on the facts, the evidence and your history. A reduction is one of the most common goals in felony defense, and it can keep a permanent felony conviction off your record.
What happens at first appearance after a felony arrest?
A judge confirms probable cause and sets bond or other release conditions, usually within about 24 hours of arrest. Having a lawyer there, or following up with a bond hearing, can affect whether you are released and on what terms.
How long do felony cases take in Pasco County?
There is no fixed timeline. A simple case can resolve in a few months, while cases involving lab work, suppression litigation, or multiple witnesses can take considerably longer. A case that goes to trial takes longer than one resolved by negotiation.
Will a felony conviction cost me my driver’s license?
Not automatically, but some felonies do. Vehicular homicide, DUI manslaughter and DUI serious bodily injury convictions carry a three-year revocation, and drug and traffic-related felonies can have their own license consequences.
Is grand theft always a felony?
Generally, theft of property valued at $750 or more is a felony. Below that, petit theft is a misdemeanor, a second-degree misdemeanor under $100 and a first-degree misdemeanor from $100 to under $750. Certain items, such as firearms and motor vehicles, and takings from a dwelling, can be felonies at lower values.
Can a felony conviction affect my immigration status?
Yes. Even lawful permanent residents can face removal for aggravated felonies, drug offenses, firearms offenses, domestic violence and crimes involving moral turpitude. Immigration consequences should be weighed before any plea is considered.
Can I ever seal or expunge a felony arrest in Florida?
Sometimes. You must first obtain a certificate of eligibility from FDLE, you can only seal or expunge one arrest record, and you must attest you have never had a record sealed or expunged before. Expunging a record where adjudication was withheld generally requires the record to have been court-sealed for at least 10 years. Certain offenses are not eligible, so each record needs individual review.
What if the alleged victim wants to drop the charges?
The decision belongs to the State, not the alleged victim. A victim’s wishes can influence how a prosecutor views the case, but the State can proceed regardless, and contacting the victim yourself can create new legal problems.
Is it worth hiring a lawyer if I plan to plead guilty?
Often more so. A lawyer can negotiate the charge, the sentence and the type of adjudication, and can flag consequences you might otherwise miss, such as immigration exposure, license loss and what the plea does to future sealing eligibility.
Serving Felony Defense Clients Across Pasco County and Beyond
Pasco County felony cases come from every corner of the county, and King Law Group defends clients arrested throughout it. In West Pasco, that includes New Port Richey, Port Richey, Hudson and Bayonet Point, along with Holiday, Trinity, Elfers, Jasmine Estates and Beacon Square. The firm also takes cases from Dade City and the eastern part of the county, which are heard at the Dade City courthouse.
Pasco and Pinellas share the Sixth Judicial Circuit, so the firm also represents clients just across the county line in Clearwater, Largo, Dunedin, Palm Harbor, Tarpon Springs and St. Petersburg, and across the greater Tampa Bay area. Whoever made the arrest, whether the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, a municipal police department, or the Florida Highway Patrol, the same State Attorney’s Office is making the charging decision.
Talk With a Pasco County Felony Attorney Today
A felony charge puts years of your life, and your record, on the line, and the decisions made in the first days tend to carry the most weight. If you or someone you care about has been arrested or is under investigation, a Pasco County felony attorney at King Law Group can review the charge, explain the penalties, and map out a plan.
Call any time, day or night, to schedule your free consultation. Former prosecutor Cameron King and the team are ready to start working on your case from the first hearing.
