St. Petersburg Criminal Defense Attorney

An arrest in St. Petersburg starts a rapid sequence of police reports, booking photos, and prosecutor case-building, often before you fully comprehend the situation.

Lopez Law Group defends clients facing criminal charges across St. Petersburg and Pinellas County. Our St. Petersburg criminal defense attorneys handle misdemeanors and felonies, including DUI, drug offenses, theft, assault, domestic violence, weapons charges, probation violations, and white-collar crimes. We secure bonds, negotiate with prosecutors, pursue dismissals through motions to suppress evidence, and take cases to trial when necessary.

Remain silent and call (727) 933-0015 immediately after arrest or when you learn you’re under investigation. Criminal defense consultations are free and confidential.

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Table of Contents

• Key Takeaways for Criminal Defense Cases in St. Petersburg
• Why St. Petersburg Residents Choose Lopez Law Group for Criminal Defense
• What Should I Do After an Arrest in St. Petersburg?
• Florida Criminal Charges: Misdemeanors vs. Felonies
• Common Criminal Charges We Defend in St. Petersburg
• How Pinellas County Criminal Cases Proceed
• Defense Strategies for St. Petersburg Criminal Cases
• FAQ for Criminal Charges in St. Petersburg, Florida
• Arrested in St. Petersburg? Call Lopez Law Group Now

Key Takeaways for Criminal Defense Cases in St. Petersburg

• The first 48 hours after arrest are critical for bond negotiations, evidence preservation, and preventing harmful statements to police that prosecutors use at trial
• Florida distinguishes between misdemeanors carrying up to one year in county jail and felonies ranging from probation to life in state prison
• Prosecutors must prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt, the highest burden in American law requiring them to eliminate all reasonable explanations except guilt
• Pretrial diversion, plea negotiations, suppression motions, and constitutional defenses provide paths to dismissal or reduction that most defendants never pursue without attorney representation
• Criminal convictions create permanent public records affecting employment, housing, professional licenses, firearm rights, and immigration status

Why St. Petersburg Residents Choose Lopez Law Group for Criminal Defense

Criminal charges don’t just threaten jail time. They threaten your career, your family stability, your professional licenses, and your ability to pass background checks for the rest of your life. You need dedicated representation that treats your case as the priority it is.

Our criminal defense lawyers offer:

Local Courtroom Knowledge That Shapes Strategy From Day One

We practice daily in the Pinellas County Justice Center, appearing before the same judges and negotiating with the same prosecutors who will handle your case. This familiarity informs our approach to your specific case.

Immediate Action That Prevents Unnecessary Jail Time

Every hour you spend in Pinellas County Jail costs you. We respond to new arrests within hours, attending first appearance hearings to argue for reasonable bonds or pretrial release.

Independent Investigation That Finds What Police Ignore

Police reports tell one side of the story.  We don’t accept these narratives without challenge.

When necessary, our investigators can interview witnesses police never contacted, obtain surveillance footage from businesses near incident scenes, examine dash camera and body camera recordings for procedural violations, and hire forensic experts who challenge breath test accuracy, drug field test reliability, and DNA analysis methodology.

Aggressive Motion Practice That Excludes Illegal Evidence

Constitutional violations occur regularly in criminal investigations. We file suppression motions that force prosecutors to prove searches were legal, confessions were voluntary, and procedures were followed. If judges grant these motions to exclude evidence, cases may be dismissed.

Free Consultations Mean You Risk Nothing by Calling

Lopez Law Group’s criminal defense consultations are free and confidential. We explain your charges, potential penalties, defense strategies, and realistic outcomes before you commit to anything.

Call (727) 933-0015 now—before speaking with police, before posting bond, before making any decisions about your case. The first 48 hours can determine everything that follows.

What Should I Do After an Arrest in St. Petersburg?

Your response in the first hours after arrest determines whether you face maximum penalties or minimize consequences through strategic legal action.

Exercise Your Right to Remain Silent

You have the constitutional right under the Fifth Amendment to refuse to answer police questions. Use it.

Say clearly: “I am invoking my right to remain silent and my right to an attorney. I will not answer questions without my lawyer present.”

Repeat this statement to every officer, detective, or investigator who approaches you. Do not make small talk. Do not explain your side. Do not try to convince the police of your innocence. Everything you say becomes evidence used against you at trial.

Request an Attorney Immediately

You have the Sixth Amendment right to legal counsel. Once you invoke this right, the police must stop questioning you until your attorney arrives.

Contact Lopez Law Group at (727) 933-0015 as soon as you’re allowed phone access. We respond quickly to new arrests, often meeting clients at Pinellas County Jail within hours to advise on bond hearings and initial court appearances.

Do Not Consent to Searches

Police may ask permission to search your vehicle, home, phone, or belongings.

Say clearly: “I do not consent to any searches.” 

Never physically resist, but verbally refuse consent. Searches conducted without warrants or consent often violate the Fourth Amendment, providing grounds for suppression motions that exclude critical evidence.

Preserve Evidence

If you have evidence supporting your innocence, like text messages, emails, receipts, GPS data, witness contact information, surveillance footage locations, preserve it immediately. Take screenshots, save files, and provide everything to your attorney.

Do not delete anything, even if it seems harmful. Your lawyer decides what helps and what hurts.

Stay Off Social Media

Prosecutors monitor defendants’ social media accounts, looking for posts that contradict defense claims or show a lack of remorse. Avoid posting, commenting, or reacting to content while your case is pending. Set accounts to private and instruct friends not to post about you or your case.

Florida Criminal Charges: Misdemeanors vs. Felonies

Florida Statutes § 775.08 classifies crimes as misdemeanors or felonies based on potential penalties, with felonies further divided into degrees.

Enhanced Penalties

Florida law provides sentence enhancements for:

• Repeat offenders under the Prison Releasee Reoffender Act
• Crimes involving firearms under 10-20-Life laws
• Drug trafficking based on weight thresholds
• Hate crimes targeting protected classes
• Crimes against law enforcement or elderly victims

Common Criminal Charges We Defend in St. Petersburg

Lopez Law Group handles the full spectrum of criminal charges in Pinellas County, from misdemeanors to serious felonies requiring immediate legal intervention.

DUI and Impaired Driving

Florida Statutes § 316.193 criminalizes driving with a blood alcohol content of .08 or higher, or while impaired by drugs or alcohol affecting normal faculties. DUI charges include first-offense misdemeanors, repeat DUI felonies, DUI with property damage, DUI with serious bodily injury, and DUI manslaughter.

Drug Crimes

Florida Statutes Chapter 893 addresses possession, sale, distribution, and trafficking of controlled substances, including cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, fentanyl, marijuana, and prescription drugs. Drug charges range from simple possession misdemeanors to trafficking felonies carrying mandatory minimum prison sentences based on drug weight.

Theft and Property Crimes

Florida Statutes § 812.014 covers theft offenses, including petit theft under $750, grand theft in three degrees based on property value, retail theft and shoplifting, burglary of structures and vehicles, dealing in stolen property, robbery, and carjacking. Related charges include credit card fraud, identity theft, organized fraud schemes, and embezzlement.

Violent Crimes

Assault and battery charges under Florida Statutes §§ 784.011 and 784.03 include simple assault and battery misdemeanors, aggravated assault and battery felonies involving weapons or serious injury, battery on law enforcement officers, and felony battery causing great bodily harm or permanent disability.

Domestic Violence

Domestic violence charges encompass battery, assault, stalking, sexual battery, kidnapping, and false imprisonment against family or household members. Florida’s mandatory arrest policy leads to charges even without visible injuries, and convictions trigger firearms prohibitions and mandatory intervention programs.

Sex Crimes

Sexual battery, lewd and lascivious conduct, solicitation of minors, child pornography possession and distribution, failure to register as a sex offender, and violations of sex offender residency restrictions carry severe penalties, including lengthy prison sentences and lifetime sex offender registration.

Weapons Offenses

Carrying concealed firearms without permits, possession of firearms by convicted felons, improper exhibition of firearms, weapons possession on school grounds, and enhanced sentencing under Florida’s 10-20-Life law for crimes involving firearms.

Probation and Supervised Release Violations

Technical violations, including missed probation meetings, failed drug tests, and curfew violations, plus substantive violations from new criminal arrests while on probation or community control. A St. Petersburg probation violation lawyer defends against allegations of probation violation.

White-Collar Crimes

Fraud, embezzlement, money laundering, mortgage fraud, insurance fraud, organized schemes to defraud, forgery, uttering forged instruments, and computer crimes involving unauthorized access or data theft.

Juvenile Charges

Delinquency proceedings for minors accused of crimes, direct file cases transferring juveniles to adult court, violation of probation in juvenile cases, and sealing of juvenile records.

Other Criminal Charges

Resisting arrest with or without violence, fleeing and eluding law enforcement, witness tampering, perjury, violation of injunctions, trespassing, disorderly conduct, criminal mischief, and driving with a suspended or revoked license.

How Pinellas County Criminal Cases Proceed

While every case is different, most criminal cases follow a predictable path. Your defense lawyer can explain what to expect in your case and help you manage the process.

• Arrest and Booking: Defendants are transported to Pinellas County Jail for fingerprinting, photographing, and background checks. Officers may interrogate defendants, so invoke your right to remain silent and request an attorney immediately.
• First Appearance and Bond: Within 24 hours of arrest, judges inform defendants of charges, appoint public defenders for indigent defendants, and set bond amounts. Your attorney argues for a reasonable bond or release on recognizance based on employment, family ties, and minimal flight risk.
• Arraignment: Two to three weeks after arrest, defendants enter pleas of guilty, not guilty, or no contest. Most defendants plead not guilty, preserving all legal rights and defense options before cases move to discovery.
• Discovery and Investigation: Prosecutors disclose all evidence, including police reports, witness statements, physical evidence, and exculpatory material. Defense attorneys review discovery, identify weaknesses, interview witnesses, and hire experts.
• Pretrial Motions: Defense attorneys file motions to suppress evidence obtained through illegal searches or Miranda violations, and motions to dismiss for legal insufficiency or speedy trial violations.
• Plea Negotiations: Prosecutors may offer plea deals, reducing charges or recommending lenient sentences. Pretrial diversion programs enable first-time offenders to avoid conviction through probation and treatment, thereby resulting in charge dismissal and eligibility for record sealing.
• Trial: When negotiations fail, cases proceed to a jury trial where prosecutors must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Defense attorneys challenge each element of the State’s case and present affirmative defenses when appropriate.

Defense Strategies for St. Petersburg Criminal Cases

Criminal defense succeeds by attacking the prosecution’s case at every vulnerable point. Prosecutors must prove every element of a crime beyond a reasonable doubt, and a competent defense creates doubt through legal challenges, evidence suppression, and credible alternative explanations.

Constitutional Challenges

Fourth Amendment violations occur when police conduct warrantless searches, stop vehicles without reasonable suspicion, or enter homes without probable cause. Motions to suppress exclude illegally obtained evidence, and cases without admissible evidence get dismissed.

A Lopez Law Group defense lawyer examines search warrants for defects, challenges traffic stop justifications, and scrutinizes arrest procedures for constitutional violations.

Credibility Attacks

Witness testimony drives many prosecutions, but witnesses can lie, misremember, hold grudges, and cooperate with police to avoid their own charges. Cross-examination exposes inconsistencies between police reports and trial testimony, reveals bias and motive to fabricate, and demonstrates unreliable identifications. When witnesses contradict each other or themselves, reasonable doubt arises.

Affirmative Defenses

Florida law recognizes complete defenses that justify otherwise criminal conduct. Self-defense under the Stand Your Ground law can provide immunity when defendants reasonably believe force is necessary to prevent imminent harm. Necessity defenses apply when defendants break laws to prevent greater harm. Entrapment occurs when police induce crimes that defendants weren’t predisposed to commit.

Pretrial Diversion and Charge Reduction

First-time offenders may be eligible for pretrial diversion programs, which can result in case dismissal and sealed records upon completion of probation and treatment.

Plea negotiations may also lead to prosecutors reducing charges. Particularly when faced with suppression motions, witness problems, or trial-ready defense attorneys.

FAQ for Criminal Charges in St. Petersburg, Florida

How Fast Can a Lawyer Get Me Out of Pinellas County Jail?

Attorneys can attend first appearance hearings within 24 hours of arrest to argue for a reasonable bond or release on recognizance. Early attorney involvement may prevent excessive bonds that keep defendants jailed for weeks.

Do I Need a Criminal Defense Attorney for a First Offense?

Yes. First offenses deserve the same aggressive defense as repeat charges. Even minor convictions can create permanent records that affect employment, housing, and professional licenses.

Can My Case Be Dismissed or Reduced?

Many cases are dismissed or reduced through pretrial negotiations, suppression motions, or insufficient evidence at trial. Common paths to dismissal include Fourth Amendment violations that render evidence inadmissible, witness credibility issues that undermine the State’s case, a lack of proof on essential elements, and constitutional defects in charging documents.

Can I Seal or Expunge My Record After My Case Ends?

Florida law allows for the sealing of records for many first-time offenses resolved through dismissal, acquittal, or withholding of adjudication. Expungement completely removes records for cases that are dismissed or result in not-guilty verdicts. Eligibility depends on charge type, disposition, and prior criminal history.

Will a Lawyer Appear in Court for Me?

Attorneys appear at most pretrial hearings on your behalf, but defendants must personally attend arraignment, pretrial conferences when judges require it, and the trial. Strategic hearings, including suppression motions and evidentiary hearings, often proceed with only your attorney present.

What Is the Difference Between a Misdemeanor and a Felony in Florida?

Florida law categorizes crimes as misdemeanors or felonies based on the potential penalties.

• Misdemeanors are less serious offenses, typically carrying a maximum sentence of one year in county jail and fines.
• Felonies are more severe crimes, with penalties ranging from probation to life in state prison and substantial fines.

The specific classification depends on the crime’s nature and the state statutes.

What Is Pretrial Diversion?

Pretrial diversion programs allow eligible first-time offenders to avoid a criminal conviction. These programs typically involve a period of supervision, community service, and sometimes counseling or treatment.

If you complete the program, the court may dismiss the charges against you, making you eligible for record sealing.

How Does Bond Work in St. Petersburg?

After an arrest, a judge sets a bond amount at your first appearance hearing. Paying this bond allows your release from jail while your case is pending.

The severity of the charge, your criminal history, and your ties to the community determine the bond amount. An attorney can argue for a reasonable bond or release on your own recognizance.

Arrested in St. Petersburg? Call Lopez Law Group Now

SeanCarlo Lopez, St. Petersburg Criminal Defense Attorney

Criminal charges threaten everything you’ve worked to build: your freedom, your career, your family, your future. Prosecutors in Pinellas County pursue convictions aggressively, leveraging plea deals that sound reasonable until you understand the long-term consequences of criminal records.

Lopez Law Group offers free, confidential criminal defense consultations for clients facing charges in St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and throughout Pinellas County. Contact a St. Petersburg criminal defense attorney immediately at (727) 933-0015. Early intervention protects your rights, preserves evidence, and positions your case for a favorable outcome.

Do not speak with police, prosecutors, or investigators without your attorney present. Exercise your constitutional rights to remain silent and consult counsel.

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