Crescent City Criminal Lawyers

My name is Brandy Merrifield. I am a criminal defense attorney and partner at Flaherty & Merrifield Criminal Defense. We serve Fort Walton Beach, Crestview, Destin, and all of Northwest Florida. I devote 100% of my practice to criminal defense. With my background in psychology, I bring a unique perspective to the resolution of criminal cases. My objective in all of my cases is aggressive defense coupled with compassion and understanding. No matter what you are accused of, Flaherty & Merrifield will not judge you. We will defend you. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help...

Ryan M. Cardoso is the founder and principal attorney at Cardoso Law, PLLC, in Pensacola, Florida. He serves clients in a wide variety of practice areas, including criminal defense, personal injury, and civil litigation. Ryan is an experienced attorney who has helped countless clients seek justice and defend their rights. Ryan M. Cardoso is a graduate of the University of South Florida and obtained his Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Florida College of Law in 2002 where he graduated with honors. He has been a member of The Florida Bar since 2003 and is admitted to practice before the...

As a Key West criminal lawyer, I fully understand that being charged with a crime is a stressful event that can have a lasting impact on your life. I am totally dedicated to providing the highest quality legal representation to each and every client. I believe that a lawyer’s reputation is his or her most valuable asset. My goal is to earn and maintain the respect of not only my clients, but also that of judges, attorneys and other members of the public.

Attorney, Gillis E. (Beau) Powell III, has dedicated most of his practice to criminal cases. He began his career by working at the Office of the State Attorney, prosecuting both felony and misdemeanor criminal cases. As a former prosecutor, he can evaluate your criminal case from the state's perspective and provide legal insight into what the State can or cannot prove in your case.

As a South Floridian, Victor has defended members of the community in criminal and criminal traffic cases in the Florida Keys. After serving as supervising attorney in the Middle Keys Division for the Monroe County Public Defender’s Office, Victor’s experience is now brought to benefit his clients and their families as they navigate their options in the criminal justice system. Working to reach a resolution that has the least impact on the lives, careers, and future earning potential of his clients is the goal.

Stephen “Steve” Joseph Ryan was born in the Bronx, where his mother worked as a nurse and his father was an officer with the New York Police Department. In the early ’90s, Steve moved to Tallahassee, Florida to continue his studies at Florida State University’s College of Law, where he met fellow law student and his future law partner, Shawn Risen. In 1995, Steve graduated with honors and received a Juris Doctorate, and one year later, Steve and Shawn Risen established Risen & Ryan, Attorneys at Law.

Attorney David Stevens is a third-generation resident of Okaloosa County. A proud Seminole, David graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Florida State University before earning his Juris Doctorate from the Regent University School of Law in Virginia Beach, VA. He currently resides in Niceville, FL with his wife and three-year-old daughter.

David was sworn in to practice law in Florida in 2010, and soon joined a civil litigation law firm in Santa Rosa Beach as an associate attorney. He went on to become a prosecutor with the State Attorney's Office in Shalimar, FL, and served in that capacity for...

Handle civil and criminal cases throughout Northwest Florida. My firm focuses on personal injury, criminal defense, bankruptcy, real estate closings, and general civil litigation.

Paul Petruzzi is a 23 year veteran criminal defense attorney with a boutique criminal defense lawfirm based in downtown Miami.

Clay B. Adkinson is a skilled and experienced criminal defense attorney at Adkinson Law Firm in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. The firm, which has more than 30 years of experience in the Florida Panhandle, represents clients facing criminal charges and others who are involved in family law issues. Adkinson earned his bachelor's degree in political science at Florida State University in Tallahassee in 2003. He then attended law school at Florida State University College of Law where he graduated with his juris doctor degree in 2005. After law school, he joined Adkinson Law Firm with...

Jude M. Faccidomo is a founding partner and managing partner at Ratzan & Faccidomo, a Miami law firm providing misdemeanor and felony defense of Florida and federal criminal charges as well as representation of lawyers and other professionals in administrative license revocation and disciplinary hearings. As a former Assistant Public Defender in the Miami-Dade Public Defender’s office, Mr. Faccidomo gained extensive, invaluable experience handling jury trials involving a wide range of criminal matters. Mr. Faccidomo completed his undergraduate degree at Bard College in New York and earned his Juris Doctor law degree from Saint Thomas University School of Law in Miami....

Criminal Defense, Family Law, Business Litigation DUI/DWI Defense/ Divorce / Domestic Violence Injunctions / Contract Litigation

Grant Dwyer is a Notre Dame-trained Miami criminal defense attorney. He is a fighter and he knows how to beat your case. If you need to get your loved one out of a Miami jail, call Grant Dwyer Law. He is in court every day and he knows the judges and prosecutors. He knows how to handle your case from the arrest all the way through clearing your name. He is undefeated in front of juries. If you need a Miami criminal lawyer, call for a free consultation. Se habla Español.

After his graduation from American University’s Washington College of Law, Miami attorney Antonio F. Valiente, Esq. began his legal career at the Miami-Dade Public Defender’s Office. There, he gained valuable insight and extensive experience over the course of six+ years. Between his time at the Public Defender’s Office & since founding Valiente, Carollo & McElligott, PLLC., he’s tried over 50 felony jury trials as lead counsel, dozens of misdemeanor jury trials, taken over one thousand depositions, & dozens of juvenile trials/adjudicatory hearings. Mr. Valiente’s experience encompasses everything from minor traffic-related misdemeanors to serious first-degree murder charges.

Founded by Manuel Vazquez, a seasoned attorney with over 50 years of experience, Manuel Vazquez, PA, has deep roots in the South Florida legal community. Born in Havana, Cuba, Manny moved to the United States as a child refugee, sent to America by his parents to protect him from the Cuban Communist Revolution. Through hard work, honesty, and dedication, Manny developed a passion for the law, earning his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida in 1970. Over the decades, he has built a reputation for providing exceptional legal representation across all branches of the law. With a commitment to...

Jeffrey Morris is an experienced defense attorney and co-founder of McLaughlin Morris, P.A. who serves those facing criminal charges and personal injury matters in Delray Beach, Florida and the surrounding areas. He has a passion for providing each customer with personal care to meets his or her individual needs. With more than a decade of experience as a prosecutor and an attorney, he is able to apply his knowledge of Florida's courtrooms to the challenging situations that his clients face. This dedication to every matter can be seen in his work ethic and educational background. After studying...

Clark H. Henderson, originally from Waynesboro, Mississippi, is a 2007 graduate of the University of South Alabama and a 2011 graduate of the Cumberland School of Law, Sam ford University, in Birmingham, Alabama. During law school Clark interned at the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and with the Honorable Laura Petro, 10th Judicial Circuit, Criminal Division. He practiced in Birmingham, Alabama before being admitted to the Florida Bar. Clark is licensed to practice in both Florida and Alabama.

Shayna K. Cavanaugh is dedicated to the practice of issues involving families, including divorce, guardianship, children’s issues, child support and alimony, and domestic violence. Recognizing that every case is unique, we focus on the individual client and provide the personalized attention that each client deserves. We strive to listen to each client’s needs, to educate them regarding their options, and to advocate for their goals and desired outcomes.

Michael C. Minardi is the Senior Partner at Minardi Law. For over 16 years, Michael has dedicated his practice to fighting for clients charged with cannabis crimes and advocating for cannabis law reform. His passion has driven him to learning and understanding medical cannabis laws in the State of Florida and throughout the country.

Michael’s practice represents clients in corporate cannabis consulting, application preparation, lobbying, forfeiture matters, and criminal matters. He has won many medical cannabis cases, including several landmark high-profile cases in Florida. He won the first and second jury trials in Florida presenting the medical necessity...

I have been practicing law since 1992 when I began as a Assistant State Attorney in the Tampabay area, In 1996 I entered private practice in an effort to share my experience with clients seeking legal help. My background includes 10 years of law enforcement experience as a patrolmen, K-9 officer and organized crime detective. I was trained by the DEA in narcotics investigations and worked on local and Federal task force. My experience includes investigating fatal traffic crashes, K-9 handler, covert investigations, state prosecution and extensive criminal defense including traffic and serious felony trials. I have represented injured families...

Tampa Criminal Defense Attorney, Ben Stechschulte, is a board-certified expert in criminal trial law. He has been practicing in the Tampa Bay area for nearly 15 years and has tried over 60 cases to verdict.  His experience is both varied and comprehensive, which makes him uniquely qualified to aggressively and effectively defend his clients who are facing criminal charges or have been injured in an accident. Ben attended Stetson University College of Law, which is recognized as one of the top law schools in the country for trial advocacy.  After graduating in 2005, Ben served as a prosecutor in Hillsborough County.  Ben...

Jeff Thomas is a Tampa criminal defense lawyer at Thomas & Paulk, P.A. He is a Florida native and graduate of Stetson College of Law. Throughout his career, he has handled more than 3,500 criminal cases. He is experienced with non-jury cases, jury trials, and traffic cases.

I’ve wanted to be an attorney since I was eight years old. Frankly, I’ve always been passionate about helping others, especially those who have a feeling of helplessness. Fighting for other people is in my DNA and comes across in everything I do. I am passionate about seeking justice in all circumstances and I truly believe in our system, when it’s working as it should.

At the end of the day, that’s my job. I am intent on adding a layer of accountability to our system to ensure that it works properly for all people. This means helping people to understand...

If you find yourself arrested or under investigation for a crime in Florida, it's crucial to act swiftly. I am here to help you preserve evidence and formulate a strategic plan. Delaying action can be detrimental, but together, we can present a detailed and comprehensive case to the state, rather than passively accepting minimal offerings. While my usual practice area encompasses the Tampa Bay Area, I am fully prepared to defend clients across any jurisdiction in Florida. My practice regularly manages various types of criminal cases in both Clearwater and Pasco areas. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me; I am...

I have been dedicated to the practice of Criminal Law for over 30 years, with more than 100 jury trials to my credit. I have extensive experience in representing individuals charged or under investigation for State and Federal criminal charges as well as appeals. I am also admitted to practice in the State of Massachusetts in both the State and Federal Courts as well as the 11th and 1st Circuit Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of the United States. I am a Certified Circuit Court and Federal Court Mediator. My practice areas include the Middle District...

Amy Ruiz received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Marketing and International Economics from the University of Florida in 2000. She received her Juris Doctorate from the Florida State College of Law in 2004. While at Florida State, Ms. Ruiz was a member of the Journal of Transnational Law & Policy. She also participated in the Institute on World Legal Problems where she studied Comparative Constitutional Law at the University of Innsbruck, in Austria, with Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court Antonin Scalia.

Upon graduating law school, Ms. Ruiz, a Tampa native, returned to Tampa and commenced...

Richard was born and raised in Brevard County, FL. After graduating from Holy Trinity Academy in Melbourne, FL, he attended Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL. At Florida State, Richard obtained an undergraduate degree in psychology with a minor in criminology and criminal justice, graduating with honors. Richard was a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity. Richard received his Juris Doctorate from Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Florida. While at Stetson, Richard geared his course selections toward criminal defense work and criminal trial advocacy. He successfully completed internships at the Public...

Born and raised in Tampa, Drew attended Tampa Preparatory High School and then graduated from New College of Florida, The State’s Honors College, in Sarasota. During Law School at the University of Florida, Drew interned as a student law clerk for both State and Federal Judges in Tampa and worked as a certified legal intern at the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office.

At the State, Drew was able to conduct voir dire (jury selection) and prosecute criminal jury trials before he graduated from law school. It was during this later experience that he came to understand the invaluable...

Clay D. Morgan was born and raised in Florida, graduating from Cooper City High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in 1979, and obtaining his Undergraduate degree from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton with concentration in the area of finance. Clay went on to earn his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Miami, School of Law in Miami, Florida, graduating in 1987. At University of Miami Law School, Clay concentrated his studies in the area of trial practice. After graduating from the University of Miami, Clay worked for a period of 4 years with the Law Firm of High,...

Dual-licensed attorney in Kentucky and Florida representing individuals and organizations in state and federal civil and criminal matters.

Former prosecutor and former public defender.

Business developer and creative consultant for entrepreneurs, candidates, companies and nonprofits.

Legal research and writing professional open to contract with other legal practitioners as co-counsel.

Appellate successes and trial experience, as well as business development samples, can be viewed at www. MaggieJo.com/portfolio

PRIOR CLIENT RATINGS: Visit http://www.avvo.com/attorneys/32935-fl-william-meyer-1258930.html William F. (Bill) Meyer is a former Assistant State Attorney in Brevard County. He has been a member of the Florida Bar since 1982 without any disciplinary action ever. He tries criminal/DUI jury trials. He is a member of the Brevard County Bar with over 33 years experience. He has been lead counsel in over 200 jury trials and knows precisely what defines a valid arrest. Not all arrests lead to conviction. All consultations are done in the privacy of our office. With the exception of public records, all documents...

WORK EXPERIENCE Board Certified as a Criminal Trial Specialist by the Florida bar (1999-Present) BOSWELL & DUNLAP, LLP Bartow FL. Partner, Litigation Specialist, 2004 - Present OFFICE OF THE STATE ATTORNEY, TENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, Tallahassee, FL Assistant State Attorney, Special Prosecution Director. EDUCATION COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Board of Directors Bartow Women’s Care Center, (2009 to Present) Board of Directors, Chairman, Heartland for Children. (2010 to Present) Tenth Judicial Circuit Professionalism Committee (2005-Present) Bartow Chamber of Commerce, Board of...

Lee Pearlman was born and raised in Dillsburg, Pennsylvania, a small town just outside of Harrisburg.

He attended college at the University of Maryland, College Park where he received two bachelor of arts degrees and two minors. While in college he enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve and served two years in the Military Police.

After college Lee moved to St. Petersburg where he attended Stetson University College of Law. While there Lee was a member of Stetson's top nationally-ranked Trial Team and Alternative Dispute Resolution Board. He was the recipient of the Ralph Harris Ferrel...

I represent clients charged with misdemeanor and felony offenses throughout the Tampa Bay area. I am a member of the Hillsborough County Bar Association, Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (FACDL), and National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL). I graduated with Honors from the University of Florida College of Law in Gainesville, Florida, in 1999, and served as Vice Chair on the Executive Board for the UF Justice Campbell Thornal Moot Court Board. I completed internships at the State Attorney's Office for the Fourth Judicial Circuit prosecuting cases in the felony division, and the United States Attorney's...

Ernest L. Chang is an experienced Criminal Defense Trial Lawyer, having practiced exclusively in the field of Criminal Defense since his admission to the Florida Bar in 1990. Mr. Chang obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Florida and his Juris Doctor degree in law from Nova Southeastern University. Mr. Chang has also appeared pro hac vice, in other jurisdictions, most recently in the State of Arizona. Past experiences include prosecuting Felony trials as a Certified Legal Intern with the Miami-Dade County State Attorney’s Office, Former Public Defender with the 18th Judicial Circuit and Criminal Defense with...

Thomas M. Prestia began his legal career serving as a prosecutor at the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office. During his tenure as a prosecutor, Mr. Prestia gained the knowledge and experience necessary to manage and litigate cases from the government’s perspective. This knowledge and experience has been critical in defending individuals facing criminal charges, as well as in his general trial practice. After leaving the State Attorney’s Office, Mr. Prestia further developed his trial practice by working at a leading medical malpractice firm. There he gained valuable insight into the operation of medical practices, experience in evaluating and litigating serious...

Attorney Jackson Hilliard has lived in St. Petersburg and the Tampa Bay area for the past ten years. Mr. Hilliard received his Bachelor’s degree in 1988 from the University of Central Florida. He earned his law degree in 2006 from Stetson College of Law. He is a member of multiple associations, including the Florida Bar, Clearwater Bar, St. Petersburg Bar, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyer. Mr. Hilliard is the leading attorney at his Clearwater law firm, Hilliard Law, P.L. At the firm, he provides Florida residents with criminal and DUI...