Paxton Criminal Lawyers

Stephen G. Cobb, author of Florida Criminal Law and a board certified expert in criminal trial law since 2002. He was most recently published in “Defending People with Disabilities”, an August 2024 publication of the American Bar Association. Mr. Cobb’s contribution was titled “Neuroimaging”, and teaches other lawyers how to use brain imaging in criminal cases. Whether you or someone you love is charged with a misdemeanor, criminal traffic, felony or juvenile crime, we are ready, willing and able to help you and your loved ones in your time of need.

My name is Tim Flaherty. I am a Fort Walton Beach criminal defense attorney. Since I passed the Bar in 2001, I have dedicated 100% of my practice to criminal defense. No matter what you are accused of, Flaherty & Merrifield will not judge you. We will defend you. We will fight for the best possible result in your case, and we will also do everything we can to minimize your stress. If you entrust Flaherty & Merrifield with your case, you will be treated with compassion and respect as you go through this crisis. We are available 24 hours...

Gillis E. (Gill) Powell, Jr.main focus is litigation and trial practice. He handles complex personal injury cases, medical malpractice cases, wrongful death cases, catastrophic injury cases, criminal defense cases, railroad cases, real estate litigation, and commercial litigation. Mr. Powell has tried and won numerous civil trials and he has obtained substantial jury awards for his clients. He is a member of the million dollar advocates club as a result of his jury verdicts. He has also successfully defended many clients in criminal cases, including clients charged with homicide, aggravated battery, sexual battery, drug offenses, driving under the...

I have been practicing for over 10 years and over 5000 court cases, ranging from DUIs and Domestic Violence charges–to the most serious and complex felony cases. I have had many jury trials and have represented those charged with capital offenses. I attended law school at the University of North Dakota. While there I focused on trial advocacy and litigation and worked some excellent attorneys at Zimney, Foster, P.C. I worked in the areas of Insurance Defense, Commercial Law, and Federal Criminal Law. After moving to Florida with my family, I started working as a prosecutor for child...

Jay Patel is a Former Prosecutor and a Former Law Enforcement Officer with the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office. After Jay was admitted to the Florida Bar, he served as a prosecutor in Okaloosa and Walton Counties from 2013 to 2017. As an Assistant State Attorney, he spent years prosecuting thousands of crimes ranging from misdemeanors to felonies, some punishable by life in prison. Jay achieved success in prosecuting criminal cases that were before a jury, a judge, and the appellate court. Despite his success as a Florida Prosecutor, Jay decided it was time for a change. Thus, in 2017, Jay went...

Shawn holds a Juris Doctorate, cum laude, from Florida State University, College of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in History Education from the University of West Florida. Shawn has been a member of the Florida Bar since 1996, a member of the United States District Court, Northern District of Florida since 1997, and Board Certified as an expert in Juvenile Law since 2017.

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...

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...

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...

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.

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.

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

Mr. Musca is a passionate, aggressive and nationally-renowned criminal defense attorney who represents clients on all criminal defense matters in the State of Florida. He completed his undergraduate studies at Boston College, and graduated cum laude in 1994. He then went on to earn his law degree from Case Western University School of Law in 1997. Mr. Musca began his career representing the indigent as an Assistant Public Defender. Then, in 2001, he began his own practice, Musca Law, P.A, a firm which focuses exclusively in the area of criminal defense. He also speaks fluent Spanish. Mr. Musca...

Michael John Griffith is a criminal defense attorney in Pensacola, Florida. The Law Office of Michael J. Griffith assists people in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties who have been charged with or accused of a crime. Our attorneys have over 30 years of experience handling criminal cases and have practiced throughout the United States in drug and sex crime cases.

I graduated from Winthrop High School in the top 10 of my class, being inducted into the National Honor Society. During my high school tenure I participated in Varsity Cheerleading, Varsity Basketball, Varsity Softball and Track. I attended Louisiana State University, obtaining my Bachelor's degree in 3 1/2 years. I am licensed in Louisiana and Florida. I have been practicing law for 18 years. For 14 of those, my husband, Chris Ferry has been my law partner. I encourage clients to settle so that they have the ability to make the decisions regarding their lives instead of a...

Attorney Brandon Morris is a skilled criminal defense attorney with extensive courtroom experience. He has obtained a superior understanding of criminal law and has aggressively litigated thousands of criminal cases ranging from capital felonies to second-degree misdemeanors.

Some of his practice areas include criminal defense, assault & battery, drug crimes, DUIs, expungements, felonies, juvenile offenses, misdemeanors, pre-trial diversions & interventions, juvenile offenses, sex crimes, theft crimes, and violent crimes.

Call or visit his website for more information.

John Terrezza was born in Pensacola, Florida, educated at the University of Florida and the Florida State University College of Law, and now focuses his practice on criminal defense. From 2010 to 2015, John lived in Gainesville, Florida where he discovered his passion for criminal defense while working in the office of attorney Lloyd Vipperman Jr. John enjoys the opportunity to get in the courtroom, argue, and defend the rights of persons accused of crimes. John has won acquittals at trial as lead counsel on charges ranging from misdemeanors to those carrying mandatory life sentences. In 2015,...

Former Assistant State Attorney in Broward County, FL; Former Assistant Public Defender in Bay County, FL; Former Assistant State Attorney, Bay County, FL; Presently in Private Practice of Law in Panama City, FL representing clients throughout the State of Florida; admitted to practice in all State of Florida Courts & US Federal District Court, Northern District of Florida, and Federal Bankruptcy Court. Licensed to practice law in Florida since May 27, 1983.

James M. Burns, Attorney at Law, hails from Mobile, Alabama, where he was born in 1962. When he was five years old, he moved with his family to Pensacola, Florida. James has lived and worked in the Pensacola area, Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties in Florida, and Baldwin and Mobile Counties in Alabama his whole life. As a member of both the Florida Bar and the Alabama Bar, James is licensed to practice law in both states. James M Burns is a skilled, experienced and aggressive attorney admitted to practice in both Alabama and Florida. Attorney Burns has...

Phone: 850-432-3333, I have managed my Law Practice in Pensacola and the Florida Panhandle for over 25 years. I enjoy the challenge of complex cases, designing strategies for success and then fighting through to a great result. I help clients with their legal matters from complex family issuers, and divorce to HURRICANE claims, automobile accidents, and probate issues. I will fight DCF. If you have been turned down by others, don't give up until you give me a call. I help with all family litigation like: divorce, custody, custody by a relative, child support, alimony, military retirement and the...

James Barnes has been practicing law in Pensacola and surrounding areas for thirty-two years. His legal expertise is the result of having tried more than 150 jury trials. His defense method has procured proven results due to 9,000+ dismissals, favorable plea dispositions, not guilty verdicts and unmatched trial success rate. One of his cases achieved national attention and was featured on CNN and CourtTV. He has extensive experience resulting from many years, both, representing and defending many types of legal actions. Every county and courthouse has its own way of doing things. Based on James Barnes' experience and diverse involvement in...

The Fillingim Law Firm, P.A. aggressively defends adults and juveniles who have been accused of crimes. Regina N. Fillingim, Esq. has made Criminal Law the primary focus of her career for over 10 years. She worked as a as a prosecutor in Orlando and Pensacola, Florida, where she was trained to prosecute the State's cases, and where she learned best how to tear them apart. A criminal conviction can cause the loss of your freedom, your job, your property, your spouse and children and can follow you for the rest of your life. If you have been charged with a...

As the founder of the firm Albert J. Sauline, III Attorney at Law, Panama City attorney Albert J. Sauline, III devotes his practice to the area of criminal defense. Attorney Sauline has been licensed to practice law in 2004, and he has been licensed to practice in multiple jurisdictions. Before founding his current practice, Mr. Sauline was an associate at another firm and a state prosecutor. Attorney Sauline received his Juris Doctor from the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. He practices multiple kinds of criminal defense cases, such as DUI, drug crimes, sex crimes, violent crimes and many...

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.

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...

After graduating from Florida State University College of Law in the year 2000, Attorney Rusty Shepard became the Assistant State Attorney in Chipley for four years. As a former prosecutor, Mr. Shepard is well-versed in the legal system, judicial processes and how to best anticipate choices on the part of the prosecution in his current cases. Coming up with aggressive and intuitive defense tactics, Attorney Shepard is devoted to obtaining the best possible verdict for his clients, doing everything in his power to have their charges reduced or dismissed altogether. He is the President of the Bay County Chapter at...

Geoffrey H. L. Pittman attended the University of West Florida and Southern Adventist University in Collegedale, Tennessee, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History, earning Dean’s list honors multiple times. He graduated with a Juris Doctorate from Florida Coastal School of Law, in Jacksonville, Florida and was recognized with distinction for his pro bono work conducted while in law school. During law school, Mr. Pittman volunteered at the Office of the Public Defender (4th Judicial Circuit) and Legal Services of North Florida, and he also completed a judicial internship for the Honorable Circuit Court Judge Jean...

Licensed to practice law in Florida since 1995. Former Assistant State Attorney. Extensive criminal law experience. Handling all criminal defense cases in state and federal court.

Dealing with a divorce, an arrest or a serious injury can be incredibly stressful. You may be overwhelmed and unsure what to do. These are the times when you need an experienced lawyer who can protect your interests and guide you forward.

Ashley is a Panama City, Florida native practicing criminal defense with a particular interest in helping first time offenders and vacationers who find themselves in trouble with the law. She makes herself available in a variety of ways in order to be convenient to the client. You can have an in office consultation, phone consultation or even an email consultation. Once hired she can correspond through the mail, the phone, email or by text messaging, whichever the client prefers. She will throughly evaluate your case and strive to obtain the best result for your particular situation. Call (850) 913-0364 or...

Karim received his law degree from the University of Florida Levin College of Law and his bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Karim is experienced in civil litigation, personal injury, insurance litigation, property disputes, landlord/tenant, criminal, and appellate practice. Karim has seen cases through to verdict in civil and criminal contexts. This exposure gives Karim a unique multi-disciplinary perspective on the law that can lead to a successful and favorable result for his clients.

Being charged with a crime or having a loved one charged with a crime is a traumatic experience. This is why I am available 24/7 for every client or potential client. I treat the attorney-client relationship as a partnership to achieve the best possible outcome for each client. I am a former Assistant State Attorney in Bay County and former criminal defense attorney with the Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel. I have experience with over a thousand criminal cases.

I am committed to my clients and I work tirelessly on behalf of them each and every day. I...

Joseph C. Warren has handled thousands of criminal cases and has over 25 years of experience in criminal trial practice. During his years of practice, Mr. Warren has represented many clients in criminal cases in both Circuit and County Courts.

Before joining the Musca Law Firm, Mr. Warren worked both as a prosecutor and defense attorney. As a prosecutor, Mr. Warren handled all types of criminal cases including Governor assignment cases in Brevard, Sumter, and Marion counties.

As a criminal defense attorney, Mr. Warren has defended the accused in every phase of the case, from intake through trial. Mr. Warren...

There are many good lawyers in Panama City, Florida. If you find yourself in need of an attorney in Bay County, Dana Morris, with The Morris Law Firm, is a criminal defense lawyer with over 20 years experience practicing law as both a prosecutor and a criminal defense attorney. Mr. Morris has successfully handled thousands of criminal cases including DUI, VOP, drug charges, assault and battery, domestic violence and much more.

I have been a member of the Family Law Committee of the Escambia/Santa Rosa Bar Association and have participated as a speaker on Family Law topics. I am a member of the Florida Bar (both in Family Law and Criminal Law Sections), Escambia/Santa Rosa Criminal Defense Society and The Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. I received my law degree from Florida State University College of Law (1994), and have been a member of the following Bar and Courts: Florida Bar since 1995; Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals for the Northern and Middle District of Florida since 1995. I am...