Sumter County Juvenile Law Lawyers

Melisa L. Militello has been a practicing attorney for since 1995. She has practiced in the area of criminal defense defending people for everything from a speeding ticket to cases where someone faced life imprisonment. She cares about you, your family and your case because she understands that bad things happen to good people and she is here to guide you through everything to the best possible outcome.

Attorney Carlos J. Vidal-Collazo employs his knowledge and skills as a lawyer to protect the interests of adults and children that have been arrested or accused of a criminal offense. He has always taken pride in being a straightforward, honest, and fair lawyer with an outstanding work ethic. With an office in DeLand, Mr. Vidal fights criminal allegations in Volusia County and its surrounding areas.

The defense of men, women, and juveniles who have been charged with crimes has been the driving focus of Maria D. Hale for over 10 years. Her experience within criminal defense gives her the confidence to pursue dropped or minimized charges for her clients. Maria's passion for criminal defense began as a result of a comprehensive legal education at the Stetson University College of Law and later experience as a Prosecutor. After receiving a Juris Doctor (JD), Maria went on to become a Prosecutor in Central Florida. As a Prosecutor, Hale conducted nearly 50 trials in front of a jury....

Criminal charges, injunctions, and accidents involving personal injuries can sometimes be overwhelming and hard to understand. As an experienced lawyer, I am dedicated to providing help you can understand and the relief you need. Through my experience and understanding of criminal defense, injunctions, and personal injury cases as a lawyer, and your understanding of the circumstances, we can come up with a plan to get the results you want. Please contact me for a free phone consultation today. Let a lawyer help you figure out your next move. The sooner you have a plan, the better your chances...

John S. Hager, Esq., a seasoned criminal defense attorney and founding partner of Hager & Schwartz, P.A., offers unparalleled legal representation across Miami, Broward, and Volusia Counties. With a legal career that began in prosecution, Hager brings a comprehensive understanding of the criminal justice system to his defense strategies. His experience encompasses thousands of cases, including high-stakes felonies, securing his reputation for excellence in the courtroom. A University of Florida alumnus with a Juris Doctorate from Nova Southeastern University, Hager is deeply committed to defending the rights of those accused of crimes. His memberships in prestigious legal associations, alongside multiple...

I am a seasoned criminal defense attorney with 25 years of courtroom experience. My background as a former prosecutor and law enforcement academy instructor gives me unique insight into defending the rights of the accused, which I am passionate about. I graduated from the University of Miami Honors Program and received my Juris Doctor from Nova Southeastern University. My legal journey began in insurance defense, but I quickly transitioned to criminal defense to advocate for clients daily. With over 200 trials under my belt, I have successfully handled a wide range of criminal cases, including homicide, drug trafficking, and DUI. My...

Now Open – January 2025! With more than 25 years of experience in criminal law, Rocky Brancato has established himself as a leading attorney in the Tampa Bay legal community. As a seasoned criminal trial attorney, he worked his way up to the role of second-in-command at the Hillsborough County Public Defender’s Office before launching The Brancato Law Firm, P.A., in January 2025. Rocky has a wealth of experience handling high-stakes criminal cases, including homicides and sex offenses, from his tenure in a specialized major crimes division. Throughout his career, Rocky has consistently taken on complex and serious cases, demonstrating an unwavering...

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...

Brett M. Schwartz, Esq., a leading Miami criminal defense lawyer, is well-known for his expertise and dedication in court. Influenced by his father's work as a defense attorney, Brett has a strong understanding of the legal system. He has worked both as a prosecutor and a defense lawyer, giving him a broad view of criminal cases. His education includes a degree from the University of Miami and a law degree from South Texas College of Law. Brett is highly recognized in his field, with awards like The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 in 2022, Top Attorneys in Florida in 2019,...

Mr. Bonamo received his Juris Doctor degree from Stetson University College of law in St. Petersburg, Florida in 1995. While in law school, Mr. Bonamo was extensively involved in Stetson’s trial practice and clinic programs. Prior to attending Stetson University, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree, with honors, from the University of Florida in 1992. Due to Mr. Bonamo’s academic achievement while at the University of Florida he was selected for membership in Phi Beta Kappa national academic honor society. He has been selected as an "Advisor" for the Florida Bar's Lawyers Advising Lawyers Program (LAL).
Prior to joining...

Chris Beardslee is an experienced criminal defense attorney based in Tampa, FL, with a diverse background in handling various criminal cases, including DUIs, drug charges, assault and battery, theft, criminal traffic offenses, sealings and expungements, veterans treatment court, juvenile defense, and more. As a former US Navy Petty Officer, he brings a unique perspective and understanding of the challenges veterans may face. His extensive knowledge of criminal procedure and case law has resulted in numerous dismissals and reduced charges on serious offenses, making him a trusted advocate for his clients.

An Experienced and Aggressive Legal Advocate Providing Attentive and Caring Client Service Along Florida's Gulf Coast Lawyer Craig A. Epifanio began his practice of law solely defending those accused of a crime. He gained considerable experience aggressively pursuing justice for those accused of all levels of crime, to the point that in 2005 he was elected as President of the Pinellas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (PACDL) for that year. He now uses his natural ability to listen and empathize in order to gain a clear picture of the events leading up to a client's arrest, assess each individual legal issue...

I am attorney Donald J. Kilfin. I own and operate The Kilfin Law Firm, P.C., a St. Petersburg area criminal defense and DUI firm representing clients throughout the Tampa Bay area.
I earned a four year Honor's Bachelor's degree from Trent University, one of Canada's top undergraduate institutions. From there, I relocated to St. Petersburg, Florida to attend law school at Stetson University. It was my first choice, among many options across the United States, based on its national reputation for trial advocacy and legal writing. I graduated in 2000 with a juris doctor degree and...

Melinda Morris has been practicing law since 1999 and is the managing attorney of the Morris Law Firm. As a former Assistant State Attorney for the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Clearwater, Pinellas County, Florida, Ms. Morris has handled thousands of cases from investigation through sentencing. Her experience as a former prosecutor along with her years of experience as a private criminal defense attorney allows her to effectively represent her clients charged with a wide range of criminal offenses. Extensive Criminal Law Experience While a felony prosecutor for the State Attorney's Office in Clearwater, Pinellas County, Ms. Morris prosecuted thousands of criminal...

Larry Sandefer has handled well over 5,000 criminal cases. Over 250 of these have resulted in jury trials of from one day to several weeks in length. These trials have included numerous first degree murder cases, multi-jurisdictional drug and homicide conspiracies, drug trafficking, sales and possessions, sexual battery, lewdness and exposure charges, arson, white collar crimes including trade secrets and fraud, robbery, theft, assault and battery, domestic violence, traffic deaths, DUI, resisting arrest, shoplifting, abuse allegations of children and the elderly, embezzlement, insurance fraud, burglary, kidnaping, and many other criminal charges. Mr. Sandefer has been honored with the...

Malcolm is an attorney with over 33 years of experience specializing in various areas of criminal defense with a high success rate in DUIs and license offenses. He has a long-running relationship with St. Johns and Duval county law enforcement and court systems that has served his clients and their cases well. Malcolm is passionate about upholding the rights of his clients and their needs, while defending and protecting their privacy and reputation all with the utmost integrity. You will get peace of mind with Malcolm Anthony as your lawyer.

I am an experienced Florida Criminal Defense Attorney serving Duval, Clay, Nassau and St. Johns Counties primarily. I am committed to defending the rights of the accused. My criminal law practice is 100% devoted to criminal defense. I have defended thousands of clients throughout my career and prosecuted none. Zero. Unlike former prosecutors, I have never worked a single day to send anyone to jail or prison. Police will say protecting the streets isn’t a 9-to-5 job. Neither is protecting your rights. If you or a loved one is arrested, you expect immediate response. And I...

I have maintained a private law practice for 35 years in the areas of criminal defense, juvenile, dependency, bankruptcy, real estate, corporate, contracts, estate planning, and probate administration. I served the public sector as Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Coumbus, Ohio; Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Juvenile Division for Jefferson County, Ohio; Special Agent and Assistant Ohio Attorney General, Medicaid Fraud Division; and Service/Safety Director for Reynoldsburg, Ohio. I was also a registered lobbyist and in-house legal counsel for the Ohio Municipal League. I am focusing my practice now on estate planning, business, and probate administration.

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...

For 25 years, David Parry has been exclusively practicing criminal law in Florida. The breadth of his experience is reflected in his successful private practice, where he specializes in all types of criminal defense as a Board Certified Criminal Trial Attorney, a distinction held by less than 1% of all Florida attorneys. Dave's reputation in the legal community began while serving at the Pinellas County Public Defender's Office for thirteen years. Serving as the Chief Assistant Public Defender and overseeing 60 attorneys, he successfully defended the rights of those wrongfully accused of crimes such as murder, juvenile crimes, DUI, and...