Lithia Criminal Lawyers

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

Former State Prosecutor Serving Tampa Bay and Pasco County areas

Tracee L. Ivins graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology. After graduation she worked for the State of Florida as a certified investigator, before deciding to pursue a law degree. As an attorney Ms. Ivins has handled files from inception all the way to a jury verdict. Her experience has included claims involving serious bodily injury, product liability injury and wrongful death arising from auto accidents, slip and falls, dog bites, negligent security, motorcycle and tractor trailer accidents.

Lawsuits including Negligence, Breach of Contract, Negligent Entrustment, Uninsured Motorist Insurance Claims, Under-Insured Motorists Insurance disputes, Wrongful Death, Bad...

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...

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...

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...

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...

As a practicing attorney in Polk County, Florida, for over ten years, I'm proud to offer my clients advice and representation in the areas of family law, criminal defense, and elder law. My vision is to bring a personal feel and approach to each of my client's legal concerns. It is my goal to give each client effective advice and craft personal solutions for difficult legal matters. I'm privileged to be part of the Polk County community, and proud to know that when the good people of this community need my guidance and experience, I'll be here for them.

I have dedicated my entire legal career to fighting for individuals in court. I am known as a fighter and trial attorney that will stand up for his clients.

If you have been injured or arrested call now to insure your rights are protected. 863-838-5549

http://www.FLCrimeDefense.com

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...

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...

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.

Daniel J. Fernandez defends individuals charged with misdemeanor and felony criminal offenses throughout the Tampa Bay area and the State of Florida. With more than 30 years experience as a criminal defense attorney and hundreds of jury trials, Daniel earned tremendous accolades from judges, other lawyers, defendants and even jurors. Daniel started his legal career as a state prosecutor and became the chief of the Narcotics division before opening his own law practice in 1985. Daniel and members of his staff are fluent in Spanish and are available to answer questions you may have regarding a recent injury or...

Attorney Hillary Johnson is a former prosecutor who brings experience and exceptional legal knowledge to each case she tries. She holds a degree in communication from Florida State University and Juris Doctor from the Jones School of Law at Faulkner University in Montgomery, Alabama. While she was in law school, Ms. Johnson completed an internship with the State Attorney’s Office in Panama City. After graduation, she worked as an attorney with Florida’s Department of Children and Families before accepting a position at the State Attorney’s Office in Manatee County and Sarasota. It was while she was at the...

David Haenel protects the rights of the accused. His firm,The Law Place, has offices in Sarasota, Tampa, Orlando, and Clearwater but they represent people throughout the State of Florida. David is the former 2004 State of Florida DUI Prosecutor of the Year and has spent his entire legal career representing individuals charged with traffic and criminal traffic violations. David and his team of lawyers are relentless in their legal representation and are not satisfied until they have exhausted all possible defenses.

We are a law firm based in the heart of Tampa with expertise in Family Law, Discrimination and Business Litigation. Our lawyers have collective experience of over 35 years handling cases just like yours. We are a boutique law firm focused on your rights and making sure that those rights are taken care of.

Our attorneys are able to provide the skills and expertise that may be found at larger firms without the overhead expenses many of these larger law firms typically pass on to its clients. We are passionate about helping to build our community and its businesses and work...

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...

Mr. Eisenberg is one of only a handful of criminal defense attorneys (seven, to be exact) in all of Sarasota County who has been recognized by the Florida Bar as a Board Certified Criminal Trial Expert. There's a reason why there are so few board certified criminal defense attorneys. That's because the Florida Bar's requirements for board certification are so difficult to achieve! Only lawyers who have been recognized by the Florida Bar as "Board Certified" are legally entitled to call themselves an "Expert" or "Specialist" in their area of the law. It is the highest...

Bruce Burk is a Florida attorney with 7 years experience. Bruce graduated with a bachelor of Science from Palm Beach Atlantic University. He then worked as a financial analyst for 2 years before going to law school at the University of South Carolina School of Law. There, he was a research editor for the South Carolina Journal of International Law and Business and a member of the mock trial team. During school he was a general counsel for a real estate company, a clerk to the Chief Justice of the South Carolina Court of Appeals, and worked for various law...

Since becoming a member of the Florida Bar, Nick has dedicated his practice solely to criminal defense, earning a reputation as a passionate defender in the courtroom. He believes each case brings unique obstacles, emphasizing the importance of seeking advice from a seasoned defense lawyer capable of recognizing and addressing these challenges.

I am a 1991 graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law, and have an undergraduate degree in public administration from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. I worked as a prosecutor after graduating from law school, and have been in private practice since 1996. I handle all types of criminal cases, primarily in the Sarasota and Manatee county areas.

I have lived in Tampa since 1968 and practiced law in the Tampa Bay area since 1996. I have conducted over 100 trials and handled thousands of cases. I have the experience to help you with your situation. Call me for your free initial consultation.

For 37 years, Robert Bauer has practiced exclusively in the area of criminal law and is widely considered an expert in his field. Prior to BCPP, Rob served as an Assistant State Attorney in Florida and in 1975 formed his own firm specializing in Criminal Defense exclusively. Having solely practiced in the areas of Criminal Defense and as a Board Certified Criminal Trial Lawyer since 1990, Rob has successfully represented hundreds of citizens charged with crimes ranging from homicide to misdemeanor offenses. He serves as a member of state and local Bar associations/committees as well as local charity organizations. Mr....

I am a former prosecutor and have been practicing criminal law for over 15 years. I have practiced in both State and Federal courts. I have an engineering degree from University of Florida, and received my law degree from Southwestern University School of Law in Los Angeles, California. I worked for a California Court of Appeal Judge in Los Angeles, for the United States Attorney's Office in Las Vegas, and as a prosecutor in Sarasota. I opened my office in downtown Sarasota in 2002, and practice exclusively criminal defense.

Michael Mastrogiovanni has lived in the Tampa Bay area for over 38 years with his family. His career started out in the medical field where he worked as an administrator for over a decade eventually acquiring ownership of several assisted living facilities. Like many working professionals, Michael went to college at night while working full time during the day. He obtained his A.A. degree with honors from St. Petersburg Junior College in 2000, his B.A. degree Cum Laude from University of South Florida in 2002 and went on to attend Stetson University College of Law graduating in 2004. Upon...

A veteran of the United States Army and Texas National Guard, and a native Floridian, John Russo has a passion for helping his neighbors. Born and raised in Central Florida, John chose to serve his country in the United States Army. After his service, he attended the University of Texas at Austin, earning a Bachelor of Science in Applied Learning and Development. Pursuing his interest in the law, John earned his Juris Doctor degree at the University of Wyoming. This background provided John with the foundation that developed his commitment to professional excellence, client service, and providing the best possible legal...

John H. Trevena is the owner and principal attorney of his firm. He has been practicing law for more than 36 years. His keen sense of strategy, accomplished skills as a trial lawyer and straightforward approach bring due process for his clients in the criminal justice and civil court systems. His high profile successes have gained him national attention and he makes frequent appearances on network television. Specialties: Board Certified Criminal Trial Lawyer.

The Adams Law Firm, P.A. was founded by husband and wife attorneys, Josh and Amy Adams. Josh is an experienced trial attorney. He started his career as a criminal prosecutor, where he prosecutor crimes from minor traffic crimes, including DUI, to felonies punishable by life in prison. After leaving the prosecutors office, Josh worked at a small firm in Orlando practicing criminal defense, civil litigation, and probate. In 2013, along with his wife, he started the Adams Law Firm, P.A. with a goal or bringing excellent representation and communication to Central Florida. Amy Adams...

Mr. Gil was born and raised in Elizabeth, NJ, prior to entering the United States Navy in 2003 as Master at Arms/Military Police Office. Mr. Gil served two deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom attached to Joint Task Force Guantanamo from 2005 until 2007. Following his service, Mr. Gil relocated to Cape Coral, Florida to be closer to family. Mr. Gil attended Southwest Florida College to pursue his BS in Criminal Justice to further his career in Public Service. Mr. Gil was inspired to become an attorney during his internship with the Office of the State Attorney 20th Judicial...

I am a licensed attorney admitted to practice in all immigration courts in the U.S. and state and federal courts in Florida and Puerto Rico. I have been licensed for 7 years and have more than 15 years of experience in the legal field. I have worked on hundreds of cases in immigration, criminal defense, civil litigation, family law, and estate planning. I am fully bilingual and am passionate about representing immigrants in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, or about defending the rights of my clients. I also support electric cooperatives in Puerto Rico to help transform Puerto Rico's energy...

I practice civil litigation and criminal defense. I began my legal career in the Washington, D.C. office of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, a New York-based international law firm, where I was a member of the business fraud litigation group. In 2010, I returned to Sarasota, where I was born a raised, to practice law with my father, a board certified civil trial lawyer with over 40 years of experience, and his law partner, Elliott Metcalfe, an AV rated former public defender with over 30 years and thousands of trials worth of experience. I have experience representing commercial...

Attorney Nadine Diaz is an instrumental driving force behind Darrigo, Diaz & Jimenez's continued success and ability to protect the rights and futures of the clients we represent. Backed by 30 years of experience and as a Board Certified Civil Trial Law Specialist by The Florida Bar, she brings a wealth of professional experience to her firm.

Now, she focuses her legal practice on personal injury law and criminal defense law.

Her proven trial skills make her a bold advocate for injured victims and families that need a voice in our civil justice system, and enable her to secure full and fair...

Rafael was born and raised in Polk County, Florida, and graduated from Auburndale High School in 1984. Rafael received his B.A. degree from the University of Florida and his Juris Doctor degree from The Ohio State University College of Law in 1997. He was admitted to the Florida Bar in April of 1998, and initially served as an Assistant Public Defender, handling a variety of cases. After just a few months as a misdemeanor attorney, Rafael was quickly promoted to Felony, where he was responsible for cases ranging from drug possession to murder. Rafael soon established...

Caryna Fuller is your local legal advocate with a deep connection to the Tampa community that will fight for your rights. An experienced trial attorney with over 7 years as a seasoned prosecutor and the past 3 years specializing in personal injury claims. Fluent in Spanish, Caryna brings a diverse skill set, ensuring effective communication and representation.

Criminal Defense & Personal Injury Attorney | Rhino Lawyers, Tampa, FL Colton Trina is a dedicated and experienced criminal defense and personal injury attorney at Rhino Lawyers, located in Tampa, Florida. Colton has built a reputation for successfully defending individuals facing serious criminal charges in central Florida. With a vast understanding of the intricacies of both criminal defense law and personal injury litigation, Colton brings a unique, client-focused approach to each case. Whether representing a client in a high-stakes criminal trial or negotiating for maximum damages in a personal injury lawsuit, Colton provides personalized attention, strategic counsel, and aggressive representation. Criminal Defense: Colton...

I am a trial attorney with more than nineteen years of courtroom experience helping individuals, couples, and families in Polk and Hardee Counties. I hold a Martindale-Hubbell AV Rating for Ethical Standards and Legal Ability. Due to the nature of my practice, I appear before the judges in the Family Law division practically every day of the week. Through my years of trial work I have grown to recognize which cases may ultimately have to be tried and which cases may be resolved without going to court. By focusing on solutions to my client’s problems rather than...

As a felony prosecutor for over a decade, Mr. Elsea saw how criminal cases are built from investigation through trial and sentencing on thousands of cases. Joel gained a greater understanding that people who are facing serious consequences against powerful forces in the courtroom need an experienced and effective voice.

The experienced Tampa criminal defense attorney at The Law Office of Timothy Hessinger is dedicated to protecting the rights and freedoms of the criminally accused. Attorney Timothy Hessinger was a former 15 year state prosecutor, and he was named as Prosecutor of the Year in 2004. Due to this past experience, our team is able to bring a well-rounded view of the criminal justice system to the table no matter what crimes our clients' cases involve. If you’ve been arrested, don’t hesitate a moment to contact our firm. We offer a free online case evaluation – take advantage today!