Tampa Criminal Defense Attorney
A charge is not a verdict. Whatever happened — or didn’t — you deserve someone who hears the whole story, treats you with respect, and stands between you and the State. No judgment. No lectures.
Tell us what happened.
Free · confidential · you’ll hear from Chris, not a call center.
Or call or text (727) 656-7852.
Good People End Up in Bad Situations. We See the Whole Picture.
Many criminal charges don’t start with criminal intent — they start with trauma, fear, or a desperate attempt to cope. You may have never been in trouble before. You may have made one mistake. You may not have done anything wrong at all.
An arrest can make you feel like the worst version of yourself is now the whole story. It isn’t. What brought you here matters, and so does everything the police report leaves out.
Chris is a former public defender and seasoned trial lawyer who listens without judgment and fights without hesitation. Every client is treated with dignity — because that’s exactly what a fair defense requires.
What you’re up against
An arrest is the beginning of the story, not the end
The moment you’re charged, it can feel like the outcome is already decided. It isn’t. A few things are worth understanding plainly.
An arrest is not a conviction
Being arrested or charged is an accusation — nothing more. Under our system, you are presumed innocent. The burden never shifts to you. The State has to do the proving.
The State must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt
That is the highest standard in the law. Prosecutors must prove every element of the charge beyond a reasonable doubt — and a strong defense is built on holding them to it, testing their evidence, and exposing what doesn’t hold up.
You have the right to remain silent and to counsel
You are not required to explain, justify, or talk your way out of anything. You have the right to say nothing and the right to a lawyer. Using those rights is not an admission of guilt — it’s how the system is meant to work.
Early defense protects you
The most damaging moments often happen before charges are even filed — in a conversation with police, a consent to search, a statement given without a lawyer. Getting a defense lawyer involved early, ideally before you talk to police, protects your options while they still exist.
If you’ve been charged
Say as little as possible.
Exercise your right to remain silent. You can be polite and give your name — you do not have to explain what happened. Anything you say can be used against you, so let your lawyer speak for you.
Don’t consent to searches or explain yourself to police.
You are allowed to decline a search and to decline to answer questions without a lawyer present. Doing so is your right, not evidence of wrongdoing.
Write down everything you remember while it’s fresh.
Times, places, who was there, what was said, what the officers did. Memory fades fast, and those early details can become the difference in your defense.
Call a defense lawyer before your first court date.
The sooner Chris is involved, the more can be done — with evidence, with the prosecutor, and with the choices in front of you. Don’t wait to be told what to do next.
Your case will be heard in Hillsborough County — the same courtrooms, prosecutors, and judges Chris has stood before again and again as a former public defender and trial lawyer. That word “yet” matters: right now the State has proven nothing, and having local, trial-tested defense in the room is how it stays that way.
Criminal charges, quick answers
Criminal defense questions
What should I do right after an arrest?
Do you handle DUI cases?
Do you handle both felonies and misdemeanors?
What happens at my first court date?
Will this go on my record?
What does it cost to hire CDB?
A charge is not a verdict. Let’s talk about your defense.
A career spent defending people accused of crimes across Tampa Bay — as a former public defender and trial lawyer, Chris hears you out without judgment. Tell us what happened; there’s no cost to talk.