Sammis Law Firm, P.A.1005 N. Marion St.Tampa, FL 33602813-250-0500Tampa Criminal Defense Attorney
The criminal defense attorneys at the Sammis Law Firm in Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida, take an aggressive approach to representing individuals charged with felony, misdemeanor and DUI criminal offenses. Our offices are located downtown Tampa just a few blocks from the courthouse with free and convenient parking for our clients.
Contact our office to schedule a free initial consultation, either over the phone or in the office, so that you can speak with an experienced criminal defense attorney about the particular facts of your case, fees for your defense, and what you need to do now to protect yourself after a criminal accusation.
At the Sammis Law Firm our attorneys have focused their careers on criminal defense. By focusing exclusively on criminal defense our attorneys can stay current on recent changes in the law that may impact your case. When choosing a DUI or criminal defense attorney remember that obtaining the best results often requires aggressive and experienced legal representation. We fight every stage of the case including:
- the pre-arrest and post-arrest investigations;
- the first appearance hearing;
- an emergency bond reduction hearing;
- arraignment;
- disposition or status hearings;
- pre-trial motion hearings to suppress or exclude evidence or dismiss the charges;
- a bench trial in front of the judge; or
- a jury trial.
Protecting Your Future After a Criminal Accusation
Many of our clients have no prior criminal record and never imagined being on the wrong side of the law. We understand the indirect consequences of a criminal arrest and prosecution can be devastating especially for someone with no other criminal record.
The stakes are even higher for certain professionals who are charged with a criminal offense, such as nurses and other health care professionals, commercial drivers, pilots, public and private school teachers, certified educators, or members of the military. Even college and graduate students can face immediate collateral consequences after an arrest including a possible disciplinary hearing that could lead to expulsion from college or the university. For individual that need a concealed weapon license for their employment, any criminal arrest can be career-ending. For these professionals charged with a crime the consequences to their career and educational opportunities can be severe even if they are ultimately not convicted of any crime.
We work with our clients to address all aspects of the case including the direct and indirect consequences. We strive to protect our clients during every step of the process. Finding the best criminal defense lawyer for your particular case may be the best way to avoid many of these consequences to your educational opportunities, career, and reputation.
Fighting for the Best Possible Result
If you have been wrongly accused of a crime then the best result is getting all charges dropped by the prosecutor or dismissed by the trial court. We work with seasoned private investigators and the most highly qualified expert witnesses while still maintaining reasonable attorney fees with flexible payment plans when needed.
The Importance of Pre-trial Motions
The law is constantly changing and evolving. We take a scholarly approach to fighting the criminal charges. Often the best way to fight the case includes filing and litigating innovative motions. Pre-trial motions can include the following:
- Motions to Exclude Evidence;
- Motions to Suppress Evidence; and
- Motions to Dismiss the Criminal Charges.
We represent clients charged with a variety of criminal offenses (including DUI, serious driving offenses, drug cases and white collar crimes) throughout the greater Tampa Bay area including Hillsborough County, Pinellas County, Pasco County, Polk County, Hernando County, Manatee County and the surrounding areas of central Florida.
Never Talk to an Law Enforcement Officer About a Criminal Investigation
If you have been contacted by a federal or state law enforcement officer, then contact us immediately. We advise our clients to invoke their right to remain silent until we can complete our investigation. If you want to invoke your right to remain silent then you simply say "I am invoking my right to remain silent until AFTER I have spoken to an attorney." Then remain silent.
If you decide to speak to the police about the facts of your case then you are waiving your Sixth Amendment right to counsel and your Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination. Your attorney is often in the best position to explain your side of the story to a law enforcement officer. Even individuals who are completely innocent of any criminal wrongdoing should not speak to the police without having an attorney present.
When we are hired before any arrest, we strive to convince law enforcement that an arrest is not warranted. Often your attorney can provide law enforcement with favorable evidence that might otherwise be overlooked before they make a decision.
In the event law enforcement does intend to make an arrest, your attorney may be able to negotiate your surrender under terms that may speed up your release, contact the prosecutor to discuss lowering the bond amount and handle other important details that will minimize the embarrassment, stress and expense that might normally accompany an arrest in Florida.
Effective Pre-File Negotiations in the Tampa Bay Area
If you have been arrested on a felony charge by officers with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office or the Tampa Police Department, but not yet formally charged then we work quickly to present all mitigating factors and exculpatory evidence to the prosecutor.
The prosecutor with the State Attorney's Office in Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida, or the surrounding areas in Tampa Bay often have the discretion to decline to prosecute any criminal charge. By presenting the prosecutor with mitigating factors and evidence that shows you are not guilty of the crime our attorneys may be able to convince the prosecutor not to file any felony charges, or to file only greatly reduced charges.
The prosecutors with the State Attorney's Offices through the Tampa Bay area typically make a filing decision within 21 (twenty-one) days of your arrest, so you must act quickly to preserve all avenues of attack. Hiring a criminal defense lawyer quickly after an accusation or arrest remains the most effective way to defend yourself against an unjust prosecution.
DUI and Drunk Driving Defense in Tampa
If you have been charged with drunk driving or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, contact an experienced DUI Attorney in Tampa to discuss the innovative ways that we fight these charges including a refusal to submit to chemical test of your breath, blood, or urine. Whether you were arrested by a DUI officer with the Hillsorough County Sheriff's office or a DUI officer with the Tampa Police Department, call us to find out how to protect your rights.
The good news about a "refusal" case is that the prosecutor does not have the one piece of evidence often consider most important to a successful prosecution - the chemical test result showing your Breath Alcohol Concentration (often called BrAC).
Although the prosecutor may attempt to argue that the refusal itself is an indication of a "guilty conscience," most people realize that other reasons can exist for refusing the evasive chemical testing. Find our more about criminal justice statistics showing that more than 40% of DUI arrests involved an allegation that the driver refused to take the breath test. Learn more about how we fight DUI cases involving a "refusal" to submit to a chemical test after an arrest.
Fighting to Exclude the Breath Test Reading from the Intoxilyzer 8000 Breathalyzer Machine
The drunk driving defense attorneys at the Sammis Law Firm also have numerous motions pending in the Tampa Bay area to obtain the "source code" of the Intoxilyzer 8000 in order to show serious flaws with the accuracy and reliability of the breath test machines used in Tampa and the surrounding areas.
Did you know that Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) has sued the manufacturer of the breath test machine (a company called CMI, Inc., in Owensboro, Kentucky) because they are unsure of their rights to even inspect the "source code?" Although the State of Florida spent millions of dollars on these machines which are entirely computer driven, it never hired any software engineer to examine the source code to determine if the machines actually work as advertised.
Recently, serious problems with the flow sensor have come to light showing that the instrument cannot accurately measure flow or sample duration which makes the "volume" reading completely inaccurate. It is estimated that this serious flaw could impact 40% of the pending breath test results in Florida. Problems with flow sensor have also been found in DUI breathalyzers in Hillsborough County, FL. We can help you find out more about the breath test instrument that was used in your particular case.
In many cases, by aggressively fighting to exclude the breath test results the person charged may be able to avoid a DUI conviction even if their breath test reading was over the legal limit of .15. Normally, a high breath test reading requires certain enhanced penalties including the dreaded ignition interlock device.
Our attorneys look carefully at each DUI breath test result to determine whether any mistake was made with the monthly, yearly, and post-repair inspections of the machine. Any deviation may result in a hearing on a motion to suppress the breath test results for lack of substantial compliance with the administrative rules. If that motion is successful, the trial court can exclude any motion of the breath test at trial. Find more information visit our Tampa DUI Blog.
Experienced and Aggressive Criminal Defense
Many people call us after finding out about a Florida arrest warrant for failure to appear, a direct file, or a criminal investigation. The experienced Tampa criminal lawyer at the Sammis Law Firm can help you understand your rights, protect your freedom, and aggressively defend you against the criminal charge. Read more on our Tampa Criminal Defense Blog.
We provide assistance to our clients with driver license administrative hearings, asset and vehicle forfeiture issues, injunctions for domestic violence protection and restraining orders, petitions for early termination of probation, false arrest and malicious prosecution claims and clearing a criminal record through the seal and expunge process.
Contact us now to discuss what you might need to do today to protect yourself, your family and your future from the criminal accusation. Hire an experienced and aggressive Tampa criminal defense attorney at the Sammis Law Firm to listen to all of your concerns, thoroughly investigate the facts of the case and prepare a strategy best suited to defend you against the criminal charges.
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by Jason D. Sammis.