Criminal Defense Attorney
Criminal Lawyer
in Orlando, FL
Aggressive Criminal Defense Representation Throughout Florida
✓ Free Consultation 24/7
✓ Offices Throughout Florida
✓ Former Prosecutors
✓ Board Certified Criminal Trial Lawyer
✓ Payment Plans Available
Criminal Defense Attorneys Orlando, FL
What Does a Criminal Lawyer Do?
A criminal lawyer defends individuals and businesses facing criminal charges — from misdemeanors like petit theft and simple battery to serious felonies including drug trafficking, violent crimes, and federal offenses. In Florida, the consequences of a conviction can follow you for life: jail or prison, fines, probation, loss of your professional license, immigration consequences, and a permanent record that shows up on every background check. The right attorney investigates the evidence, challenges unlawful police conduct, negotiates with prosecutors, and — when necessary — takes your case to trial. At Smith & Eulo, we’ve handled thousands of criminal cases across Florida, and we know how to fight for the best possible outcome in yours.
What Happens Next
1. Arrest
Officers take you into custody based on probable cause or a warrant
2. Booking
Fingerprints, photos, and processing at the county jail
3. First Appearance
Within 24 hours a judge sets bond and reviews the charges
4. Arraignment
Formal reading of charges and entry of your plea
5. Discovery & Motions
We obtain evidence, depose witnesses, and file motions to suppress
6. Resolution or Trial
Dismissal, negotiated plea, diversion program, or jury trial
How We Defend Criminal Cases
Every case is different, but these are the defense strategies we use most often:
Illegal Search & Seizure
Fourth Amendment violations can suppress key evidence and gut the prosecution’s case.
Miranda Violations
Statements taken without proper warnings can be thrown out.
Witness Credibility
Cross-examination exposes inconsistent statements, bias, and unreliable identifications.
Chain of Custody
Physical evidence must be properly handled — breaks in the chain can invalidate it.
Self-Defense & Justification
Florida’s Stand Your Ground law provides strong protection when force is justified.
Diversion & Pretrial Programs
Eligible clients can avoid conviction through drug court, mental health court, or PTI.
Florida Criminal Penalties
Second-Degree Misdemeanor
Up to 60 days jail | Up to $500 fine | Up to 6 months probation
First-Degree Misdemeanor
Up to 1 year jail | Up to $1,000 fine | Up to 1 year probation
Third-Degree Felony
Up to 5 years prison | Up to $5,000 fine | Loss of civil rights
Second-Degree Felony
Up to 15 years prison | Up to $10,000 fine
First-Degree Felony
Up to 30 years prison | Up to $10,000 fine
Life & Capital Felonies
Life in prison — capital felonies may carry the death penalty
Criminal Charges We Handle
Our attorneys defend the full range of criminal charges in Florida state and federal courts:
- DUI & Traffic Crimes – DUI, reckless driving, driving while license suspended
- Drug Crimes – Possession, sale, trafficking, and paraphernalia charges
- Violent Crimes – Assault, battery, aggravated assault, robbery, homicide
- Domestic Violence – Battery, injunctions, and family-related offenses
- Theft & Property Crimes – Shoplifting, grand theft, burglary, dealing in stolen property
- Sex Crimes – Sensitive defense for sexual battery, lewd conduct, and internet offenses
- White Collar Crimes – Fraud, embezzlement, identity theft, money laundering
- Weapons Charges – Firearm possession, concealed carry violations, use of a weapon
- Baker Act & Marchman Act – Involuntary commitment defense and appeals
- Probation Violations – VOP hearings and reinstatement
Bond & Pretrial Release
First Appearance Hearing
Within 24 hours of arrest, a judge decides whether to release you, set a bond, or hold you without bond.
Bond Reduction Motions
If bond is set too high, we file to reduce it based on ties to the community, employment, and lack of flight risk.
Release on Recognizance (ROR)
For qualifying defendants, we push for release without needing to post cash bond.
Plea Deals vs. Trial
Plea Negotiations: Most cases resolve through plea agreements. We fight for reduced charges, withhold of adjudication, or diversion.
Withhold of Adjudication: Avoids a formal conviction and preserves eligibility to seal your record.
Diversion Programs: First-time offenders may qualify for PTI, drug court, or mental health court — completion results in dismissal.
Trial: When the prosecution’s case is weak, we don’t hesitate to take it to a jury. Our attorneys are seasoned trial lawyers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Invoke your right to remain silent and ask for an attorney immediately. Do not consent to searches, do not try to explain your side, and do not resist. Anything you say — even things meant to help — can be used against you. Call Smith & Eulo 24/7 and we will begin working on your case immediately.
Yes. A criminal lawyer can often get charges reduced, dismissed, or resolved through diversion — outcomes that are difficult to achieve without one. Prosecutors, judges, and law enforcement all treat represented defendants differently. The earlier you hire counsel, the more options you have.
Case length depends on charge severity, evidence complexity, and court backlog. Misdemeanors often resolve in a few months; felonies can take six months to over a year. We work to move your case forward efficiently without sacrificing outcome.
Sometimes — but only in the right circumstances. Some cases benefit from an early plea to a reduced charge or diversion. Others are stronger for the defense with time and investigation. We advise you based on the specific evidence, not a formula.
Your Constitutional Rights
Right to Remain Silent
You never have to answer police questions. Politely invoke and ask for a lawyer.
Right to Counsel
Once you request an attorney, all questioning must stop.
Protection From Unlawful Search
Officers generally need a warrant, consent, or specific exception to search you, your car, or your home.
Right to Speedy Trial
Florida law generally requires trial within 90 days for misdemeanors and 175 days for felonies.
Presumption of Innocence
The State must prove every element beyond a reasonable doubt — you owe them nothing.
Counties We Serve
Orange County
Orlando, Winter Park, and surrounding areas.
Hillsborough County
Tampa and Tampa Bay area courts.
Seminole County
Sanford, Altamonte Springs, Lake Mary.
Osceola County
Kissimmee and Osceola County courts.
Polk County
Lakeland, Winter Haven, and surrounding areas.
Brevard County
Melbourne, Cocoa, and Space Coast.
Meet Your Criminal Defense Team
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Family Law Attorney
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What Our Clients Say
Why Choose Smith & Eulo?
20+ Attorneys – Full team of experienced criminal defense lawyers
15+ Florida Offices – Serving defendants throughout the state
Thousands of Cases Handled – Decades of combined experience
Board Certified Criminal Trial Lawyer – Recognized expertise in criminal law
Available 24/7 – We answer when you need us most
Case Results
Trafficking Charges Dismissed – Unlawful search led to suppression of all evidence
Felony Reduced to Misdemeanor – Client kept civil rights and career
Not Guilty at Trial – Aggravated battery jury acquittal
Charges Never Filed – Pre-file intervention persuaded State to drop
Diversion Completed – Case dismissed and record sealed
Consequences Beyond Court
Employment: Convictions appear on background checks and can end job offers or promotions.
Professional Licenses: Nurses, teachers, real estate agents, and other licensed professionals face disciplinary action.
Immigration: Non-citizens risk deportation, denial of naturalization, and inadmissibility.
Housing: Landlords routinely deny applicants with criminal records.
Civil Rights: Felony convictions can strip your right to vote, own firearms, and serve on juries.
Sealing & Expungement
Even after a case is over, we help clients clear their records:
Sealing – Removes your record from public view; requires no adjudication of guilt.
Expungement – Physically destroys the record; available when charges were dismissed or never filed.
Eligibility Review – We evaluate whether your case qualifies under Florida law.
FDLE Application – We prepare and file every step with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Court Petition – We appear on your behalf to obtain the sealing or expungement order.
Complete Criminal Defense FAQ
Misdemeanors are punishable by up to one year in county jail, while felonies carry more than one year of state prison time. Felonies also carry collateral consequences including loss of voting rights, gun rights, and eligibility for many jobs and licenses. Some charges can be filed as either, and skilled negotiation can sometimes secure a misdemeanor reduction.
Yes. Prosecutors can decline to file charges (“no info”), dismiss after review, or agree to dismissal through a diversion program. Defense motions to suppress evidence or dismiss for legal insufficiency can also end a case before trial. Early defense involvement often prevents charges from being formally filed at all.
No. Politely decline and ask for an attorney. Police are trained to elicit statements that support a prosecution, and even innocent explanations can be twisted into evidence of guilt. The Fifth Amendment protects your right to silence — use it, and call us before saying anything.
Fees depend on the charge, complexity, and whether the case goes to trial. Smith & Eulo offers free consultations and flexible payment plans. The cost of hiring an attorney is almost always less than the long-term cost of a conviction — including lost wages, higher insurance, and lost opportunities.
A withhold means the judge accepts your plea but does not enter a formal conviction. It preserves your civil rights and often keeps you eligible to seal your record later. Not all charges qualify, and it must be part of the negotiated resolution — we work to secure withholds whenever possible.
You may be eligible if adjudication was withheld or charges were dismissed, and if you have no prior sealings or expungements and no disqualifying convictions. Certain offenses (like DUI, sex crimes, and domestic violence) cannot be sealed even with a withhold. We handle the entire application process.
Florida law allows you to use force — including deadly force — in self-defense without a duty to retreat, if you are in a place you have the right to be. If Stand Your Ground applies, we can file a pretrial motion for immunity that can end the case before trial.
PTI is a diversion program for eligible first-time offenders. Successful completion (typically involving community service, classes, and no new arrests) results in charges being dismissed. Not everyone qualifies — the prosecutor decides — and we advocate for admission when it’s the best outcome for you.
It can. Many charges — even misdemeanors — are considered crimes of moral turpitude or aggravated felonies under immigration law and can lead to deportation or denial of citizenship. Non-citizens facing criminal charges need attorneys who understand both criminal and immigration consequences.
Immediately. The earliest hours after arrest — or even before charges are filed — are often when the most important defense work happens: bond arguments, pre-file negotiations, preserving evidence, and preventing damaging statements. Every day of delay narrows your options.
Contact Us Today For Your Free Consultation
If you or a loved one has been arrested or is under investigation, call us right away. Available 24/7, free consultation, and payment plans available.
What To Do Right Now
Don’t talk to police. Invoke your right to remain silent and ask for a lawyer.
Write everything down. Document the arrest, officers involved, and witnesses while it’s fresh.
Preserve evidence. Save texts, videos, receipts, and contact information for anyone who saw what happened.
Don’t post on social media. Prosecutors read your accounts. Say nothing about the case online.
Call us now. Every hour matters — especially before charges are formally filed.
Related Practice Areas
DUI Defense – First offenses, refusals, felony DUI, and DUI manslaughter
Violent Crimes – Assault, battery, robbery, and homicide
Drug Crimes – Possession, sale, and trafficking defense
Domestic Violence – Battery, injunctions, and no-contact orders
Federal Criminal Defense – Federal court representation across Florida
