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2026
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LicensingUser ReviewsMystery Shopping CallsOur goal is to connect people with the best local professionals. We scored Clearwater criminal defense lawyers on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the best.
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= Featured ProviderNeed help contacting a Criminal Defense Attorney in Clearwater? Call our Concierge team at 848-Book-Pro (848-266-5776 from 6 am - 4 pm PT | Mon - Fri). They are standing by to help you get the service you need.
The Law Offices of Robert Eckard & Associates PA is a general practice law firm that operates throughout the Tampa Bay area, advising clients on matters of law and defending others in state and federal courts. The firm's criminal defense practice has over 30 years of experience advocating for clients accused of felonies and misdemeanors. The attorneys have experience in every aspect of criminal law, from white-collar crime and traffic offenses to drug-related crime and murder.
The Law Office of Jocic & Koulianos PA is a multi-practice firm with criminal justice attorneys near Clearwater who represent people under investigation by the authorities and those charged with felonies and misdemeanors. The firm handles the full range of criminal law cases, defending clients accused of DUI and other traffic offenses, such as speeding, as well as arguing for people charged with very serious crimes, including sexual assault and murder.
Winkles Law Group PA is a private practice founded in 1972 by D. Frank Winkles, a criminal defense attorney near Clearwater. Attorney Winkles is licensed to practice in Florida, and the circuit courts for the Middle and Northern Districts, the Court of Appeals, 5th and 11th Circuits, and the Supreme Court. The firm specifically handles federal criminal cases and Grand Jury investigations, defending clients charged with serious crimes, such as murder.
The Law Offices of Patrick Leduc is a private practice founded by Patrick Leduc, a criminal lawyer near Clearwater, who has been advocating in criminal, military, and civil trials since 1992. The attorney has defended clients in hundreds of criminal trials. He has previously defended people accused of drug offenses and white-collar crimes, domestic violence, DUI, breaking parole, and sexual assault. Attorney Leduc is a member of the Hillsborough County Criminal Defense Association.
The Law Offices of Pawuk & Pawuk is a criminal defense practice that represents clients in the counties of Pasco, Pinellas, and Hernando. Attorney Daniel N. Pawuk has more than 20 years of experience defending people charged with crimes in court and on appeal. The firm has particular experience advocating for people charged with DUI, although it does handle other misdemeanors and felonies, such as domestic battery and violation of probation.
Hobson Law Firm LLC is a criminal defense firm that serves clients in the counties of Clearwater, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, and Pasco. Attorney Joseph T. Hobson has more than 25 years of experience defending people charged with felonies and misdemeanors and advising those under investigation. He has experience advocating for people charged with DUI and driving with a revoked license and those accused of more serious crimes, such as assault and battery, domestic violence, and drug-related offenses.
(1)The Law Office of Thomas Maiello has been advising clients under investigation and defending others in courtrooms all across the Tampa Bay area since 1995. Mr. Maiello has handled a range of complex cases at trial, from first-degree murder and drug trafficking to aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and armed robbery. The attorney also defends clients accused of DUI, including DUI that results in property damage, manslaughter, and serious bodily injuries.
Whittel & Melton is a multi-practice law firm that defends people charged with criminal offenses and advises those still under investigation. The firm's attorneys have many years of experience of all stages of the process, from pursuing pre-trial acquittals to defending clients in state and federal courts and appealing convictions for others. The firm handles the full range of criminal cases, from murder and child abuse to federal crimes involving mail fraud, identity theft, and money laundering.
Carter Foreman PLLC is a firm of criminal defense attorneys near Clearwater who have been advocating for clients from two locations in the surrounding counties since 1987. They advise those under investigation and prepare defenses for those charged with misdemeanors, such as driving with a suspended license, disorderly conduct, and petty theft. They also defend clients accused of DUI and marijuana possession. Additional practice areas include business and commercial law.
Denmon Pearlman is a firm of criminal justice attorneys near Clearwater who operate throughout the Tampa area from three locations. The firm's attorneys include former prosecutors who now defend clients under investigation and charged with committing crimes. They handle cases relating to drunk driving, assault & battery, marijuana possession, and other drug-related crimes, such as distribution. The firm also helps clients get their previous criminal records expunged. Additional practice areas include personal injury and family law.
(34)Richard A. Alexander Esq. is a criminal lawyer near Clearwater who founded his personal practice in 2004 after eight years honing his trial skills with other firms. The attorney defends clients accused of any crime that falls within criminal law, such as DUI, drug offenses, domestic violence, robbery, and homicide. Attorney Alexander is a member of the Clearwater and Hillsborough County Bar associations and the American Association of Premier DUI Attorneys.
The Mastrogiovanni Law Firm practices criminal law from its offices in Clearwater and New Port Richey. The firm's attorneys have more than 30 years of combined experience advocating for clients throughout the surrounding communities, handling violent crimes, such as domestic battery and assault, and crimes involving vehicles, including DUI and driving with a suspended license. The firm's attorneys include members of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Florida and West Pasco Bar associations.
Westmoreland Law Firm provides criminal defense for individuals in Clearwater and nearby locations. Its attorney, Chris Westmoreland, advocates for the rights of clients before prosecutors, judges, and juries, whether they are accused of drug trafficking, aggravated assault, burglary, or sexual battery. He also explores legal alternatives such as pretrial intervention programs and Plea in Absentia in pursuit of obtaining dismissals and charge reductions. Westmoreland, who has over 20 years of criminal defense experience, is a former prosecutor. He has litigated more than 100 criminal trials.
(2)Darryl Mitchell is a distinguished advocate in criminal defense, showcasing a remarkable history of success that sets him apart in this field. His extensive courtroom experience highlights his steadfast dedication to protecting his clients' rights. Mitchell’s broad background in the field of criminal defense empowers him to craft compelling arguments for Clearwater clients confronting significant legal hurdles. With a commitment to excellence, he meticulously investigates every aspect of a case and presents persuasive arguments in court, ensuring that no detail is left unexamined. His unequivocal mission is to champion his clients’ rights, safeguard their futures, and make sure their voices resonate at all times.
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To reach the Clearwater Police Department, call (727) 562-4242.
To obtain a police report from the Clearwater Police Department, call (727) 562-4242 for more information.
Yes, they can. There have been instances when a Clearwater court imposed a No Contact order upon parties who wanted to have it removed. This especially affects people involved in domestic disputes who will be left homeless or forced away from their families for the entire duration that the case is still active. Criminal defense attorneys can work to have the order modified if not entirely lifted.
It mostly depends on the type of case they need to work on and their professional experience, but the average cost you can expect is around $2,000 to $3,500 for first-degree misdemeanors. The cost climbs exponentially higher for first and second-degree felonies at $35,000 to $100,000. There are always affordable lawyers in Clearwater, but they come with a caveat that you may get an overworked one who's juggling many different cases.
Criminal defense lawyers in Clearwater help protect minors in juvenile courts from harsh consequences that may further push them into a life of crime and desperation. Instead of being put in stressful environments such as prison cells, the offending minor can be placed in rehabilitative programs, counseling, or therapy to correct errant behavior.
Yes. Any criminal case that is not properly handled by a lawyer in Clearwater may end in the defendant suffering a sentence that is too harsh or being followed by their mistake throughout the rest of their lives. Criminal acts, even misdemeanors, stay on an offender's records permanently unless they are able to have it overturned. This means potential employers, partners, loan officers, and the general public will be able to see this.
Yes, they can, by requesting that the bond be set according to the defendant's financial capabilities. However, the final decision will still depend on the judge who will have to consider many things, such as the likelihood of the defendant fleeing, the severity of the crime they committed, and whether or not they are a danger to themselves and others if allowed back out on the streets.
This article explains illegally obtained evidence, its impact on trials, and what criminal defense attorneys can do to defend...
