(813) 252-1529
A good man and a great lawyer… He is very dedicated and proficient in his field… We would wholeheartedly recommend Mr. Courtney if you find yourself needing an attorney in criminal defense!
TAMPA CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER FIGHTING FOR THE ACCUSED
If you are charged with a crime in the Tampa Bay area, you must have the advice and services of the right Tampa criminal defense attorney. Criminal convictions are penalized with stiff fines, probation, a lasting criminal record, and in some cases, jail or prison. Your freedom, your family, and your future may be at risk, but the right defense attorney will protect your rights and fight hard for the truth, justice, and freedom you need.
In the Tampa Bay area, attorney Pat Courtney resolves criminal charges against his clients aggressively and completely. He will work with you personally through every step of the legal process. Pat Courtney believes that you are innocent until and unless every element of the charge against you can be proven in a court of law. If you are arrested and accused of a crime, don’t panic. Instead, call defense attorney Pat Courtney – at once.
How Can We Help You?
SEALING AND EXPUNGING RECORDS
Criminal convictions can’t be sealed or expunged in the state of Florida, but for those who qualify, criminal arrests and charges can sometimes be sealed or expunged with the help of the right criminal defense attorney.
ASSAULT AND BATTERY
Assaults and batteries are penalized harshly in Florida. A conviction for either crime can have severe consequences – including jail time. If you’re charged with assault, battery, or both, contact Tampa criminal defense attorney Pat Courtney at once.
BURGLARY
In Florida, a conviction for burglary can mean a prison term, stiff fines, and a permanent criminal record. Tampa criminal defense attorney Pat Courtney has extensive experience successfully defending burglary suspects in the Tampa Bay area.
CHILD ABUSE
A false allegation of child abuse can be devastating. If you’re accused of child abuse, speak immediately with Tampa attorney Pat Courtney. He will protect your rights, and if you’ve been falsely accused, he will use every appropriate legal tool to clear your name.
CYBER CRIMES
Anyone could accidentally commit – or could be wrongly charged with – a computer-related crime at either the state or federal level. If this happens to you, you must be represented by an attorney who understands digital technology and fights aggressively for the justice you need.
DRUG CRIMES
In Florida, many drug crimes are severely penalized. If you’re charged in the Tampa Bay area with illegal drug possession, sale, trafficking, or the manufacture or cultivation of illegal drugs, it’s crucial to seek the right attorney’s help as quickly as possible.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
The Florida laws governing domestic violence are complicated and cover a variety of circumstances and behaviors. If you are charged with domestic violence, you must be represented by a defense lawyer with substantial experience handling domestic violence cases.
SEX CRIMES
Sex crimes are some of the most serious offenses that the criminal justice system addresses. If your ex, your spouse, your partner, or anyone else accuses you of a sex crime, you’ll need to be represented by an attorney who has considerable experience with sex crime cases.
THEFT CRIMES
A theft in Florida is categorized as a grand theft, which is a felony, or as a “petit” or petty theft, which is a misdemeanor. A conviction on either charge can send a defendant to jail or prison. If you’re charged with theft, you must have effective defense representation.
VIOLENT CRIMES
If you are charged with a violent crime, you may feel hopeless. Upon conviction, jail or prison is likely. Friends and even family members may abandon you. If you’re accused of a violent crime, attorney Pat Courtney can develop an aggressive, effective strategy for your defense.
TRAFFIC TICKETS
Always fight a ticket – especially in Florida, where tickets put “points” on your license and can lead to the suspension of your driving privilege. Attorney Pat Courtney knows how to challenge a traffic ticket. He’s helped scores of drivers avoid fines and “points” in the Tampa Bay area.
WHITE-COLLAR CRIMES
“White-collar” crime cases are often more difficult and complicated than drug, sex, or violent crime cases. Attorney Pat Courtney has extensive experience representing defendants accused of white-collar crimes such as embezzlement and fraud in the Tampa Bay area.
WARRANTS
Typically, an arrest warrant is issued by a Florida judge when law enforcement officials suspect a crime has been committed. If you believe that your name is on an arrest warrant, you need an attorney who can intervene on your behalf and resolve the matter effectively and promptly.
DUI
Our practice focuses on representing drivers who are accused of DUI. Pat Courtney will bring your DUI case to its best possible conclusion and help you resume your life after being charged with DUI. With your future at stake, you can’t risk hiring the wrong DUI attorney.
WHAT CAN THE RIGHT CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY DO FOR YOU?
The right attorney should offer straightforward legal advice, listen to you, and guide you from start to finish through the criminal justice process. Patrick Courtney will explain exactly how the law applies to your case, what may happen to you, and how you can help in your own defense. He will develop an effective, proactive defense strategy on your behalf.
In most criminal cases, the first step is to try having the case dismissed. If your case can’t be dismissed, it may go to trial, where Mr. Courtney will cast doubt on the evidence against you to help return a not guilty verdict; we’ll bring in skilled investigators and expert witnesses to help. If the state’s evidence is overwhelming and a conviction is unavoidable, Mr. Courtney will negotiate for an acceptable plea bargain or alternative sentencing.
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU’RE ARRESTED FOR DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE?
You’ll have a ten-day window to take action, or your driver’s license will be automatically suspended. You’ll need to reach Pat Courtney at once if you hope to keep your license. What are the penalties for a DUI or BUI conviction? The penalties for a first offense can include six months in jail, a $1,000 fine, and a one-year driver’s license suspension.
There are additional penalties for “aggravated” circumstances in a DUI case as well and every Florida driver should know what they are. If your blood alcohol content (“BAC”) level measures at or above 0.15 percent when you are arrested, you may face a mandatory doubling of fines; court-ordered installation of an ignition interlock device in your vehicle; and additional jail time. However, attorney Pat Courtney can ensure that an aggressive, effective defense is offered on your behalf.
We Let Our Results Speak For Themselves…
Stephen L.
Possession of Cannabis Resin, Possession of Hallucinogenic Mushrooms, Possession of Ecstasy, Possession of Cannabis with Intent to Deliver – Dismissed
Thedis C.
Felony Driving While License Suspended as Habitual Offender with violation of probation – released from jail, guided client in obtaining driver license, time served on all cases when initially faciing 29 months in prison
Tyler W.
Possession of Controlled Substance – Dismissed. New DUI while on pretrial release on the possession charge – reduced to reckless driving with no conviction or probation
Stephen L.
Possession of Cannabis Resin, Possession of Hallucinogenic Mushrooms, Possession of Ecstasy, Possession of Cannabis with Intent to Deliver – Dismissed
Thedis C.
Felony Driving While License Suspended as Habitual Offender with violation of probation – released from jail, guided client in obtaining driver license, time served on all cases when initially faciing 29 months in prison
Tyler W.
Possession of Controlled Substance – Dismissed. New DUI while on pretrial release on the possession charge – reduced to reckless driving with no conviction or probation
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU’RE CONVICTED OF A MISDEMEANOR OR A FELONY?
Misdemeanors are considered less serious than felonies, but a misdemeanor conviction creates a criminal record that can be used to deny you employment, educational opportunities, and even housing. Contact attorney Pat Courtney promptly if you’ve been arrested and charged with a misdemeanor or a felony. It’s important to give your attorney time to investigate the charge against you and develop a defense strategy on your behalf.
A felony, on the other hand, is a whole other story. In Florida, a third-degree felony conviction is punishable with up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000. A second-degree felony conviction is punishable with up to fifteen years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. First-degree felony convictions are penalized with up to thirty years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. “Life” offenses are penalized with life in prison without parole. Capital felony convictions are punishable by death or life without parole.
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