Brancato Law Firm, P.A. Recent Blog Posts

If you are charged with a crime in Tampa Bay, you are already fighting for your future. Whether the accusation involves DUI, aggravated assault, or a serious felony like sexual battery, you cannot afford to take chances. You need the highest level of representation available. That is why hiring a death penalty qualified criminal defense…

A Former Public Defender Criminal Defense Lawyer in Tampa Choosing the right defense attorney can change the outcome of a major felony case. As a former public defender criminal defense lawyer in Tampa, I’ve seen firsthand how experience, leadership, and courtroom readiness determine success. My years as Chief Assistant Public Defender, second-in-command in an office…

Teachers face unique legal risks. When a teacher is accused of a crime, everything is at stake. Careers, reputations, and future employment can vanish in hours. Allegations involving sexual misconduct with students trigger immediate intervention by law enforcement and school administrators. Even when the accusation is false, the damage can grow fast. If you are…

Social media can decide the outcome of a Tampa criminal case. Posts, comments, messages, and photos now appear in court every day. Prosecutors use this digital evidence to build timelines, attack credibility, and argue guilt. However, social media also helps the defense. When used correctly, it can expose lies, reveal hidden motives, and lead to…

When Florida’s Fourth District Court of Appeal reversed a murder conviction in Rene De Santus v. State (No. 4D2023-2235, Oct. 15, 2025), it exposed a painful truth: even a serious homicide case can collapse when the defense lawyer isn’t prepared. The judges ruled that the attorney’s mistakes made the entire trial fundamentally unfair. The case…

Florida’s sex offender laws are notoriously complex. A Florida sex predator mis-designation isn’t just a paperwork error. It dramatically changes your life in Tampa Bay and across Florida: where you can live, the supervision you face, and your entire future. At The Brancato Law Firm, P.A., we have seen the devastating impact of these errors…

By Rocky Brancato, Tampa Sex Crimes Defense AttorneyThe Brancato Law Firm, P.A. | (813) 727-7159 What the Law Says About Solicitation of a Child Using a Computer Florida Statutes §847.0135(3)(a) and §847.0135(3)(b) make it a serious felony to use a computer or electronic device to communicate about unlawful sexual conduct with a child—or with someone…

Protecting Your Future When Everything Feels Lost If you’ve been arrested—or even suspect you’re being investigated—for human trafficking in Tampa Bay, you may feel like your life is over. The shock, shame, and fear that follow are overwhelming. But being accused is not the same as being guilty. It’s time to hire a Top Tampa…

Published by The Brancato Law Firm, P.A.Attorney Rocky Brancato | Tampa Criminal Defense Lawyer Understanding the Oquendo v. State Decision In Oquendo v. State, SC2023-0807 (Fla. October 9, 2025), the Florida Supreme Court clarified an important question for anyone claiming self-defense — especially military veterans or trauma survivors. The Court held that Florida’s self-defense law…

On October 1, 2025, Florida’s Second District Court of Appeal issued an en banc opinion in Williams v. State, No. 2D2023-2200 (Fla. 2d DCA October 1, 2025) that marks a turning point in search and seizure law. The court held that the odor of cannabis, by itself, is no longer enough to establish probable cause…