Articles Posted in Criminal Defense

By The Brancato Law Firm, P.A. | Updated 2025 If you are facing criminal charges in Tampa or Hillsborough County, you likely feel like your case is dragging on forever. Months—or even years—can pass before you get your day in court. Even though Florida’s speedy trial rule has been gutted, you still enjoy a constitutional…

Why Suppressing Evidence Can Change Your Case When facing criminal charges in Tampa, Hillsborough County, or the surrounding areas, the evidence against you often determines whether the prosecution can move forward. But if the police obtained that evidence illegally, it may be excluded from court. This is where a Tampa attorney for motions to suppress…

Contempt of court is far more than a simple warning from a judge. It is a legally binding consequence that courts use to protect their authority and maintain order. When someone ignores a court order or disrupts judicial proceedings, they risk serious penalties. Understanding how contempt works—and how Florida courts apply it—can make a significant…

You answer the phone, and the news is devastating. A loved one has been arrested for a Violation of Probation (VOP) and is sitting in the Orient Road or Falkenburg Road Jail. Unlike a new arrest, they haven’t been released. They are likely being held with “No Bond.” Families often panic because the rules for…

Facing a probation violation can be overwhelming, but you are not without options. Florida law provides several defenses to fight probation revocation, and understanding these legal strategies can make a critical difference in your case. This post will discuss defenses to violation of probation. Click the link to learn more about the violation of probation…

Bail is your constitutional right—not a punishment. The right attorney can mean the difference between waiting for trial at home or behind bars. KEY TAKEAWAY Under the Florida Constitution and Florida Statute § 903.046, you are entitled to pretrial release on reasonable conditions unless charged with a capital offense. Courts must consider your financial resources…

A complete, expert-driven medical records review is one of the most powerful tools in defending child abuse charges—and it’s often the difference between conviction and dismissal ⚠ THE STAKES IN AGGRAVATED CHILD ABUSE CASES Aggravated child abuse is a first-degree felony in Florida, punishable by up to 30 years in prison. Even if acquitted, the…

What Tampa Patients Need to Know About Paraphernalia and Transport Rules Key Takeaway for Tampa Patients In Williams v. State (October 2025), the Second District Court of Appeal ruled that the odor of cannabis alone is no longer enough to establish probable cause for a vehicle search in Tampa and Hillsborough County. As Florida continues…

Florida’s self-defense laws offer some of the strongest protections in the country. Yet how those protections apply in real cases varies widely based on the facts and how the evidence is interpreted by police, prosecutors, and judges. For defendants in Tampa, Hillsborough County, and across the Tampa Bay region, understanding these laws is essential—especially when…

Florida law creates critical exceptions to confidentiality when a child’s welfare is at stake—therefore, understanding these rules is essential to your defense ⚠ CRITICAL: MOST PRIVILEGES DO NOT APPLY IN CHILD ABUSE CASES If you believe your conversations with doctors, therapists, or even your spouse remain protected from disclosure in a child abuse investigation—you may…