Media

Tampa Bay Media Coverage of Cases Handled by Rocky Brancato

When cases make the news, the stakes are high. The coverage below reflects the serious, often complex matters that Rocky Brancato handles—from death penalty trials to high-profile criminal defense. These articles represent third-party journalism, not attorney advertising.

Top Lawyers Feature —

Tampa Magazine Tampa Magazine | January 2026

Rocky Brancato was featured in Tampa Magazine’s Top Lawyers directory for Criminal Defense: General Practice. The profile highlights his 25+ years of experience handling Tampa Bay’s most serious criminal cases, his tenure as Chief Assistant Public Defender and Chief Operations Officer at the Hillsborough County Public Defender’s Office, and his founding of The Brancato Law Firm, P.A. The feature discusses his death penalty qualification, forensic defense approach, and strategic use of expert witnesses in high-stakes felony matters including homicide and sex offenses.

Read the full article: Rocky West Brancato — Tampa Magazine Top Lawyers

Expert Commentary — Bail Reform and Jail Overcrowding

Tampa Bay Times | August 26, 2024

Rocky Brancato was quoted as an expert on bail reform’s impact on Tampa Bay jails. As Chief Operations Officer of the Hillsborough County Public Defender’s Office, Rocky provided analysis on how HB 1627 has affected bond practices across the region.”HB 1627’s impact is tremendous,” Rocky told the Times. “Rather than create uniformity, the law has given more power to judges to set bond higher. Bonds now have greater variance by judge or courtroom.”

Read the full article: Tampa Bay jails are over capacity. Is a change in bail law the reason?

DUI Manslaughter Trial — Wrong-Way Crash on Selmon Expressway

Tampa Bay Times | February 17, 2024

Rocky Brancato defended a man accused of causing a fatal wrong-way crash on the Selmon Expressway in 2018. The case proceeded to jury trial, with the prosecution alleging DUI manslaughter. Rocky challenged the State’s theory of causation and presented the defense before a Tampa jury.

Read the full article: Tampa jury weighs if man caused 2018 fatal wrong-way crash on Selmon Expressway

Missing Child Case — Strategic Cooperation Leads to 75-Day Sentence

Tampa Bay Times | December 19, 2020

Rocky Brancato represented a defendant in a case connected to the disappearance of a Tampa girl. Early in the case, Rocky strategically positioned his client to provide testimony against the co-defendant, who faced capital murder charges. After six years of legal proceedings, Rocky’s client received 75 days in jail—a resolution that reflected her cooperation and Rocky’s early strategic planning.

Read the full article: For her Lie, 75 days behind bars

Cold Case DNA Murder — Death Row Inmate Avoids Second Death Sentence

Tampa Bay Times | February 13, 2020

Rocky Brancato’s team at the Public Defender’s Office defended a death row inmate charged with a 28-year-old cold case murder after DNA from a 1991 rape kit and cigarette butt matched him in a national database. The defendant, already condemned for a separate murder, faced a second death sentence if convicted at trial.

The defense challenged the DNA evidence, arguing potential contamination because items had been stored together. Although the motion to exclude was denied, it created leverage for negotiation. Days later, the defendant pleaded guilty and received a 50-year sentence—avoiding a second death sentence.

Read the full article: Tampa cold case ends 28 years later with quiet guilty plea

Stand Your Ground Motion — Case Eventually Dismissed

Tampa Bay Times | October 3, 2018

Rocky Brancato filed a Stand Your Ground motion on behalf of a client, arguing that his client was the victim of a vicious attack and acted in lawful self-defense. The motion presented evidence that the defendant had been assaulted and responded appropriately under Florida’s self-defense laws. Through continued litigation, the case was eventually dismissed.

Read the full article: Stand your ground motion says Tampa racial provocateur was victim of vicious attack

Probation Violation Dropped — Tampa Teacher Sex Case

Tampa Bay Times | August 8, 2018

Rocky Brancato successfully defended a former Tampa teacher facing a probation violation. The State ultimately dropped the probation violation case—a significant outcome in a matter that had received substantial media coverage due to the underlying charges.

Read the full article: State drops probation violation case against Tampa teacher who had sex with students

Risk Protection Order Defense — “Disarmed for Safety”

Tampa Bay Times | May 7, 2018

Rocky Brancato was featured in Tampa Bay Times coverage examining Florida’s then new risk protection order law—court orders that temporarily remove firearms from individuals deemed a threat. The article explored the legal complexities and constitutional considerations involved in these proceedings. Rocky was one of the first attorneys in Florida to handle Risk Protection Order cases.

Read the full article: Disarmed for safety

Death Penalty Trial — Client Avoids Execution, Receives Life Sentence

Tampa Bay Times | August 2014

Rocky Brancato served as part of the defense team in the Richard McTear death penalty case—one of the most high-profile capital cases in Tampa Bay history. The case involved the death of an infant and drew intense media scrutiny throughout the proceedings.

During the penalty phase, Rocky presented mitigation evidence including testimony from pastors regarding the defendant’s genuine participation in religious services, his understanding of scripture, and his engagement with Bible study. The mitigation strategy worked: the client avoided the death penalty and received a life sentence. In capital defense, keeping a client off death row is the measure of success.

Read the full article: Jury pool narrowed to 135 as trial begins for man accused of tossing baby from car

Juror Social Media Investigation — Pioneering Legal Strategy

The Tampa Tribune | October 29, 2010

In a case that made headlines for its novel legal approach, Rocky Brancato successfully obtained judicial approval to investigate a juror’s Facebook activity. The judge granted Rocky’s request—an early example of courts addressing social media’s role in jury trials, years before such motions became common.

Read the full article: Judge OKs request on juror’s Facebook

Why Media Coverage Matters

Cases that attract media attention are typically the most serious—death penalty trials, cold case DNA prosecutions, high-profile allegations, matters of public interest. Defending clients under the spotlight of press coverage requires not only legal skill but also the ability to manage public perception, protect the client’s rights, and maintain focus on what happens in the courtroom.

The coverage above spans more than a decade of Rocky Brancato’s practice, reflecting experience with capital defense, cold case DNA evidence, DUI manslaughter, self-defense cases, and policy issues affecting the criminal justice system. From penalty phase mitigation that kept clients off death row to expert commentary on bail reform, this work demonstrates the breadth and depth of serious criminal defense.

Learn more about Rocky Brancato’s background and experience

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