St. Petersburg Criminal Defense Lawyer
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The Kilfin Law Firm, P.C.
Welcome to The Kilfin Law Firm, P.C. I am attorney Donald J. Kilfin, a
St. Petersburg area criminal defense and DUI attorney with over seventeen
years of criminal law experience, including six years as a Pinellas County
state prosecutor. I am committed to providing the residents of St. Petersburg,
Clearwater, Tampa, and surrounding areas with the highest quality of legal
services, at affordable rates, in a wide array of criminal and traffic
matters, including
DUI, juvenile, and
probation violation proceedings. I deliberately limit my intake to ensure that each client's
matter receives the time and attention needed to attain the best possible
outcome. The Kilfin Law Firm, P.C. recognizes that good people can, and
sometimes do, find themselves at odds with the criminal justice system
and understands the tremendous degree of stress and anxiety these situations
can produce. Meeting, and exceeding, my client's expectations is my goal.
With our firm, you benefit from an attorney with the following recognitions:
As an experienced criminal defense and DUI lawyer serving the residents
of Tampa Bay, Mr. Kilfin takes every necessary step to ensure his client's
rights are protected. At The Kilfin Law Firm, P.C., we meticulously review
all of the evidence against a particular client and immediately begin
to formulate a strategy to mitigate, or eliminate, the potential impact
of a criminal charge on our client's personal, professional, and family
life. Mr. Kilfin has
helped hundreds of individuals obtain favorable resolutions in their criminal matters for years.
At The Kilfin Law Firm, P.C., we realize that no cases are alike and work
relentlessly to tailor a defense strategy that is unique to the needs
of each client individually. As an experienced criminal defense and DUI
lawyer, attorney Donald J. Kilfin recognizes that the value of effective
advocacy skills, both oral and written, cannot be understated. The provision
of zealous and effective representation to the residents of St. Petersburg,
Clearwater, Tampa, New Port Richey, Dade City, and Bradenton, during some
of the most difficult and challenging times in their lives, is our top
priority. To view comments posted by former clients of Attorney Donald
J. Kilfin, visit the
Testimonials section of our website.
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Were You Arrested in St. Petersburg?
When you are facing a criminal charge, having an experienced Tampa Bay
area defense attorney on your side can make all the difference in the
outcome of your case. Backed by more than a decade of experience, we know
how to build a results-driven case based on your individual needs and
goals. We take the time to examine the evidence on your behalf and work
to help you secure a favorable outcome. Whether you are dealing with a
violent crime charge, DUI, fraud, theft, or even homicide, our firm has
the tenacity necessary to help you move forward with confidence. We handle
complex cases with the care and respect they deserve from start to finish.
We understand that this is a sensitive situation you are dealing with and
we strive to put your mind at ease. Our lawyer understands the various
defenses that can be used in your favor in order to combat the evidence
being brought against you. With our firm on your side, you will always
understand the specifics of your case, as well as your rights throughout
the matter. You can trust that when you hire The Kilfin Law Firm, P.C.,
your best interests are always at the forefront of our practice and your
rights, future, and freedom are in good hands. With so much on the line,
you cannot afford to hire inexperienced representation. We truly care
about our clients, so we work diligently on your case.
The vast majority of this site's content was written by me, based on
my seventeen-plus years of experience in criminal law. Having practiced
for nearly two decades, there are very few factual scenarios or legal
issues I have not confronted at some point in my career.
At the outset of each subsection, I strive to provide the reader with a
concise, but comprehensive overview of the the nature of the charge. I
also include the applicable Florida statute to convey, with precision,
the conduct that is proscribed by Florida law. The statutes that correspond
to lesser included offenses are also outlined, where appropriate, so the
reader can get a sense of the varying degrees of a given charge. The applicable
jury instructions are included so the reader can get an understanding
of each element of the applicable charge, which the state must prove beyond
a reasonable doubt to convict. The definitions of key terms are also included,
word for word, to convey a more complete understanding of what the state
is required to prove.
From there, I lay out the applicable penalty provisions, including minimum
and maximum penalties, any associated
minimum mandatory sentences, and the collateral consequences of the plea (if any) including, for example,
the loss of a driver's license, a sex offender registration requirement,
or deportation. Some offenses will trigger one or more of Florida's
draconian sentencing enhancements such as HFO, PRR, or 10-20-Life. The
potential enhancement is also identified where appropriate, and the content
of the enhancement statute is included to give the reader a better understanding
of its provisions.
I also set forth some of the more common defenses to a given charge and
include actual examples from my past cases where a particular defense
strategy was successful. At the bottom of each page you will find a list
of additional resources with links to other relevant pages on this site
and a number of outside authoritative sources (such as the Florida Department
of Motor Vehicles, the Florida Department of Corrections, and the Florida
Department of Law Enforcement) for further reading. There are also links
to articles I have authored for legal directories such as Avvo and HG.
Org., which contain a more abbreviated discussion of the particular offense.
To left of the screen, you will see our firm's blog section. At
least once a month, I will publish an article on a particular aspect of Florida
law that I hope will be of some use or interest to the reader. Also, I
strive to stay on top of changes to the law and will publish a blog post
outlining the update either before or immediately after it is enacted.
For example, just last year, "Aggravated Assault with a Firearm"
was removed from the list of qualifying offenses under Florida's 10-20-Life
statute, which meant that the associated three year minimum mandatory
sentence was no longer applicable. Currently, there are some major overhauls
to Florida's Stand Your Ground Law, as it relates to the burden of
proof in an "immunity hearing", which will be of tremendous
benefit to criminal defendants whose conduct resulted from the justifiable
use of force. These changes can, and very often do, impact my client's
legal matters. Being aware of them, and ensuring that my clients are aware
of them, is an integral part of my job. I also use the blog to discuss
current legal events in the St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Tampa area and
for updates related to the firm itself.
Florida criminal law is complicated. If you have any questions after reading
a particular section of this site, please feel free to contact me directly
and I will be glad to answer them.
For more information on how The Kilfin Law Firm, P.C. can help you, contact our St. Petersburg criminal defense firm today and schedule a free initial consultation.