Osceola County Criminal Defense Lawyer — Kissimmee & St. Cloud

An arrest in Osceola County — Kissimmee, St. Cloud, or anywhere along the I-4 corridor near Walt Disney World — lands you in a different circuit than where most of my practice is based. But if you are a Polk County resident, if your case has connections to the Central Florida clients I represent, or if you simply need a lawyer with serious criminal defense experience who practices in the greater Orlando corridor, I can help. I defend clients in Osceola County when the circumstances call for it.

Legally reviewed by Tonmiel Rodriguez, Board Certified Criminal Trial Lawyer — last reviewed June 2026.

Board Certification in criminal trial law is the Florida Bar’s highest recognized credential in this specialty. It requires documented jury trials, a written examination, and peer review. I have tried over 75 jury trials in state court. When you are facing criminal charges in Osceola County’s busy 9th Judicial Circuit courthouse, you need a lawyer who brings trial-ready preparation to your defense.

Osceola County and the 9th Judicial Circuit

Osceola County sits just east of Polk County, separated by the county line along US 27 and SR 60. Kissimmee is the county seat and the largest city, with a population of over 75,000. St. Cloud and Celebration are the other major communities. The county’s economy is almost entirely driven by tourism — Walt Disney World’s southern edges touch Osceola County, and the US 192 tourist corridor in Kissimmee is one of the most heavily commercialized tourism strips in Florida.

All criminal cases originating in Osceola County are prosecuted by the State Attorney’s Office for the 9th Judicial Circuit and heard at the Osceola County Courthouse, 2 Courthouse Square, Kissimmee, FL 34741. The 9th Circuit is a different circuit from the 10th — it has its own judges, its own prosecutors, and its own courthouse culture. I know that courthouse from cases I have handled there and am prepared to practice in it.

The 9th Judicial Circuit covers Orange and Osceola Counties. The State Attorney’s Office for the 9th Circuit handles prosecution in both counties from its main office in Orlando. The Osceola County Courthouse processes a significant criminal docket given the county’s population and its tourism-driven arrest volume. Circuit court handles felonies; county court handles misdemeanors and ordinance violations.

Law Enforcement in Osceola County

Osceola County has significant law enforcement resources given its tourism economy and population:

• Osceola County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) — County-wide jurisdiction covering unincorporated areas, including the tourism corridor along US 192 and the areas surrounding the theme parks. OCSO is one of the more active sheriff’s offices in Central Florida.
• Kissimmee Police Department — Handles arrests within the City of Kissimmee, the county seat. KPD is active in the US 192 and downtown Kissimmee corridors.
• St. Cloud Police Department — Jurisdiction within St. Cloud in eastern Osceola County.
• Florida Highway Patrol — Heavy presence on I-4, the Florida Turnpike, and US 192 — all major arteries through Osceola County. DUI enforcement on these corridors is consistent and aggressive.
• Orange County Sheriff and Orlando Police Department — When incidents span the county line into Orange County — which happens frequently around the I-4 corridor — multiple agencies may be involved. Jurisdictional questions can affect your case.

Tourism Corridor Arrests — What You Need to Know

Osceola County processes an enormous volume of tourist-related arrests. Theme park visitors, convention attendees, and travelers on I-4 and US 192 generate a specific pattern of charges: DUI, disorderly conduct, battery (including disputes at hotels and theme parks), drug possession, and theft. Many of these defendants are not Florida residents and face the additional complication of managing a criminal case from out of state.

I handle cases for out-of-state clients regularly. On most hearings, I can appear for you so you do not have to travel back to Kissimmee. Mandatory appearances — arraignment, plea hearings, trial — require your presence, but I will tell you exactly which dates those are and minimize unnecessary travel. The goal is resolving your case without it consuming your life in another state.

What Criminal Charges Are Common in Osceola County?

Cases I handle in Osceola County include:

• DUI (§ 316.193, Fla. Stat.) — I-4 and US 192 are among the most aggressively patrolled DUI corridors in Florida. Tourists who misjudge how much they can drink and still drive are a regular source of arrests. Field sobriety tests, breath tests, and refusals all require careful examination. The same constitutional analysis that applies in Polk County applies in Osceola: Was the stop lawful? Was the test properly administered? Was the evidence properly preserved?
• Drug Possession (§ 893.13, Fla. Stat.) — Marijuana, cocaine, and other controlled substances found during traffic stops on I-4, the Turnpike, and US 192. Drug arrests during tourism events and at rental properties near the theme parks are a specific pattern I see in Osceola County cases.
• Battery and Disorderly Conduct (§§ 784.03, 877.03, Fla. Stat.) — Hotel and resort altercations, theme park incidents, and bar fights in the Kissimmee entertainment corridor. These cases often involve hotel security footage, multiple witnesses, and incident reports from private security as well as law enforcement.
• Theft (§ 812.014, Fla. Stat.) — Shoplifting from the dense retail environment along US 192 and in tourist areas.
• Domestic Violence (§ 741.28, Fla. Stat.) — Travel and vacation stress can escalate domestic situations. Arrests occurring at hotels and vacation rentals in Osceola County are handled by the same process as any other DV arrest — mandatory arrest, no-contact orders, and first appearance within 24 hours.
• Drug Trafficking (§ 893.135, Fla. Stat.) — I-4 is a major drug corridor between Tampa and the Orlando area. Trafficking stops on I-4 in Osceola County generate cases with mandatory minimum prison exposure that require aggressive defense from the first day.

Polk County Residents Arrested in Osceola County

Many of my Osceola County clients are Polk County residents — people who live in Lakeland, Winter Haven, Bartow, or surrounding communities and were arrested while in Kissimmee or along the I-4 corridor. For these clients, managing an Osceola County case alongside their life in Polk is straightforward when I handle both circuits. You do not need to find separate Osceola County counsel — I handle cases in both the 9th and 10th Judicial Circuits.

Your prior record in Polk County will follow you to Osceola County. Florida courts have access to statewide criminal history through FCIC/NCIC. Prior convictions affect your sentencing scoresheet under Florida’s Criminal Punishment Code regardless of which county they occurred in. Having a lawyer who understands both your Polk County history and your Osceola County case is an advantage in every phase of the proceedings.

First-Time Offender Diversion Options in Osceola County

The 9th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office administers Pretrial Intervention (PTI) programs in Osceola County for qualifying first-time offenders. PTI completion results in dismissal of charges — no conviction, no record for purposes of future PTI eligibility. Drug diversion is available for certain possession charges. Eligibility depends on the charge and the defendant’s prior record. For tourist defendants facing a first-time charge in Kissimmee, diversion programs may be an efficient and effective resolution that avoids the need for repeated travel to Florida.

Osceola County also has specialty court programs including drug court and veterans treatment court for defendants who meet specific criteria. I evaluate every available option at the outset of every case — whether diversion is better than challenging the charge on the merits depends on the specific facts, and I provide that analysis honestly.

What Happens After an Arrest in Osceola County?

After booking at the Osceola County Jail at 402 Simpson Rd in Kissimmee, first appearance before a judge typically occurs within 24 hours. Bond is set at first appearance. In domestic violence cases, a mandatory 8-hour hold applies. Circuit court (felony) arraignment occurs within 21 days of arrest for defendants in custody.

Cases in the 9th Judicial Circuit follow the same Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure as cases in the 10th Circuit, with the same discovery timelines, motion practice rules, and speedy trial rights. What differs is the courthouse culture and the specific judges and prosecutors, and I know that difference. Because I have appeared in the Osceola County Courthouse before, I come into your case already familiar with how it operates.

Hablamos Español — Bilingual Defense in Osceola County

Osceola County’s population is over 50% Hispanic, one of the highest concentrations of any county in Florida. Kissimmee has a substantial Puerto Rican and Caribbean community, and the tourism workforce is broadly Spanish-speaking. I consult directly in Spanish — no interpreter, no miscommunication. Hablamos Español.

Immigration consequences of criminal convictions are a significant consideration in Osceola County given its large non-citizen and dual-status resident population. I analyze immigration consequences for every non-citizen client before any plea is entered. Drug charges, theft charges, domestic violence convictions, and crimes of moral turpitude under federal immigration law can trigger removal proceedings regardless of how Florida classifies the offense.

Board Certified Criminal Trial Lawyer

“This is the highest level of recognition by The Florida Bar for the competency and experience of a lawyer practicing criminal trial law.”

— The Florida Bar

I am Board Certified in criminal trial law by the Florida Bar — the Bar’s highest credential in this specialty. That certification reflects a record of 75+ jury trials, a comprehensive written examination, and peer review. When you are facing a criminal charge in Osceola County’s busy courthouse, you want a lawyer who brings serious trial experience to your defense, not someone for whom criminal defense is a sideline.

Related Practice Areas

• Polk County Criminal Defense — Primary Practice Area
• DUI Defense
• Drug Crimes Defense
• Domestic Violence Defense
• Bond Hearings
• Hillsborough County Criminal Defense
• Orange County Criminal Defense

Frequently Asked Questions — Criminal Defense in Osceola County

I was arrested near Disney World in Osceola County. Is this a different court from Polk County?

Yes. Osceola County is in the 9th Judicial Circuit, which covers Osceola and Orange Counties. Polk County is in the 10th Judicial Circuit. They are different circuits with different judges and prosecutors. Cases in Osceola County are heard at the Osceola County Courthouse in Kissimmee at 2 Courthouse Square — not at the Polk County Courthouse in Bartow.

I live in Polk County but was arrested in Kissimmee. Can you represent me in Osceola County?

Yes. I am licensed to practice throughout the state of Florida and handle cases in Osceola County. Many of my clients who have cases in Osceola County live in Polk County or have Polk County connections. I can represent you in Kissimmee while keeping your defense coordinated with any related matters in Polk.

I’m a tourist who was arrested in Kissimmee and I fly home next week. What happens?

If you have been released on bond, your bond conditions will include requirements to remain available to the court. You can typically return home — but you cannot ignore the case. I can appear on your behalf for most non-mandatory hearings. You will need to return to Florida for arraignment, plea hearings, and trial. Contact me immediately so we can map out what your case will require and plan accordingly.

I was arrested on I-4 in Osceola County for a drug offense. How is that handled?

Interstate drug stops on I-4 in Osceola County are typically made by FHP or OCSO. The case is prosecuted in Osceola County court regardless of where you live. I examine the constitutionality of the stop, the lawfulness of the search, and the evidence chain of custody. If the stop or search was not supported by legal justification, suppression of the evidence can change the outcome of your case entirely.

What should I do immediately after an arrest in Osceola County?

Do not make statements to law enforcement beyond providing your basic identification. Do not discuss the facts of your case with anyone until you have spoken with a lawyer. Contact my office as soon as possible. The 24-72 hours after arrest are the most critical period — bond is set, no-contact orders in DV cases are entered, and statements made without counsel can be used against you. Reach us 24/7 for new clients facing an arrest in Osceola County.