Pasco County Criminal Defense Lawyer — New Port Richey & Dade City

Pasco County is Polk County’s northwestern neighbor — separated by a county line that runs through Central Florida along the US 98 and I-75 corridors. If you were arrested in Pasco County, or if your case has connections that pull it there from Polk, you need a lawyer who already practices in that circuit. I appear in Pasco County’s courthouses regularly.

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

My primary practice is in the 10th Judicial Circuit — Polk, Highlands, and Hardee Counties. I also handle cases in Pasco County, which is part of the 6th Judicial Circuit (Pasco and Pinellas Counties). Board Certification in criminal trial law requires demonstrated jury trial experience, a written examination, and peer review by the Florida Bar. I have tried over 75 jury trials in state court.

Pasco County and the 6th Judicial Circuit

Pasco County runs from the Gulf of Mexico on its western edge to rural land on its eastern border with Polk County. The county has a population of approximately 600,000 and is one of the fastest-growing counties in Florida. New Port Richey on the western coast and Dade City in the east are the two main courthouse locations. Wesley Chapel, Land O’ Lakes, and Zephyrhills are major population centers. The county’s rapid suburban growth — particularly in the Wesley Chapel and Land O’ Lakes corridors — has brought a broader demographic range alongside the older, more rural communities in the eastern and northern county.

Criminal cases in Pasco County are prosecuted by the State Attorney’s Office for the 6th Judicial Circuit and heard at two main courthouse locations:

• West Pasco Judicial Center, 7530 Little Rd, New Port Richey, FL 34654 — Handles cases from western and central Pasco County.
• East Pasco Judicial Center, 38053 Live Oak Ave, Dade City, FL 33523 — Handles cases from eastern Pasco County, including areas near the Polk County line.

The Dade City courthouse is approximately 35 miles north of Bartow — a short drive from my home office. I appear in Dade City regularly for cases originating in eastern Pasco County, which frequently involves clients with connections to Polk County.

Law Enforcement in Pasco County

Pasco County’s law enforcement landscape reflects its geographic diversity:

• Pasco County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) — The primary law enforcement agency for the county. Covers all unincorporated areas — which is most of the county — and is one of the more active sheriff’s offices in the Tampa Bay region. PCSO has dedicated units for narcotics, gang enforcement, and specialized investigations.
• New Port Richey Police Department — Jurisdiction within the City of New Port Richey on the Gulf Coast.
• Dade City Police Department — Jurisdiction within Dade City in eastern Pasco County.
• Zephyrhills Police Department — Jurisdiction within Zephyrhills, a city near the Polk-Pasco county line area.
• Florida Highway Patrol — I-75 and US 98 corridor enforcement. These are the primary north-south routes connecting Polk and Pasco Counties and are heavily patrolled for DUI and drug interdiction.

How Pasco Cases Intersect with Polk County Practice

There are several recurring situations where my Polk County clients end up with Pasco County matters:

• I-75 and US 98 arrests — Polk County residents who drive north regularly on I-75 or US 98 toward Tampa can be stopped and arrested in Pasco County. Drug interdiction on these corridors is a regular source of arrests for people who live in Polk.
• Zephyrhills connections — Zephyrhills sits near the Pasco-Polk county line area and has strong community ties to eastern Polk. Clients from Lakeland and Auburndale sometimes have connections to Zephyrhills.
• Drug distribution cases — Cases involving drug distribution networks that operate across county lines often generate arrests and charges in multiple counties simultaneously.
• Probation transfers — Polk County defendants who move to Pasco County while on probation may have their supervision transferred to Pasco, and any violation proceedings happen in Pasco County court.

What Criminal Charges Are Common in Pasco County?

Cases I handle in Pasco County include:

• DUI (§ 316.193, Fla. Stat.) — Traffic stops on I-75, US 98, and SR 54 through Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills. Pasco County’s rapid growth means more traffic, more enforcement, and more DUI arrests on its rapidly expanding road network. I examine the stop’s legality, the field sobriety test administration, and the breath or blood test procedures.
• Drug Charges (§§ 893.13, 893.135, Fla. Stat.) — Pasco County’s position as a corridor county between Tampa and north Florida, and between Polk County and the Gulf Coast, makes it a significant point for drug interdiction. I-75 stops generate a consistent stream of possession and trafficking charges.
• Domestic Violence (§ 741.28, Fla. Stat.) — Battery, aggravated battery, stalking, and violation of injunctions. Florida’s mandatory-arrest law and the immediate no-contact order both take effect at the time of a domestic violence arrest in Pasco County.
• Theft and Burglary (§§ 812.014, 810.02, Fla. Stat.) — Pasco County’s growing suburban retail corridor generates shoplifting and property crime charges. Residential burglary is a significant charge in growing communities with new construction and extended-absence households.
• Firearm Offenses — Rural eastern Pasco County has a significant gun culture, and firearm charges arise from traffic stops and domestic incidents. The 10-20-Life statute (§ 775.087, Fla. Stat.) sets the mandatory minimums for these firearm charges in Pasco County.
• Probation Violations — VOP proceedings in Pasco County are held at the appropriate courthouse based on where the original case was filed.

First-Time Offender Options in Pasco County

The State Attorney’s Office for the 6th Judicial Circuit administers Pretrial Intervention (PTI) in Pasco County. PTI is available for qualifying first-time offenders and results in dismissal upon successful completion. Drug diversion programs are available for certain possession charges. Eligibility depends on the specific charge and the defendant’s prior record. I evaluate every client’s PTI and diversion eligibility at the outset of every Pasco County case.

For DUI cases in Pasco County, first-time offender diversion programs may be available through the 6th Circuit State Attorney’s Office. I evaluate DUI diversion alongside the full range of constitutional defenses available in your specific case — not every DUI diversion offer is better than fighting the charge on the merits, and I provide that honest analysis.

Bond and First Appearance in Pasco County

After an arrest in Pasco County, you will be transported to the Pasco County Jail at 20101 Central Blvd in Land O’ Lakes. First appearance before a judge typically occurs within 24 hours of booking. Bond is set at first appearance based on the Florida Uniform Bond Schedule and the judge’s individual assessment of your circumstances. In domestic violence cases, a mandatory 8-hour hold applies before release regardless of bond status.

For cases originating in eastern Pasco County near the Polk County line, the Dade City courthouse handles proceedings. For western and central cases, the New Port Richey courthouse applies. I confirm the correct venue for your case at the outset and appear at every scheduled hearing. I do not send staff to cover Pasco County hearings — I appear in person.

If bond is set at an unaffordable level in Pasco County, I file a motion for bond reduction citing your community ties, employment, family obligations, and the nature of the charge. Clients from Polk County who are arrested in Pasco County often have significant community ties to the region — including employment in Polk County — that I use to argue for release and minimal conditions.

What to Expect in the 6th Judicial Circuit

The 6th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office — which covers Pasco and Pinellas Counties — operates differently from the 10th Circuit SAO I work with in Polk, Highlands, and Hardee. The prosecutors, the judges, and the courthouse culture in New Port Richey and Dade City have their own dynamics. Appearing in the 6th Circuit as a lawyer who is unknown to the prosecutors and judges is a disadvantage. I appear in Pasco County regularly enough to be a known practitioner in both courthouses.

Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure apply uniformly statewide — the same discovery timelines, the same motion practice rules, and the same constitutional standards apply in Pasco County as in Polk County. I apply the same level of preparation to every Pasco County case that I bring to my 10th Circuit practice. Board Certified credentials, 75+ jury trials, and a documented record of fighting cases to trial follow me to every courthouse in Florida.

Hablamos Español — Bilingual Defense in Pasco County

Pasco County’s growth has been driven significantly by Hispanic and Latino families relocating from Hillsborough County and from Puerto Rico. Communities in Land O’ Lakes and Wesley Chapel have substantial Spanish-speaking populations. I consult directly in Spanish with Spanish-speaking clients in Pasco County — no interpreter, no communication gap. Hablamos Español. Immigration consequences of criminal charges are addressed as part of every defense strategy for non-citizen clients.

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

The Florida Bar’s Board Certification in criminal trial law identifies lawyers with demonstrated trial experience, a record of jury trials, and peer-reviewed competency. I am Board Certified and have tried over 75 jury trials in state court. In a growing county like Pasco with an increasingly busy criminal docket, the ability to take a case to trial — and do it well — is the foundation of effective defense. Prosecutors negotiate differently with lawyers they know will take a case to a jury, and the 6th Circuit prosecutors in New Port Richey and Dade City know that record.

Related Practice Areas

• Polk County Criminal Defense — Primary Practice Area
• DUI Defense
• Drug Crimes and Trafficking Defense
• Domestic Violence Defense
• Bond Hearings
• Hillsborough County Criminal Defense
• Violation of Probation

Frequently Asked Questions — Criminal Defense in Pasco County

Is Pasco County in the same judicial circuit as Polk County?

No. Polk County is in the 10th Judicial Circuit (Polk, Highlands, Hardee). Pasco County is in the 6th Judicial Circuit (Pasco and Pinellas Counties). They are separate circuits with different judges, different State Attorney’s Offices, and different courthouse procedures. Cases from both counties must be handled in their respective circuits simultaneously if they arise at the same time.

I live in Polk County and was arrested on I-75 in Pasco. Where do I go to court?

Your case will be heard in Pasco County — either at the Dade City courthouse if you were stopped in eastern Pasco, or at the New Port Richey courthouse if the stop was in central or western Pasco. The specific courthouse depends on where the arrest occurred. I will confirm the correct venue and courthouse for your case when we speak.

I was arrested in Wesley Chapel on a drug trafficking charge. What are the penalties?

Florida drug trafficking statutes (§ 893.135, Fla. Stat.) impose mandatory minimum prison sentences based on the quantity of the controlled substance involved. These minimums apply regardless of the county where you are prosecuted. The same mandatory minimums that apply in Polk County apply in Pasco County. A trafficking charge in Wesley Chapel requires the same aggressive defense as a trafficking charge anywhere in Florida — challenging the constitutionality of the search, the accuracy of the weight measurement, and whether the evidence was properly preserved.

Can I avoid a conviction on a first-time offense in Pasco County?

Possibly. The 6th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office administers Pretrial Intervention for qualifying first-time offenders in Pasco County. Drug diversion programs are also available. Eligibility depends on the charge and prior record. I evaluate every available option before any plea is discussed. Getting your charges dismissed through PTI or diversion is always a better outcome than a conviction on your record.

My Polk County probation was transferred to Pasco County. Now I have a VOP. What happens?

When Polk County probation is transferred to Pasco County, VOP proceedings occur in the Pasco County court where supervision was transferred. The original Polk County case may also be implicated depending on how the transfer was handled. I navigate these multi-county probation situations regularly. The consequences of a VOP finding — imposition of the original suspended sentence — make these hearings high-stakes matters that require prepared representation.