The 23 sample favorable case results below are real outcomes — not marketing summaries — from a practice that has handled thousands of cases. They come from Tonmiel Rodriguez, a Board Certified Criminal Trial Lawyer and founder of The Rodriguez Law Office in Bartow, Florida, who has tried more than 75 jury trials in the 10th Judicial Circuit representing clients charged with serious crimes across Polk County and the surrounding region. They reflect what this office actually does: prepares cases for trial, challenges the State’s evidence, and fights for every client. For more background on Attorney Rodriguez’s credentials and approach, see the About page.
Sample Favorable Case Results
DUI & Traffic Offenses
DUI Reduced to Reckless Driving
The defendant was arrested for DUI after running a stop sign and being caught with an open container, as well as failing all field sobriety tests. He blew a .076 on the breathalyzer. Attorney Rodriguez successfully negotiated a reduction to Reckless Driving, allowing the client to avoid a DUI conviction and the accompanying six-month driver’s license suspension.
DUI & Leaving the Scene of an Accident — Not Guilty
The client was charged with DUI and Leaving the Scene of an Accident. Attorney Rodriguez took the case to jury trial and the jury returned a Not Guilty verdict on all charges.
DUI Reduced to Reckless Driving
The client was charged with Driving Under the Influence. Attorney Rodriguez successfully negotiated a reduction to Reckless Driving, allowing the client to avoid a DUI conviction and the mandatory license suspension and criminal record consequences that come with it.
DUI Reduced to Reckless Driving
The client was charged with Driving Under the Influence. Through strategic negotiation and case preparation, Attorney Rodriguez secured a reduction to Reckless Driving, sparing the client from a DUI conviction on their record.
DUI Reduced to Reckless Driving
The client was charged with DUI — Influence of Alcohol or Drugs. Attorney Rodriguez negotiated a reduction to Reckless Driving, allowing the client to avoid the DUI conviction and its associated penalties including license suspension and mandatory DUI school.
Driving While License Suspended or Revoked — Dismissed After Motion to Suppress
The client was charged with Driving While License Suspended or Revoked. Attorney Rodriguez filed a Motion to Suppress challenging the legality of the stop. After the suppression challenge was filed, the State dismissed the charge.
Failure to Fulfill Duty Upon Damaging Unattended Property — Dismissed
The client was charged with Failure to Fulfill Duty Upon Damaging Unattended Property, a traffic criminal offense under Florida law. Attorney Rodriguez defended the case and the charge was dismissed.
Battery, Violent Crimes & Assault
Aggravated Battery With Deadly Weapon, Aggravated Assault & DV Battery by Strangulation — Not Guilty on All Counts
The defendant faced up to 25 years in Florida State Prison on serious violent charges. Attorney Rodriguez took the case to jury trial and successfully argued how the alleged victim had motives to lie and fabricate evidence, how injuries to her stomach could not have been caused by the knife she gave detectives as the weapon, and how there was no evidence consistent with actual strangulation. The jury found the defendant Not Guilty on all counts.
Aggravated Battery With Deadly Weapon & Serious Bodily Injury — Not Guilty
The client was accused of slashing and stabbing a man with a knife. Attorney Rodriguez took the case to jury trial and successfully argued the client acted in self-defense. The jury returned a Not Guilty verdict.
False Imprisonment & Battery — Not Guilty on Both Counts
A service technician was arrested for allegedly falsely imprisoning and battering a customer in her home. Attorney Rodriguez took the case to jury trial and demonstrated the alleged victim’s motive to lie, showed how the defendant could not have physically done what she claimed, and exposed various inconsistencies in her testimony. The jury found the defendant Not Guilty on both counts.
Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer — Not Guilty
The client was charged with Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer, a serious felony offense. Attorney Rodriguez took the case to jury trial and convinced the jury the client was Not Guilty, despite the officer’s claims.
Battery — Not Guilty
The client was charged with Battery. Attorney Rodriguez took the case to jury trial and the jury returned a Not Guilty verdict.
Battery — Not Guilty
The client was charged with Battery in a separate case. Attorney Rodriguez took the case to jury trial and won a Not Guilty verdict.
Child Abuse — Dismissed
The client was charged with Child Abuse, a serious felony under Florida law. Attorney Rodriguez fought the case aggressively, and the charges were dismissed.
Child Abuse — Not Guilty
The client faced Child Abuse charges across two separate cases. Attorney Rodriguez took the matter to trial and the jury returned a Not Guilty verdict, fully vindicating the client.
Theft & Property Crimes
Grand Theft & Dealing in Stolen Property — Dismissed
The client was charged with Grand Theft and Dealing in Stolen Property. The case was dismissed.
Burglary & Petit Theft — Not Guilty
The client was charged with Burglary and Petit Theft. Attorney Rodriguez took the case to jury trial and the jury found the client Not Guilty on all charges.
Petit Theft — Dismissed
The client was charged with Petit Theft. Attorney Rodriguez defended the case and secured a full dismissal of the charge.
Domestic Violence
Felony Domestic Battery — Not Guilty
The client was charged with Domestic Battery as a felony offense. Attorney Rodriguez took the case to jury trial and won a Not Guilty verdict.
Violation of Domestic Violence Injunction — Not Guilty
The client was charged with violating a domestic violence injunction. Attorney Rodriguez took the case to jury trial and the jury found the client Not Guilty.
Domestic Battery — Not Guilty
The client was charged with Domestic Battery. Attorney Rodriguez took the case to jury trial and the jury found the client Not Guilty.
Other Charges
Criminal Mischief — Not Guilty
The client was charged with Criminal Mischief. Attorney Rodriguez took the case to jury trial and the jury returned a Not Guilty verdict.
Discharging a Firearm in Public — Not Guilty
The client was charged with Discharging a Firearm in Public. Attorney Rodriguez took the case to jury trial and won a Not Guilty verdict.
Animal Cruelty — Not Guilty
The client was charged with Animal Cruelty. Attorney Rodriguez took the case to jury trial and the jury found the client Not Guilty.
Illegal Gambling — Dismissed
The client was charged with Illegal Gambling, a criminal offense under Florida law. Attorney Rodriguez challenged the State’s case, and the charges were ultimately dismissed.
Drug Offenses
Sale of Cannabis & Solicitation to Purchase Cannabis — Acquitted on Major Charges
The client was charged with Sale of Cannabis, Solicitation to Purchase Cannabis, and Possession of a Vehicle for the Purpose of Selling a Controlled Substance. Attorney Rodriguez took the case to jury trial. The jury found the client Not Guilty of Sale of Cannabis and Not Guilty of Solicitation to Purchase Cannabis. The client was convicted only of the vehicle possession charge.
Resisting & Obstruction
Resisting Officer Without Violence — Judgment of Acquittal
The client was charged with Resisting an Officer Without Violence. Attorney Rodriguez took the case to trial and the judge granted a Motion for Judgment of Acquittal after the prosecution presented its evidence, ending the case before it ever reached the jury.
Resisting Officer Without Violence — Dismissed
The client was charged with Resisting an Officer Without Violence. The case resulted in acquittal and dismissal.
Capital & Serious Felonies
Capital First Degree Murder — Negotiated to Manslaughter
The client was charged with Capital First Degree Murder and Attempted First Degree Murder. Prosecutors were seeking the death penalty. After a thorough investigation, extensive depositions, and aggressive motion practice, Attorney Rodriguez negotiated a 15-year plea to Manslaughter with credit for time already served.
Attempted Capital Sexual Battery — Acquittal
The client was charged with Attempted Capital Sexual Battery, facing up to 30 years in Florida State Prison. Attorney Rodriguez took the case to jury trial and won a complete acquittal.
What These Results Mean
Even a small sample of favorable case results tells you whether a lawyer actually takes cases to trial or just pleads them out, fights motions or skips them, and whether the client kept their record clean or ended up a convicted felon. That matters. Trial readiness creates negotiation leverage: when a prosecutor knows the defense attorney will actually take a case to verdict, the dynamics of every negotiation change. The DUI reduction in Result 1 reflects that leverage in action — a case with multiple failed field sobriety tests and a breath result close to the legal limit, still resolved short of a DUI conviction.
As a Board Certified Criminal Trial Lawyer — a designation held by less than 1 percent of Florida attorneys — I am evaluated on my actual trial performance, not my marketing. Board Certification by The Florida Bar requires a demonstrated history of substantial trial work, peer evaluation by judges and other attorneys, and a rigorous written examination. My results in court are why clients choose The Rodriguez Law Office.
Types of Cases We Handle
The Rodriguez Law Office defends clients across the full range of Florida criminal charges, including:
- DUI & Traffic Offenses — first through fourth+ offenses, CDL holders, DUI with injury
- Drug Charges — possession through trafficking, PWID, manufacturing
- Violent Crimes — assault, battery, robbery, aggravated battery, homicide
- Domestic Violence — battery, aggravated battery, stalking, violation of injunction
- Theft & Fraud — grand theft, organized fraud, identity theft
- Weapons & Firearms — concealed carry, felon in possession, 10-20-Life enhancements
- Sex Offenses — lewd and lascivious, sexual battery, registration violations
- Federal Criminal Defense
- Probation Violations
- Record Sealing & Expungement
See the full Practice Areas page for detailed information on each charge type. Client reviews are also available.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do sample favorable case results tell you about a criminal defense attorney?
Sample favorable case results tell you whether a lawyer takes cases to trial or only pleads them out, whether the attorney files substantive motions or avoids motion practice, and whether clients are achieving dismissals, acquittals, and reduced charges — or simply accepting whatever the State offers. Trial results show how an attorney has handled cases in the courtroom. Sample results should always be read together with their facts and context: every case is different, and a prospective client may not obtain the same or similar results.
Does a not-guilty verdict mean the defendant was actually innocent?
A not-guilty verdict means the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. It is a finding about the State’s evidence, not necessarily a statement of factual innocence. The presumption of innocence and the reasonable doubt standard exist precisely because the consequences of wrongful conviction are catastrophic. A not-guilty verdict is the correct outcome when the State has not met its burden.
Can a criminal defense lawyer guarantee a specific result?
No. Under Florida Bar rules, no attorney can guarantee a case outcome. Any lawyer who promises you an acquittal, a dismissal, or a specific sentence is making a promise they cannot keep. What a competent criminal defense attorney can guarantee is thorough preparation, honest assessment, and aggressive advocacy at every stage. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes — every case turns on its specific facts and evidence.
How do I evaluate sample favorable case results when comparing criminal defense lawyers?
When reviewing sample favorable case results, look at the types of cases handled, the severity of the charges, and the category of result — not-guilty verdicts, dismissals, charge reductions, and avoided convictions. Also look at whether the lawyer has Board Certification and actual jury trial experience. Settlements and plea agreements in serious cases can represent strong advocacy, but a lawyer who never tries cases may be missing the leverage that trial readiness provides.
What is the most important factor in choosing a criminal defense attorney in Polk County?
Trial experience and local circuit familiarity are two important factors. An attorney who has tried 75+ jury trials in the 10th Judicial Circuit understands the local judges, prosecutors, and jury pools in ways that cannot be replicated by research alone. Board Certification in Criminal Trial Law — independently conferred by the Florida Bar and held by less than 1 percent of Florida attorneys — provides verified evidence of that trial record.
Facing Charges? Call the Attorney Who Goes to Trial.
75+ jury trials. Board Certified by the Florida Bar. The Rodriguez Law Office defends clients throughout Polk County and the 10th Judicial Circuit.
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