When I graduated from law school, I knew that I wanted to be a prosecutor, and I knew that I wanted to work in Central Florida. In 2006, I started working as a prosecutor at the State Attorney’s Office right here in DeLand. DeLand is part of Volusia County, which is the largest of the four counties in the Seventh Judicial Circuit (which also includes Flagler, Putnam, and St. Johns Counties). My first day was overwhelming, to say the least. I walked into a full courtroom with a box of files that included misdemeanors ranging from Driving under the Influence (DUI), Driving While License Suspended, Possession of Cannabis, and everything in between. But one particular case stood out among the bunch, and that was a Boating under the Influence. This case was set ready for trial. My first trial. I stood before the jury panel that day and said “Who here has never been on a jury?” Almost all thirty participants raised their hands. I responded by saying “Good, well I have never picked a jury before, so we are all in this together.” From that moment, I knew I was hooked. I was going to be a trial attorney.
I went on to try dozens of cases. I had the opportunity to prosecute career criminals, and after some time, I was served as the head of the sex crimes division for eighteen months. I tried homicides, major narcotic and drug cases, aggravated battery, attempted murder, and white-collar crimes. I loved my time as a prosecutor. Now that I work on the other side as a defense attorney, I realize how truly valuable that time working for the State had become. I had the opportunity to learn from seasoned attorneys and judges, and most importantly, how to use the evidence and the law to prove a case. I have found that these lessons have enabled me to help my clients tremendously now that I am a defense attorney. When I worked as a prosecutor, I never had the opportunity to meet the person behind the case number. Now, I get the opportunity to get to know my clients, understand their plight, and work hard and aggressively to defend the Constitution and achieve the best results I can for each of my clients. Criminal defense has provided me with a unique, humanizing aspect of the law that I had not encountered during my time with the state. I have had the opportunity to build a personal relationship with each of my clients, and I would thank all of them for allowing me to get to know them during this tremendously difficult time in their lives. Running a small firm has been a truly rewarding experience thus far.
My time at the State Attorney’s Office has its benefits. I made lifelong friends, valuable connections, and a thorough understanding of criminal law. If you or someone you know has been arrested, I would welcome the opportunity to review your case in a free consultation. I will use the years of experience I have obtained to guide you through the legal process and work hard to achieve the best result possible.