Tampa, St. Petersburg/Clearwater

Criminal Defense Attorney

If you, a family member or friend have been arrested it can feel like the world is crashing in, and your mind can be filled with so many questions. Attorney Amy Bellhorn is available to provide a FREE consultation if you have been charged with a crime, no matter how small or serious, in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Sarasota and Polk Counties. If you’d like one, you may fill out our online form or call us at (727) 822-7121.

Besides traffic (civil or criminal infractions) defense, we handle criminal defense cases such as the following:

  • Misdemeanors
  • Felonies
  • Assault and Battery
  • Fleeing or Attempting to Elude an Officer
  • Robbery & Burglary
  • Grand Theft
  • Probation Violations
  • DUI
  • Criminal Traffic

Expungement or Sealing your Criminal Charge

If you have already been charged with a crime, even if it was dismissed or you were found not guilty, and you would like to have it expunged or sealed, please contact us for a FREE consultation by filling out the online form or calling us at (727) 822-7121.

In Florida, a person’s criminal records may be sealed or expunged under the authority of the Florida Statutes. However, courts have sole discretion as to whether an individual’s criminal record(s) are sealed or expunged. Moreover, the individual seeking expungement or the sealing of a criminal incident record may be an adult or minor.

A person may seek expungement or sealing of a criminal history record pertaining to one arrest or incident of criminal activity, unless the court decides to order the expunction of more than one arrest, where the additional arrests are directly related to the original offense or arrest.

Florida Statutes provide that if an individual’s criminal record contains certain “dangerous crimes,” such crimes cannot be expunged, and the criminal record cannot be sealed.

The person must petition the court to have a criminal history record expunged or sealed. The Petition must include a certificate of eligibility and a sworn statement. The person must apply in writing to Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) in Tallahassee to see if they are eligible and will receive a Certificate of Eligibility or not. There is a processing fee. If it’s received, then the person can proceed to filing the sworn statement and other paperwork with the court.

We expunge and seal records for people, depending upon the criminal offense charged and outcome of the case. Expungement and Sealing have different effects on a person’s criminal record, and they can only be done on some types of crimes and depending upon how many offenses on the incident and depending upon the person’s criminal record. Thus, it is important to discuss them with an attorney, and you may contact us for a FREE consultation by filling out the online form or by calling us at (727) 822-7121.