USF St. Petersburg Student Arrested or Charged?

Are you a USF St. Petersburg student who was arrested, cited or questioned by police, or the parent of one? Attorney Ron Frey helps students on USF’s St. Petersburg campus, from Florida and from out of state, when something on campus or in downtown St. Petersburg turns into a criminal matter. Attorney Ron Frey has been practicing law for over two decades. He is licensed in Florida, Ohio and North Carolina and admitted to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Being charged doesn’t mean being guilty. If you face any stop, search, seizure, inquiry, investigation, arrest or target letter, contact a lawyer. Call or text (813) 775-2276 for a free, confidential initial consultation by phone, video or in person. If home is out of state, you or a parent can talk with Attorney Ron Frey by phone or video from there.

Facts About USF St. Petersburg

• USF St. Petersburg is a waterfront campus in downtown St. Petersburg.
• The campus has its own University Police Department with sworn officers.
• USF’s student conduct process is separate from any criminal case and can move on its own timeline.
• USF has said a student may bring a lawyer as an advisor in the conduct process, though the advisor’s role is limited.

University policies, procedures and campus safety arrangements change over time. Check USF’s current official policies, and have your situation reviewed by a lawyer rather than relying on this page, the internet or AI.

Who May Be Involved

• USF St. Petersburg University Police are sworn officers, so arrests they make are criminal cases, not just school matters. See also USF Police arrests.
• The St. Petersburg Police Department may be involved downtown and elsewhere in the city. See St. Petersburg Police arrests.
• The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office may be involved depending on where something happened. See Pinellas County Sheriff arrests.
• Other agencies, including federal ones, may be involved depending on what’s alleged.

Which agency acts, and which court hears the case, depends on the facts. That should be reviewed with a lawyer, not guessed at.

Common Issues for USF St. Petersburg Students

USF St. Petersburg students may face allegations such as:

• Underage drinking or fake IDs
• Disorderly conduct, including at off-campus parties
• Drug charges, including marijuana, vapes and pills
• DUI
• Fights, assault or battery
• Theft or shoplifting
• Resisting an officer
• Weapons charges
• Computer and internet issues, such as account access, threats or images sent online
• Arrests in downtown St. Petersburg nightlife areas or on nearby beaches

How each one is handled depends on the facts and the evidence. Many students who face these allegations have never been arrested before. See first-time offenders.

Courts, and the Separate Student Conduct Process

A case involving a USF St. Petersburg student may end up in a Florida state court in Pinellas County, in federal court, or elsewhere, depending on the facts. Learn about the State Attorney for Pinellas and Pasco and federal offenses.

USF’s student conduct process is separate from the criminal court and can move on its own timeline, and a school outcome doesn’t necessarily change if a charge is dropped. What a student says in one process can matter in the other, so it’s worth talking with a lawyer before any school meeting.

What to Expect, Including for Out-of-State Students and Parents

Someone arrested in Pinellas County may be released with a notice to appear or booked into jail. A person who stays in custody generally sees a judge at first appearance, where conditions such as bond are addressed.

Out-of-state students and their parents also have USF’s own process to deal with. Parents or a friend or family member can call Attorney Ron Frey for the student, and a lawyer may be able to handle many court steps without a trip back to St. Petersburg. Don’t let a court date slide because classes ended or you flew home.

Every Situation Needs Its Own Review

What happened on a downtown sidewalk at night, and what a report says happened, can be two different things. Each situation has to be evaluated case by case under current laws and regulations, with a response tailored to it, not what the internet or AI tells you. Attorney Ron Frey looks at whether University Police or city police made the stop and why, how any search was done, what reports and video exist, and what people actually saw. Every case is different. Prosecutors still have to prove each charge with admissible evidence.

Attorney Ron Frey’s office is at 625 E. Twiggs St. in downtown Tampa, across the bay from USF St. Petersburg. If you or a friend or family member at USF St. Petersburg was stopped, cited or arrested, call or text (813) 775-2276 for a free, confidential initial consultation by phone, video or in person.

Related: College student defense in Pinellas County · University of Tampa students · USF Police arrests (Tampa campus) · St. Petersburg criminal defense · Arrested in St. Pete Beach · Traffic stops in St. Petersburg and Clearwater