Saint Leo University Students: Arrest and Criminal Defense

Are you a Saint Leo University student who was arrested, cited or questioned by police, or the parent of one? Attorney Ron Frey helps students at Saint Leo’s University Campus in Pasco County, from Florida and from out of state, when something on or off campus 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 accused doesn’t decide anything. 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. Students and parents, including those far from Pasco County, can talk with Attorney Ron Frey by phone or video.

Facts About Saint Leo University

• Saint Leo University is a private Catholic university in Pasco County.
• Saint Leo has its own University Safety officers.
• Outside law enforcement may get involved, depending on where something happened.
• The school’s conduct process is separate from any criminal case and can move on its own timeline.

University policies, procedures and campus safety arrangements change over time. Check Saint Leo’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

• Saint Leo University Safety, often the first to respond on campus.
• The Pasco Sheriff’s Office. See Pasco Sheriff arrests.
• City police, depending on where something happened off campus. See Dade City criminal defense and Pasco County criminal defense.
• Other agencies, including federal agencies, depending on what is 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 Saint Leo Students

• Underage drinking or fake IDs
• Disorderly conduct, including at off-campus parties
• Drug charges
• DUI
• Assault or battery
• Theft or shoplifting
• Resisting an officer
• Weapons
• Computer and internet issues

Many students facing these have no record at all. See first-time offenders.

Courts, and the Separate Student Conduct Process

Most Saint Leo student cases are Florida state cases in Pasco County, and a few go to federal court. See the State Attorney for Pinellas and Pasco, federal offenses and Middle District of Florida cases. If something happened elsewhere, a different court may handle it.

Saint Leo can also review the same incident under its own student rules. That process is separate from the criminal case, and what a student says in it can matter, so it’s worth talking with a lawyer before any school meeting.

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

After an arrest in Pasco County, a person may be released with a notice to appear or taken to jail for booking. Someone held in custody generally sees a judge, who sets conditions such as bond. See bond and bail in Florida.

Many Saint Leo students are a long way from home. Out-of-state students and their parents should plan around release conditions and court dates during breaks, and international students may also have questions for an immigration lawyer. A parent, or a friend or family member, can make the first call to Attorney Ron Frey, and a lawyer may be able to handle many court steps while the student stays home.

Every Situation Needs Its Own Review

On a campus, word travels fast, and the first version of events may not be the accurate one. 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 who actually responded and what they did, how any stop or search was done, what reports and video show, and what people on the scene really observed. Every case is different. The state must prove its case with evidence a court will admit, and disputed questions go to a judge.

Attorney Ron Frey’s office is at 625 E. Twiggs St. in downtown Tampa. If you or a friend or family member at Saint Leo University 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 criminal defense · University of Tampa students · Pasco County criminal defense · Pasco Sheriff arrests · Dade City criminal defense · Robert D. Sumner Judicial Center · Wesley Chapel criminal defense · Traffic stops in Florida