Pasco County Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving New Port Richey, Wesley Chapel & Dade City

Pasco County runs from the Gulf coast in New Port Richey to Dade City on the east side, and where your case is heard depends on which side of the county it comes from. Attorney Ron Frey of The Frey Law Firm, LLC represents people charged with crimes in Pasco County, from New Port Richey and Port Richey to Wesley Chapel, Land O’ Lakes, Zephyrhills, and Dade City.

If you have been arrested or contacted by an investigator, call before you do anything else. Your consultation is free and confidential: (813) 775-2276 or toll-free (844) 766-3739. Rapid response, 24/7.

Two Courthouses, One Circuit

Pasco County is part of Florida’s Sixth Judicial Circuit, which it shares with Pinellas County. The Office of the State Attorney for the Sixth Judicial Circuit prosecutes state charges in both counties. Felony cases are heard in Circuit Court, and misdemeanors and criminal traffic cases, including most DUIs, are heard in County Court.

Unlike some counties, Pasco has two main courthouses, one on each side of the county:

• West Pasco Judicial Center, 7530 Little Road, New Port Richey, the main court facility for western Pasco, including criminal cases
• Robert D. Sumner Judicial Center, 38053 Live Oak Avenue, Dade City, the main court facility for East Pasco

Your court notice will say which courthouse your case is in. Read it carefully, because the two buildings are on opposite sides of the county.

Who Makes Arrests in Pasco County

Most of Pasco County is unincorporated, including Wesley Chapel and Land O’ Lakes. Those areas are covered by the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. The county also has six incorporated cities and towns, and four of them have their own police departments:

• New Port Richey Police Department
• Port Richey Police Department
• Zephyrhills Police Department
• Dade City Police Department

Federal agents may also be involved in computer, fraud, and drug investigations.

People arrested in Pasco County are generally booked into the county jail at 20101 Central Boulevard in Land O’ Lakes. Under Florida’s rules, a person who is held must go before a judge within 24 hours of arrest for a first appearance, where release conditions are taken up. Having a lawyer involved early means someone is speaking for you from that first hearing on.

Pretrial Intervention and Drug Court in Pasco

The Sixth Circuit State Attorney’s Office offers Pre-Trial Intervention (PTI) in Pasco County for people with no prior record, or a minimal one, who are charged with certain misdemeanors and non-violent felonies. If all of the program’s conditions are met, the charges are dismissed. An adult Drug Court is also available in Pasco for certain eligible defendants.

These programs are not automatic. The State Attorney’s Office reviews each application, and your charge, record, and the facts all matter. Learn more about our first-time offender defense.

Charges We Defend in Pasco County

Attorney Frey represents people in Pasco County on state and federal charges, including:

• Computer and internet crimes, a major part of his practice, often involving people with no record at all
• AI-related investigations, including deepfakes and AI-assisted scams
• DUI and traffic offenses
• Drug charges
• Violent crimes
• Sex offenses
• Theft offenses
• White collar and financial crimes

See all of our criminal defense practice areas.

Federal Charges From Pasco County

Federal cases from Pasco County are prosecuted in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division, at the Sam M. Gibbons United States Courthouse, 801 N. Florida Avenue in downtown Tampa. Attorney Frey is admitted to practice in the Middle District of Florida.

Computer, internet, and AI investigations in particular can end up in either state or federal court, and that choice is often made before anyone is charged. That is one more reason to call early. Learn more about our federal criminal defense.

Call Attorney Ron Frey

Attorney Ron Frey has over 20 years of experience defending people accused of crimes and people under investigation. He will walk you through the process in plain English and talk through the options that may apply. No lawyer can promise how a case will turn out, but you can understand where you stand before you make decisions.

Consultations are free and confidential, by phone, by video, or at our Tampa office, and when the situation calls for it, we can come to you. Call (813) 775-2276 or toll-free (844) 766-3739. Rapid response, 24/7. Learn more about Attorney Ron Frey.

Not in Tampa Bay? We represent clients throughout Florida.

This page provides general information only and is not legal advice. Court locations, agency practices, and program rules can change. Reading this page or contacting The Frey Law Firm, LLC does not create an attorney-client relationship.