Maitland Criminal Defense Lawyer
A criminal charge filed in Maitland is prosecuted through the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court at the Orange County Courthouse in downtown Orlando, and the consequences can reach far beyond the courtroom. A conviction in Florida can carry mandatory jail time, fines that exceed a year of income, a permanent record that follows every job and housing application, and collateral consequences ranging from professional license discipline to loss of firearm rights. What you do in the first 24 hours after an arrest, before you have spoken to a lawyer, has more impact on the outcome than almost any other decision in the case.
At The Wiseman Law Firm, Attorney Simon Wiseman has practiced criminal law in Central Florida for more than 25 years, including service as a state prosecutor in Orange County before opening his defense practice. He has tried over one hundred jury and non-jury cases at every level, from low-level misdemeanors to first-degree felonies punishable by life, and has obtained not guilty verdicts in some of the most serious cases the Ninth Circuit handles. Our Maitland clients work directly with Attorney Wiseman, not a handoff. See all the Central Florida areas we serve.
⚠ Time matters. Anything you say can be used against you.
Florida prosecutors begin building their case from the moment of arrest. Statements made to officers at the scene, on the phone from the jail, or on social media can be presented to a jury weeks or months later. Attorney Wiseman is available 24 hours a day at (407) 420-4647 and offers free, confidential consultations.
The Criminal Justice Process in Maitland and Orange County
Maitland sits within Orange County, which means every criminal case originating in the city is filed in the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court system. Misdemeanors are heard in the Orange County Court and felonies in the Circuit Court, with both housed at the Orange County Courthouse at 425 North Orange Avenue in Orlando. The Ninth Circuit also handles cases from neighboring Winter Park and broader Orange County jurisdictions, and the State of Florida is represented at every stage by the Office of the State Attorney for the Ninth Judicial Circuit. You can learn more about the structure of the court on the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida website.
After an arrest in Maitland, most cases follow a similar path. The accused appears before a judge within 24 hours for a first appearance, where the judge determines bond. The State Attorney’s Office then reviews the evidence and files formal charges, which can be the same as the arrest charges, increased, reduced, or declined. At arraignment, the defendant enters a plea and the case moves into pretrial, where motions are filed, discovery is exchanged, and depositions are taken. Most criminal cases in Orange County resolve through pretrial negotiation, but the cases that go to trial demand a defense lawyer who has actually tried cases in front of Ninth Circuit juries.
Misdemeanors and Felonies Under Florida Law
Florida classifies criminal offenses by severity, and the classification controls everything from the maximum sentence to whether the case can be resolved in county court or must be tried in circuit court. Understanding which level of charge you face is the starting point of any defense strategy.
A misdemeanor in Florida is punishable by up to one year in county jail. A second-degree misdemeanor carries up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine. A first-degree misdemeanor carries up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine. Common Maitland misdemeanors include first-offense DUI, petit theft, simple battery, and trespass.
A felony is punishable by more than one year in state prison and is divided into five degrees. A third-degree felony carries up to 5 years and a $5,000 fine. A second-degree felony carries up to 15 years. A first-degree felony carries up to 30 years. A life felony carries up to life in prison without the possibility of parole, and a capital felony carries either life without parole or the death penalty. Florida’s habitual offender, prison releasee reoffender, and 10-20-Life statutes can add mandatory minimum prison time on top of these guideline sentences, and those enhancements are negotiable only with a lawyer who knows how to push back.
Criminal Charges We Defend in Maitland
Attorney Wiseman defends the full range of state criminal charges filed in Maitland and Orange County. The firm does not handle post-conviction appeals, but represents clients from the moment of arrest through trial verdict, including:
- DUI, including first offense, repeat offense, and DUI with serious bodily injury
- Drug crimes, including possession, trafficking, and manufacturing
- Violent crimes, including assault, battery, aggravated battery, and murder
- Domestic violence and related injunction defense
- Sex crimes, including sexual battery and internet sex offenses
- Theft crimes, including petit theft, grand theft, robbery, and burglary
- White collar crimes, including fraud, embezzlement, and RICO charges
- Traffic violations, including driving with a suspended license and hit and run
- Weapons charges and firearm-related offenses
- Juvenile crimes handled in the juvenile division of the Ninth Circuit
Each charge category triggers a different set of defenses, statutory penalties, and procedural deadlines. The strategy that works for a first-offense DUI is not the strategy that works for a trafficking charge, and the lawyer you hire should know the difference on day one.
How Attorney Wiseman Approaches Your Maitland Criminal Case
Twenty-one years as a defense attorney, preceded by four years as an Orange County state prosecutor, gives Attorney Wiseman an unusual perspective on how the State of Florida builds its cases and where those cases are vulnerable. The defense begins with a complete file review, including discovery, police reports, body camera and dash camera footage, witness statements, lab results, and any 911 audio. The next step is identifying every weakness in the State’s case, from unlawful stops and searches to chain-of-custody problems with evidence to inconsistencies between witness accounts and physical evidence.
That work produces results in cases other lawyers consider unwinnable. In one Orange County trial, our client was acquitted of capital sexual battery after a five-day jury trial in which the defense exposed substantial inconsistencies in the prosecution’s case. The not guilty verdict reaffirmed our client’s innocence and avoided what would have been a mandatory life sentence. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes in any specific case, but they reflect what is possible when a former prosecutor with trial experience handles the defense.
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What to Do If You Are Arrested in Maitland
The decisions made in the hours after an arrest can determine whether evidence is suppressed, whether bond is granted, and whether the State decides to file the most serious charge available. Three steps protect your case from day one. First, invoke your right to remain silent and your right to counsel clearly and out loud. Anything you say to officers, jail staff, or even other detainees can be used against you at trial. Polite, repeated requests for a lawyer must be honored under both state and federal law.
Second, do not consent to any search of your home, vehicle, phone, or person. Officers are trained to ask in a way that sounds like a formality, but consent waives constitutional protections that may otherwise win the case at a motion to suppress. Third, do not post about the case on social media, do not discuss it on recorded jail phone calls, and do not contact any alleged victim or witness. Prosecutors routinely subpoena Facebook, Instagram, and jail recordings, and one careless message can become State’s Exhibit 1. As soon as you can, call Attorney Wiseman directly at (407) 420-4647.
Frequently Asked Questions About Maitland Criminal Defense
Should I talk to the police without a lawyer present?
No. You have the right to remain silent under both the U.S. Constitution and Florida law, and you should use it. Officers are trained interrogators, and statements that seem harmless can be reframed by prosecutors at trial. Politely and clearly state that you are invoking your right to remain silent and your right to counsel, and stop answering questions. Once you ask for a lawyer, questioning must stop.
How much does a criminal defense lawyer cost in Maitland?
Fees depend on the severity of the charge, the projected length of the case, and whether the matter is likely to go to trial. The Wiseman Law Firm offers free, confidential initial consultations during which Attorney Wiseman can review your case and explain the fee structure clearly before any commitment is made. Hiring a private criminal defense lawyer is an investment, but the cost of a conviction, including jail time, fines, lost employment, and a permanent record, is almost always greater.
Can my charges be reduced or dismissed?
In many cases, yes. Charges can be dismissed when constitutional rights were violated during the stop, search, or interrogation, when the State cannot prove an essential element beyond a reasonable doubt, or when the evidence simply does not support the charge filed. Charges that are not dismissed can often be reduced through pretrial negotiation, particularly when the defense identifies weaknesses early. The outcome depends on the specific facts of your case.
What is the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony in Florida?
A misdemeanor is punishable by up to one year in county jail, a felony by more than one year in state prison. Florida divides misdemeanors into first and second degrees and felonies into third degree, second degree, first degree, life, and capital. The classification determines which court hears the case, the maximum sentence the judge can impose, and whether the conviction can later be sealed or expunged.
Do I need a lawyer if I plan to plead guilty?
Yes. A guilty plea is one of the most consequential decisions you can make in your life, and once entered, it is extremely difficult to undo. Even when pleading guilty is the right outcome, an experienced lawyer can negotiate for reduced charges, withhold of adjudication, alternative sentencing, or downward departures from the sentencing guidelines. Never plead guilty before a criminal defense lawyer has reviewed the State’s evidence.
Why hire a former prosecutor as my defense attorney?
A former prosecutor knows how the State of Florida builds cases, which arguments persuade judges in the Ninth Circuit, and where the prosecution’s evidence is most vulnerable. Attorney Wiseman spent four years as a state prosecutor in Orange County before becoming a defense lawyer, and he has used that insider knowledge for over two decades to obtain not guilty verdicts, dismissals, and reductions for clients facing some of the most serious charges Florida files.
Contact The Wiseman Law Firm for Maitland Criminal Defense
Attorney Simon Wiseman is a former Orange County state prosecutor with more than 25 years of trial experience in Central Florida’s criminal courts. He has handled cases at every level, from first-offense misdemeanors to first-degree felonies punishable by life, and is 5-star rated on Google. His Florida Supreme Court victories created new law in the State of Florida, and his criminal trial record includes not guilty verdicts on sex offense and first-degree felony cases. You can review additional outcomes on the firm’s case results page.
If you or someone in your family has been arrested or accused of a crime in Maitland, do not wait to involve a lawyer. The earlier Attorney Wiseman is engaged, the more options remain on the table, including challenging the evidence, negotiating reduced charges, and preparing the case for trial if the State refuses a reasonable resolution. Call (407) 420-4647 or contact The Wiseman Law Firm online to schedule your free, confidential consultation today.
Legally Reviewed by Simon Wiseman, Founding Attorney, The Wiseman Law Firm