Stalking Charges Attorney in St. Petersburg

Former Pinellas County Prosecutor Defending You Against Stalking Charges

A Florida stalking allegation may involve text messages, social media activity, phone calls, account access, in-person contact, alleged threats, or an existing protective injunction. Unwanted contact alone doesn’t automatically establish every element of the offense. What was communicated, how often contact occurred, who initiated it, and whether a court order applied can all shape the case.

I represent people facing stalking-related investigations and charges in St. Petersburg and throughout Pinellas County. With more than 29 years of legal experience, including six years as a Pinellas County prosecutor, I can assess how the prosecution may interpret the communications, conduct, and surrounding circumstances.

Call (727) 617-6095 to discuss a stalking, aggravated stalking, or cyberstalking allegation with me.

How Florida Distinguishes Stalking, Aggravated Stalking, & Cyberstalking

Florida Statutes section 784.048 separates these offenses based on the alleged conduct and any aggravating circumstances. The charge may depend on whether the prosecution can establish repeated conduct, substantial emotional distress, a credible threat, or the violation of a qualifying court order.

The principal distinctions include:

• Stalking: A person may face a first-degree misdemeanor for willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly following, harassing, or cyberstalking another person. Harassment generally requires a course of conduct that causes substantial emotional distress and serves no legitimate purpose.
• Aggravated stalking: This third-degree felony may be charged when the alleged conduct involves a credible threat, follows a qualifying injunction or court-imposed prohibition, involves a child younger than 16, or meets another statutory aggravating circumstance. A credible threat may be verbal, nonverbal, electronic, or implied through a pattern of conduct.
• Cyberstalking: The statute can apply to qualifying electronic communications and certain attempts to access online accounts or internet-connected home systems. Physical contact isn’t required, but the prosecution must still prove the applicable statutory elements.

Six Years of Pinellas County Prosecution Experience

Before becoming a defense attorney, I spent six years prosecuting cases in Pinellas County. That experience allows me to evaluate how the opposing side may organize its evidence, characterize an alleged course of conduct, and argue that communications lacked a legitimate purpose.

No two cases share the same message history, relationships, court orders, or surrounding events. I build the defense around the specific facts, including who initiated contact, whether communication was mutual, what purpose it served, and whether the available evidence supports the charge.