The Greenwald Law FirmOcoee is a growing city in west Orange County, close to Florida's Turnpike and State Road 429. Arrests in Ocoee are made by the Ocoee Police Department, the Orange County Sheriff's Office and the Florida Highway Patrol, and the cases are prosecuted in the Orange County courts of the Ninth Judicial Circuit. The Greenwald Law Firm represents people charged with crimes in Ocoee and throughout west Orange County.
Brian F. Greenwald, Esq. began his career as an Assistant Public Defender in Orlando, where he spent eight years and served as lead counsel in more than 150 jury trials. He now has more than 20 years of criminal defense experience and handles every case personally.
Charges we defend in Ocoee
The firm defends people charged with:
- DUI and criminal traffic offenses
- Drug possession, sale and trafficking
- Domestic violence
- Assault and battery
- Theft and shoplifting
- Burglary and other property crimes
- Violation of probation
- Civil asset forfeiture
Burglary and property crimes
Property charges range widely in seriousness. Criminal mischief, meaning damage to someone else's property, is a misdemeanor when the damage is under $1,000 and a felony at $1,000 or more. Burglary depends on what was entered: a vehicle, a business or a home, with burglary of a dwelling treated far more seriously. These cases often turn on identification, fingerprints, video and whether the State can prove intent. A careful review of that evidence is the first step in any defense.
After an arrest
- Do not discuss the case with police or on recorded jail calls.
- Keep your citation, bond paperwork and court notice.
- Make a list of anyone who can confirm where you were.
- Speak with a defense lawyer before your first court date.
When police want to talk to you
Sometimes the first sign of a case is a call or card from a detective asking you to come in and "give your side". You are not required to talk, and anything you say can be used as evidence. Before you speak with police about an Ocoee investigation, talk to a defense lawyer, who can find out what the investigation is about and advise you whether, and how, to respond.
Frequently asked questions
Is criminal mischief a felony?
It depends on the value of the damage. Under $1,000 is generally a misdemeanor, while $1,000 or more is a third-degree felony, and prior convictions can raise the level. The State has to prove the amount of damage.
Why is burglary of a home treated so seriously?
Florida law treats entering a dwelling with intent to commit a crime more seriously than a vehicle or business burglary, so the penalties are higher. Whether the State can prove entry and intent is often the key question.
Where will my Ocoee case be heard?
At the Orange County Courthouse in downtown Orlando, part of Florida's Ninth Judicial Circuit.
Nearby communities
We also serve Clarcona, Pine Hills, Orlovista and all of Orlando and Orange County.
Free case review
Call 407-807-0840 any time, or send a confidential case review request.