The Greenwald Law FirmPine Hills, just west of Orlando, is one of the larger unincorporated communities in Orange County. Arrests here are typically made by the Orange County Sheriff's Office, and every case is prosecuted in the Orange County courts of Florida's Ninth Judicial Circuit. If you have been arrested or expect to be charged, The Greenwald Law Firm can help you understand the case against you and protect your rights from the start.
Brian F. Greenwald, Esq. was an Assistant Public Defender in Orlando for eight years and served as lead counsel in more than 150 jury trials. With more than 20 years of criminal defense experience, he knows how Orange County cases are investigated, charged and tried.
Charges we defend in Pine Hills
The firm represents 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
Searches, stops and drug charges
Many drug cases turn on how the evidence was found. Police need a lawful reason to stop a car or a person, and a search generally needs a warrant, valid consent or a recognized exception. If officers went too far, the evidence they found may be suppressed. Florida drug cases also often rely on "constructive possession", where the drugs were not on you but in a shared car or home. The State must prove you knew about the drugs and had control over them. Those questions deserve a careful defense.
After an arrest in Pine Hills
Most people arrested in Pine Hills are booked into the Orange County Jail and see a judge within 24 hours for first appearance, where bond and release conditions are set. Say nothing about the facts until you have spoken with a lawyer, and remember that jail calls are recorded.
Your rights when police stop you
You have the right to remain silent and the right to a lawyer, and you can say so politely. You do not have to agree to a search of your car or your home, although officers may search without your consent in some situations. Refusing consent is not a crime and cannot by itself be used as a reason to search. If you were stopped or searched in Pine Hills, write down what was said and done as soon as you can, because those details often matter later.
Frequently asked questions
The drugs were found in a car I was riding in. Can I be charged?
You can be charged, but the State has to prove you knew the drugs were there and had control over them. Being near drugs, or in a shared car or home, is not enough on its own. These cases often depend on where the drugs were and who else had access.
Can evidence be thrown out?
If police stopped or searched you without legal justification, the defense can ask the judge to suppress the evidence. Whether that works depends on the facts, which is why a careful review of the police report and any video matters.
Where will my Pine Hills case be heard?
At the Orange County Courthouse in downtown Orlando, in Florida's Ninth Judicial Circuit.
Nearby communities
We also serve Orlovista, Lockhart, Ocoee and all of Orlando and Orange County.
Free case review
Call 407-807-0840 any time, or send a confidential case review request.