Sandefer Law Firm - Pinellas Pasco Criminal Defense Attorney     

                              And DUI  Defense Attorney

Serving Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tampa Bay, Pinellas County, Pasco County, Hillsborough County and  the State of Florida

         Larry Sandefer has handled well over 5,000 criminal cases. Over 200 of these have resulted in jury trials of from one day to several weeks in length. These trials have included numerous first degree murder cases, multi-jurisdictional drug and homicide conspiracies, drug trafficking, sales and possessions, sexual battery, lewdness and exposure charges, arson, white collar crimes including trade secrets and fraud, robbery, theft, assault and battery, domestic violence, traffic deaths, DUI, resisting arrest, shoplifting, abuse allegations of children and the elderly, embezzlement, insurance fraud, burglary, kidnaping, and many other criminal charges.

         After over 30 years in criminal law in Florida, Mr. Sandefer is familiar with and has worked very often with the Judges and prosecutors assigned to the criminal and civil courts. He is a former prosecutor of over eight years, with experience as both a Lead Trial Attorney and a Division Director in the State Attorney's Office. In those positions, he not only tried the most serious cases, he also over saw several trial divisions and trial attorneys. He was involved with the investigation and decision making aspects of these charges. As a member of the homicide investigation unit, he was often called out to the scene of homicides.

           In 1986, Mr. Sandefer opened his own office and has continued in the defense of criminal cases since that time. He was one of the first attorney's in the State of Florida to become Board Certified in criminal trial law, that occurred in 1987. He has maintained that certification continually since that date. This vast background of experience gives him the knowledge of both sides of a criminal case from both a decision making perspective and a trial perspective, and the understanding of what affects those decisions by the prosecution and what goes into those decisions. What this means for you is the knowledge, the experience, and the court room skills to assist you in your defense.

         Mr. Sandefer has continued his training through continuing education courses involving violent crime, organized crime, defending capital cases in Florida, narcotic investigation techniques, and various advanced education programs by the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He is a graduate of the Criminal Trial Advocacy Institute at the University of Florida and has attended Masters of DUI Courses of the Florida Bar and the DUI Defender Courses in Las Vegas, Nevada of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Mr. Sandefer has been honored with the national recognition of being named to the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers in America. This is a register which lists only the most distinguished law practices, those that signify the highest levels of legal ability and the adherence to professional standards of conduct, ethics, reliability, and diligence.

           Mr. Sandefer has achieved a prestigious rating of AV by Martindale-Hubbell. This rating is a result of a peer review system based upon the confidential opinions of practicing attorneys and judges. Martindale-Hubbell has been recognized for over a century as the most respected source of authoritative information about members of the legal community. An AV rating reflects an attorney who has reached the heights of professional excellence and is recognized for the highest level of skill, integrity, and ethical standards.

Experience, Background, Honors, and Achievements

• Professional Experience and Recognitions

• Board Certified as a Criminal Trial Attorney by The Florida Bar since 1987. One of the first attorneys in the state to be awarded certification as a criminal trial lawyer.

• Named to Who's Who in America 1997 - present

• Named to Who's Who in American Law 1997 - present

  • AV Rated by Martindale Hubbell, highest rating available in legal ability and ethics

• Named to the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers in America 2009

• Selected to Florida Super Lawyers 2009

• Selected to Leadership Pinellas 1998

• Past Chairman of Florida Bar Grievance Committee 6A, 2000

• Former Assistant State Attorney 6th Judicial Circuit1978-1986  For Pinellas and Pasco Counties

  • Lead Trial Attorney

  • Division Director (one of three), supervised one third of the felony and misdemeanor trial divisions, responsible for filing and sentencing decisions, attorney training, trials of major cases including homicides, drug trafficking, sex crimes, and violent crimes.

  • On-call Homicide response attorney, responded to scenes of homicides to advise and assist in the on-scene investigation and meet with the medical examiner on scene

  • DUI/traffic court supervisor

• Graduate of United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) school on Undercover Narcotics Enforcement Techniques (Miami)

• Admitted to Practice before the following courts:

  • All Florida State Courts including Florida Supreme Court (1978)

  • The United States Supreme Court (1982)

  • The United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals (New Orleans) (1981)

  • The United States Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals (Atlanta) (1981)

  • The United States Middle District of Florida (1978)
    
     

• Professional Organizations

  • Association of Trial Lawyers of America

  • Pinellas County Trial Lawyers Association

  • Pinellas County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association

  • Florida Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys

  • National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys

  • Clearwater Bar Association

  • St. Petersburg Bar Association

  • Florida Bar

  • Colorado Bar
    
     

• Pre-Legal Education and Background

  • Bachelors Degree BS in Management, Auburn University, 1972

  • Selected to National Leadership Honorary

  • President Phi Delta Theta Fraternity

  • Assistant Director of Auburn Free University

  • Treasurer of Business Fraternity

  • Varsity tennis team 4 years

  • U.S. Air Force ROTC

    POST COLLEGE
  

  • Masters studies in counseling at Northern Michigan University 1974 

  • Active duty U.S. Air Force, K.I. Sawyer AF base, Marquette, Mi 1973 1975 (active), 1975-1979 (reserves).

  • Procurement Officer

  • Appointed by Base commander as special investigator regarding suspected irregularities in the

  • 410th Combat Support Group Transportation Squadron

  • Radio announcer at new cable radio station, Gwinn, Mi, 1973-1975

• Law School

• University of Florida, 1977, Juris Doctor (JD)

• Chief Defense Counsel Honor Court, 1976

• Student Supreme Court Justice, 1977

• President Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity, 1977

• Continuing Education

  Larry Sandefer has maintained his continued legal education through courtroom experience, continued training, lecturing, courses, and seminars

   

  • Graduate Criminal Trial Advocacy Institute at University of Florida

  • Homicide Specific Continuing Education Schools/Seminars

  • Life over Death

  • Death is Different

  • DUI Continuing Education Schools/Seminars

     

    • DUI,- Defending with Ingenuity, Las Vegas, NV, 2003, by the National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys and the National College of DUI Attorneys

    • Winning with DUI, Las Vegas, NV, 2008, by NACDL and National College of DUI Attorneys

    • “Blood, Breath and Tears”, presented by the Florida Bar, 1998, 2000, 2005, 2007, 2010

    • Intoxilyzer 8000, Fl Bar 2005, 2010

    • “Masters of DUI”, Fl Bar, 1999, 2009

    • Strategies in DUI cases, Lorman 2000, 2005

    • DUI defense tactics 1997

  • Numerous Courses and schools regarding the following topics: 

    • Polygraphs

    • Trial Tactics

    • Sentencing Guidelines

    • Domestic Violence

    • Search Warrants

    • Obscenity and Pornography

    • Use of experts in trial

    • Evidence

  • Top Gun Criminal Defense Attorneys Seminar 1992, 1993(staff), 1995

  • National college of district attorneys conference on organized crime, Chicago 1985

  • National college of district attorneys conference on violent crime 1984

  • Annual state prosecutors conventions and seminar 1978 through 1984

     

• Miscellaneous Community Involvement

  • Co organizer and participant of mock trial presented annually for area high school students

  • Springtime City Kiwanis

     

    • Community Service Chair 1995

  • Indian Rocks Beach 

    • City Commissioner 1994 to 2000

    • Board of Adjustment 1994

    • Parks & Recreation Board 1992 to 1993

    • Chair, Charter Review Committee, 2003

  • Paint Your Heart Out Clearwater

  • Close Up Foundation

* CV, BV, and AV are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties, Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards, and policies. Martindale-Hubbell is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the confidential opinions of members of the Bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell Ratings evaluate two categories - legal ability and general ethical standards.