We Serve the Following Communities:
Orange County, Seminole County, Osceola County, Lake County, Polk County, Brevard County.
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Orlando Criminal Defense Lawyer

Welcome to our Orlando criminal defense website, thanks for coming. You’re probably here because you, or someone you care about, may be in trouble. Relax. Believe it or not, there are Orlando criminal attorney professionals out there that deal with these ‘situations’ all day, every day. Criminal defense attorney John Guidry is just such a person. Since 1993, he’s defended thousands of serious criminal cases right here in Central Florida. Please, check out our reviews on Google and Avvo.

Yes, you’re here because you have a problem. We solve problems. We’re here to help. Otherwise, what’s the point. In twenty five years of helping folks, we’ve seen it all, DUI, battery, robbery, probation violations, driving while license suspended, cocaine, trafficking, theft, possession, pretrial intervention, seal & expunge, diversion, and the list goes on and on.

Possession of Drugs & Controlled Substances

Sure, medical marijuana is now legal in Florida, but this hasn’t stopped the police from arresting folks for possession of cannabis. Even legal prescription drugs like Xanax and Oxycodone often lead to an arrest when there’s no prescription bottle nearby. Possession of a controlled substance can lead to punishments as severe as prison, but even the mandatory one year driver’s license suspension can impose quite a hardship for most families. You heard that right–every drug conviction carries a one year mandatory driver’s license suspension. Yes, even simple misdemeanor possession of cannabis under 20 grams. I ask you, who can live in Central Florida without a valid DL? The good news is, there’s hope.

Most possession charges, maybe 92.45%, arise from traffic stops. And this may shock you, but not all traffic stops are legal. If the stop was illegal, your drug case gets dismissed. Its not quite that simple, but you get the point.

So, even if the police did everything right in your case (a point I rarely concede, but it happens), dismissal is still possible because we have great programs designed for dismissal. The Big 5 are Pretrial Intervention (PTI), Pretrial Diversion (PTD), County Diversion Programs (CDP), Veteran’s Court, and Drug Court.

DUI - Driving Under the Influence

There is a certain amount of anxiety and uncertainty that comes with a DUI arrest, we get that. After all, the consequences of a DUI conviction can be severe, its not just the license suspension (who can survive in Central Florida without driving?) or the financial penalties--but DUI convictions can even come with a bit of jail time. Defending DUI's requires an attention to detail, so we'll be pulling apart every aspect of the accusations from the traffic stop to field sobriety 'tests' to the breathalyzer. After 30 years of defending DUI accusations, we know the gravity of the situation and how to fix it. Once we begin defending your case, you need to just get back to your life. Let us handle the rest.

Shoplifting, Petit Theft

A petit theft or shoplifting accusation in Central Florida can be deeply distressing, and even embarrassing. Look, we get that. This can be scary and overwhelming because the consequences can get severe. It is unfortunate that the self checkout lanes at Target and Walmart are generating more petit theft cases here in Central Florida than ever before. There are so many cases these days that law enforcement has sometimes skips over a formal arrest and visit to a jail cell--now they're often issuing written 'arrests' to appear in court. Now, don't let the lack of a jail cell up front fool you, these charges are serious. Florida law still allows a judge to send someone to jail for many months, depending on the value of the goods. But the good news is that we've been defending every variety of shoplifting accusation here in Central Florida since 1993. And there's even more good news, we can get these charges dropped for you first offenders. Sure, you may be 100% guilty. That's ok. We can still get it dropped. You may be 100% innocent, this may just be a misunderstanding. Either way, we can help. Obviously, you don't want this petit theft charge ruining every employment opportunity out there, we know employers hate these charges. But your criminal record of shoplifting can also be completely sealed or expunged. Gone. Together, we can work all of this out so that you can move on with your life.

Battery, Domestic Violence

An arrest for battery domestic violence here in Central Florida comes with lots of baggage. This isn't just a criminal accusation, its an emotional ordeal because, first of all, most judges will not allow you to return home. You may have kids together, bills together, dreams together. None of this can be talked out because a battery charge carries a "no contact order." And, look, this is embarrassing. Several cop cars in your driveway, their lights flashing late at night. And every neighbor is up wondering what's going on. We have been defending these accusations now for decades. Please do not lose hope. Yes, you're going to feel a bit down when you consider the fact that domestic violence charges carry mandatory jail terms, so you may have lost your significant other, your home, your kids. Wow. But here's the thing. There is hope. Yes, accusations initiated these charges--but can the prosecutors back up these mere accusations with actual evidence? Out of all the charges we've been defending since 1993, I would say that battery charges should not be faced alone. We will protect your legal interests, sure, but your personal well-being is at stake and we're here to offer both the legal expertise and support you need to help you move forward.

Seal & Expunge

If you clear out your past, you're going to protect your future. In Florida, sealing or expunging a criminal record can be a life-changing step. We get calls all the time with folks telling us that they were rejected from an apartment they wanted, or denied a job they thought they were going to get, the list goes on and on. The good news here is that we're going to help you turn that new page. The process of sealing or expunging a record in Florida involves navigating complex legal procedures and requirements--in other words--this takes some time. But our mission here isn't just a piece of paper that says "Expunge Granted." Our mission here is for you to reclaim your future. This is going to open doors that were previously closed, and we're happy to be a part of that with you. Not everyone qualifies for a seal or expunge, so give our office a call and we'll do a free analysis to see whether a seal or expunge fits your situation.

Drug Possession & Drug Trafficking

Here in Central Florida, drug possession charges carry significant consequences. And I really hate to lump in drug trafficking charges here, but drug trafficking charges are basically possession charges--but simply possessing so much of the drug that they call it "trafficking." We have been defending possession and trafficking accusations since 1993. Yes, a long time (depending on when you're reading this). People are fond of saying that, well, this is "only simple possession." Unfortunately, there's nothing simple about this. The details matter here, and we're going to scrutinize everything from the traffic stop to the wire taps. Drug possession charges carry possible jail and prison time, and drug trafficking charges carry mandatory minimum prison sentences at different intervals depending on the weight possessed. For example, possessing a minimum amount for trafficking requires a minimum 3 years in prison, the next weight class moves up to 7 years, then 15 years, then 25 years. In other words, this is serious. We have defended so many drug charges over the years, put our experience to work for you so that you can get your life back on track.

Violations of Probation (VOP)

Central Florida is quite a tourist destination, and as the saying goes, come to Florida on vacation, leave on probation, come back on a violation. I hope this is not your story. But if it is, we can help. More than most charges, the punishment for violating probation varies because the judges have a bit more discretion for VOP sentencing. The punishment here will depend, in part, on why they violated you. Was it a technical violation because a class wasn't completed or a drug test was failed? Was it a violation based upon a new criminal charge? These sorts of things matter, and often the stakes are high on a VOP--but also--everyone deserves a second chance. We are well-versed in the nuances of Florida's probation laws and procedures, we've been handling VOP's for over 30 years. Each probation violation is unique, and so is our approach. If you're facing a probation violation in Central Florida, let us offer the guidance and support you need to minimize the negative impacts a violation may have on your life.

First Offenders

If you're facing criminal charges for the first time, this whole experience can be overwhelming and intimidating. Look, everyone makes mistakes, and a single misstep shouldn't define your future. As a first offender you're probably unfamiliar with the legal process and concerned about the impact criminal charges may have on your life. I get that. But the good news is, we've been defending criminal accusations since 1993. As of the time this is being written, its been 30 years of defending first time offenders. And it's been a good 30 years because first offenders have all sorts of opportunities for a second change. Central Florida courts have all sorts of programs for first offenders. We all want a second chance. Don't let a first-time mistake jeopardize your future, let us help you navigate this challenging time.

Importance of an Orlando Criminal Lawyer

In case you haven’t noticed, an arrest triggers our huge, expensive government machine to begin working against you. The police officers are against you. The prosecutors are against you. Sometimes even the Judge is against you. Relax. You’ve come to the right place. As an Orlando criminal lawyer, John Guidry will do everything possible to dismiss the charges, avoid or limit jail time. Yes, we will help you get your life back on track. Free consultations and payment plans are available, so come see criminal defense attorney John Guidry in Downtown Orlando, right next to the Orange County Courthouse.

Meet the Attorney
Picture of John P. Guidry II
John P. Guidry II

Mr. Guidry has defended thousands of citizens arrested on a wide variety of crimes. This aggressive, intelligent criminal defense work started with an Accounting Degree, then a Master’s Degree, then a Juris Doctorate, all with Honors, then admission to the Florida Bar–way back in 1993. On John’s first day as an attorney over twenty eight years ago, he was defending criminal cases. On your side back then, on your side today.

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Client Reviews
★★★★★
"If you need legal help your in the right place John Guidry is efficient professional and gets the job done. There’s no games or gimmicks. John will always be highly recommended by me . Thank you John for all of your help.” Jovon W.
★★★★★
"Straightforward and will go the extra mile for you. If the unfortunate need ever arises, John would always be my first call. Honesty and integrity are the words that come to mind in reference to his impeccable service. Thankful for you, John.” Renee F.
★★★★★
"If you need an excellent lawyer I would recommend the Law Firm of John Guidry 100%. He took the time to hear me out and helped me with my case. Thank you so much John.” Edwin M.
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Fill out the contact form or call us at (407) 423-1117 to schedule your free consultation.