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Tampa Sex Crimes Defense
Hillsborough County is its own judicial circuit — Florida's Thirteenth — so a sex-offense case from Tampa, Brandon or Plant City is prosecuted by the Thirteenth Circuit State Attorney's Office and heard by Hillsborough judges. Felony courts and first appearance are located in the Courthouse Annex, 401 N. Jefferson Street, in downtown Tampa.
Central booking for the county is at the Orient Road Jail, 1201 Orient Road. Under Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.130, an arrested person must see a judge within 24 hours. In Hillsborough, weekday first appearance is held at 1:30 p.m., and weekend and holiday sessions run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. In a sex-offense case, that hearing usually sets bond and conditions such as no contact with the accuser or with minors.
Chad Seibel is a former Florida prosecutor (Assistant State Attorney, Ninth Judicial Circuit, 2013–2016) who now defends people charged with serious felonies across Florida. His office is in Kissimmee, and consultations and meetings can be arranged in Tampa by appointment.
Charges we defend
Sexual battery (§ 794.011, Fla. Stat.) — Sexual battery
Lewd or lascivious offenses involving a person under 16 (§ 800.04) — Lewd or lascivious
Online solicitation and traveling to meet a minor (§ 847.0135) — Online solicitation
Child sexual abuse material, formerly called child pornography (§ 827.071) — Learn more
Failure to register as a sex offender (§ 943.0435) — Failure to register
Voyeurism and sexting · Indecent exposure · Human trafficking · Romeo and Juliet cases
If you have been contacted by detectives
Do not agree to an interview, a "controlled" phone call or a polygraph without a lawyer. Many sex-offense cases are built on statements made before an arrest. Say "I want a lawyer" and stop answering questions.
Who prosecutes sex offenses in Hillsborough County
The Thirteenth Circuit State Attorney's Office has a Special Victims Unit, which the office has described as overseeing sex crimes and child abuse cases. First appearance for people arrested in the county is held in Courtroom 17 of the Courthouse Annex, at 1:30 p.m. on weekdays and between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on weekends and holidays.
Looking up a Hillsborough County case
The Hillsborough County Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller offers HOVER (Hillsborough Online Viewing of Electronic Records), which allows electronic viewing of many court records, indexes and dockets, including felony and misdemeanor cases. The Clerk's legacy Court Record Access System remains available for name and case-number searches. To find out whether someone is in custody, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office links an arrest inquiry search ("Who's in Jail") from its website, and its Inmate Records line is (813) 247-8400.
Frequently asked questions
Where would a Tampa sex-crime case be heard?
Felony cases are heard in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit; felony courts and first appearance are at the Courthouse Annex, 401 N. Jefferson St.
Can a lawyer from Kissimmee handle a Tampa case?
Florida lawyers can practice in any Florida circuit court. Ask any lawyer how they will handle hearings and meetings in your county.
Is the consultation confidential?
Yes. What you tell a lawyer in a consultation is confidential.
Who handles sex-crime prosecutions in Tampa?
The Thirteenth Circuit State Attorney's Office, through its Special Victims Unit.
Call or text 407-846-8008 for a free, confidential consultation. Office: 517 W. Bryan St., Kissimmee, FL 34741 · Office line 407-530-4920. Consultations and meetings available throughout Florida by appointment.