Florida drug crime defense
Florida drug charges range from simple possession to trafficking counts that carry serious mandatory minimums. The label on the report does not settle the case. What the State must prove, how the evidence was obtained, and whether the quantity and the substance are correctly identified all matter. The Bonderud Law Firm defends drug cases in Jacksonville and throughout Florida.
Possession, sale, and trafficking
Possession cases often turn on knowledge and control: whether the substance was yours, whether you knew it was there, and whether the search that uncovered it was lawful. Sale and delivery allegations usually depend on a stop, a buy, or messages and cash that the State says show a transaction. Trafficking is a quantity-based offense under Florida law. The statutory thresholds differ by substance, and the weight the laboratory reports is often a central issue.
Vehicle searches, including searches based on odor, warrants, and statements made after an arrest, are frequent flashpoints. Our related articles on the “plain smell” doctrine and on search warrants discuss those issues in more detail.
A deliberate defense
We review the stop, the search, the laboratory work, and the way the State intends to prove possession or an agreement to sell. Where the Constitution or the Florida evidence rules give us a motion, we file it. Where a diversion, a reduced charge, or a negotiated plea is the sound course, we explain the tradeoffs in plain language. We do not treat every drug case as identical.
If a drug charge also raises immigration, professional-licensing, or federal questions, we address that at the outset. Some investigations begin in state court and later draw federal attention; we handle federal criminal defense as a separate practice and will tell you if that line is in view.
You may reach us at (904) 438-8082 during office hours, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern. Messages left after hours are reviewed the next business day. This page is general information, not legal advice. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Questions we are often asked
What are the office hours?
The office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern, at 2130 Riverside Avenue, Jacksonville, Florida 32204. Messages left after hours or on weekends are reviewed the next business day. For urgent matters, call (904) 438-8082.
Does contacting the firm create an attorney-client relationship?
No. Submitting this form or calling the office does not by itself create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send confidential information before an engagement is agreed. This website is general information, not legal advice.
Do you have more than one office?
No. The firm's only office is at 2130 Riverside Avenue, Jacksonville. We represent clients throughout Florida, and in selected federal matters elsewhere, from that office.