Ponte Vedra Beach Criminal Defense Lawyers

One of North Florida’s most beautiful communities, Ponte Vedra Beach is the first seaside enclave you encounter as you enter St. Johns County from neighboring Jacksonville Beach. Established in 1928 with the opening of a popular resort, The Ponte Vedra Club, this area has a unique heritage of sophisticated northern tourists who quickly adopted this area for its beauty and remoteness. Of popular historic importance, Ponte Vedra Beach is both the site of one of the oldest golf courses in Florida, erected in the early 1920's, and the disembarkation of four Nazi-German saboteurs who by U-Boat landed in mid-June of 1942 as part of Operation Pastorius. Also, on the list of firsts, the headquarters of the PGA Golf Tour and the future home of The Players Championship were established here in 1982.

The average home prices in Ponte Vedra top $750,000 dollars and the median family income is over $109,100 per year. Additionally, The St. Johns County School System, and especially the Ponte Vedra Beach schools, have been recognized as some of the best public schools in all of Florida.  Ponte Vedra Beach is also known for its excellent sporting programs and the many public and private sports clubs are some of the most competitive in the South. For these and many other reasons, Ponte Vedra Beach officials wish to have a low crime rate and low incidences of juvenile arrests.  According to The Florida Department of Law Enforcement's 2019 Uniform Crime Report, St. Johns County reported 4,511 total arrests, with crimes ranging from assaults to vandalism. Leading the list of suspected crimes committed were: 742 Drug Arrests, 596 DUI’s, 595 Simple Assaults, 32 Sex Offenses and over 100 white-collar crimes, including extortion, fraud, embezzlement, and counterfeiting.

If you have been arrested or are under investigation by the St. Johns County State Attorney’s Office, you are dealing with highly aggressive and committed officials seeking the prosecution of crimes to the fullest extent of the law. That is why it is so important to hire the best legal staff available, who will see your case through every stage, including your arrest, arraignment, pretrials, motion hearings and trial. Curtis Fallgatter and Lisa Varon have a proven record of criminal defense success, with over fifty years of shared legal experience. Action needs to be taken very quickly on your behalf to mitigate and defend your legal rights. Do not delay calling The Law Firm of Fallgatter, Catlin & Varon, P.A. for a free, no-obligation criminal defense consultation.

Why Should You Choose Fallgatter, Catlin & Varon, P. A.?

Curtis Fallgatter has been recognized as one of the top criminal defense attorneys in the United States and can be retained by anyone who is accused of committing a crime. Though his criminal defense practice is housed in Jacksonville, Florida, his attorney services have been sought by individuals arrested in Nassau, St. Johns, Clay, and Putnam Counties as well around the state and the country. A former Federal Prosecutor at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Mr. Fallgatter was responsible for prosecuting countless individuals accused of breaking federal laws in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Due to his prosecutorial success, Curtis was promoted to Chief Assistant supervising 20 federal prosecutors assigned to some of the most complex and high-profile criminal cases in Florida’s federal court system. Over the last 20 years, Curtis has been tirelessly defending individuals accused of committing crimes including Drug Crimes, DUI’s, Sex Offenses, White-Collar Crimes, Assault and Battery, and Domestic Violence in local, state and federal courts.

Relied upon by both local TV news departments and the Dr. Phil Show, Curtis has provided expert criminal defense commentary on many high-profile cases. These televisions appearances demonstrate Curtis’s expert advice and legal experience, after reviewing hundreds, if not thousands, of arrest warrants to determine the accuracy and validity of the warrant and the information contained in the affidavit. Often times, police are remiss in their duty to properly investigate a crime making the subsequent arrest unfounded. These miscarriages of justice have been demonstrated, proving once again, that Curtis Fallgatter is extremely knowledgeable in the practice of criminal defense law.

Lisa Varon has a tremendous amount of criminal defense experience, first as an Assistant Public Defender in the Fourth Judicial Circuit for over 11 years, during which time she defended adults and juveniles accused of crimes ranging from misdemeanors to drug offenses to murder. Lisa was also appointed to the Special Defense Unit where she exclusively defended those accused of sex offenses. Lisa also worked as a Felony Division Chief, supervising attorneys representing clients in felony court. For the past 14 years, Lisa has worked with Curtis, tirelessly defending individuals accused of all types of criminal defense cases. Lisa was also the past President of the Northeast Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the premier criminal defense association in Northeast Florida.

As you can see from their legal background, Curtis Fallgatter and Lisa Varon have a diversified and wide range of criminal defense experience. They understand there are many choices when it comes to hiring an attorney in Ponte Vedra Beach Florida. Protecting your civil liberties and legal rights starts with hiring competent, legal representation. If you have been arrested for a crime in Ponte Vedra Beach or anywhere in St. Johns County, you need to hire the right attorney who will leave no stone unturned in the preparation of your legal defense. One of the most frightening experiences one can face in life is being prosecuted for a crime. Having the whole weight of the criminal justice system on your shoulders can be a daunting experience, relieved only by the best criminal defense assets available to you. Give us a call today at 904-353-5800 for a free, no-obligation criminal defense consultation.

Criminal Offenses We Defend at Fallgatter, Catlin & Varon, P.A.

If you have been arrested for any crime, misdemeanor, or felony, you are facing serious consequences that could alter your life forever. These types of legal defenses should not be left up to just anyone practicing law. At the Law Firm of Fallgatter, Catlin & Varon, P.A., we have tremendous experience in the criminal justice system as both a prosecutor and defense attorney. We have handled thousands of criminal cases in both State and Federal Court. We regularly represent individuals charged with the following crimes:

DUI: In 2019, St. Johns County police made 596 DUI arrests and Ponte Vedra Beach had their fair share of individuals charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. DUI crimes carry serious legal consequences for anyone convicted of this crime. At Fallgatter, Catlin & Varon, P.A. we understand that not everyone arrested for Driving Under the Influence is guilty. If you have been arrested for DUI of a motor vehicle, bicycle, golf cart, motorcycle, or boat, we want to investigate the circumstances under which you were arrested and charged. Give our office a call for a free DUI consultation.

White Collar Crimes: Curtis Fallgatter and Lisa Varon have extensive experience and legal knowledge in handling all types of white-collar crimes including bribery, embezzlement, forgery, counterfeiting, workers’ compensation fraud, insurance fraud, mail fraud, securities fraud, malfeasance/public corruption, tax evasion, internet fraud, and RICO offenses. These types of crimes are usually quite complex in nature and require extensive legal expertise to defend. With so much riding on your case, you need competent legal representation. State and Federal prosecutors adopt an aggressive and adversarial role when instituting legal proceedings for white-collar crime.

Domestic Violence: If police are called to a domestic disturbance and there is evidence that a spouse, partner, ex-spouse, boyfriend, girlfriend, or significant other has committed assault, battery, sexual battery, stalking, or even kidnapping, the suspected perpetrator is going to be arrested.  At Fallgatter, Catlin & Varon, P.A. we have handled numerous domestic disputes that have escalated into charges being filed, and an arrest is made. Our free domestic violence consultations are an opportunity to tell your side of the story, and many times we can find grounds to have the charges reduced or dropped.

Sex Offenses: Curtis Fallgatter and Lisa Varon have extensive experience handling all types of sex offenses, including sexual battery, lewd and lascivious molestation, unlawful sexual activity, rape, internet sex crimes, child pornography, sex crimes against children and failure to register as a sex offender. All sex crime allegations are very serious in nature, and a sex offense conviction carries harsh penalties and lifelong consequences, including registration as a sex offender or as a sexual predator. These types of crimes should only be handled by experienced and proven criminal defense attorneys, who possess the skill and expertise to defend a sex offense successfully.

Drug Crimes: The possession and distribution of drugs in the State of Florida are considered a very serious offense. State and Federal statutes carry some very stiff penalties, including minimum prison sentences. Even a small amount of marijuana possession constitutes a misdemeanor charge. If you are under investigation or have been arrested for a drug offense, you need to seek the advice and counsel of an experienced criminal defense attorney who is knowledgeable in defending drug charges. Curtis Fallgatter and Lisa Varon have represented numerous individuals charged with drug offenses, including, possession of drugs, possession with intent to sell or distribute drugs, drug sales, and trafficking. Give us a call today for a free consultation.

Assault and Battery: Assault and battery charges are some of the most common arrests being made in Ponte Vedra Beach and St. Johns County. Aggravated assault or aggravated battery, where a weapon is used to threaten or physically harm an individual, are felony offenses. These types of crimes are very serious in nature because serious injuries can result, and depending on the severity of the charge, it can result in long-term incarceration.  Curtis Fallgatter and Lisa Varon are experienced in handling individuals charged with assault, battery, aggravated assault, and aggravated battery.