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Pensacola, FL 32502
Pensacola, FL 32502
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When choosing a criminal attorney to hire for your case look carefully at the attorney's recent case results. We give information about when and where the case was resolved.
The Florida Bar does not review or approve case results for any lawyer's websites. If you would like to read more about the results we have obtained in the past and statements regarding the quality our work, you must read the disclaimer:
Terrezza Law Case Results
Outcome: Not guilty verdicts on all charges
Charge(s): Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, Theft of Government Money
Case Number: 5:19crXX-TKW
Date: October 2020
Jurisdiction: United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida
Summary: Client was indicted along with 28 others in a conspiracy to obtain funds from the Federal Livestock Disaster Program by fraud. After several days of jury trial, during which Mr. Terrezza argued that his client had no knowledge that the source of the funds was illegal, the client was found not guilty of all charges.
Outcome: Not guilty verdict
Charge: Driving Under the Influence
Case Number: 2019 CT XXXX
Date: March 2021
Jurisdiction: Santa Rosa County, Florida County Court
Summary: Client was charged with DUI after being stopped for speeding leaving Pensacola beach. Client performed field sobriety exercises but refused the breath test. A jury returned a not guilty verdict.
Outcome: Not guilty verdict
Charge: Driving Under the Influence
Case Number: 2020 MM XXXXX
Date: March 2021
Jurisdiction: Escambia County, Florida County Court
Summary: Client was stopped for driving the wrong way on a street in downtown Pensacola. Client refused to perform field sobriety exercises and refused to take a breath test. A jury returned a not guilty verdict.
Outcome: Not Guilty verdict on DUI charge, convicted of other charges.
Charges: DUI, Unsafe Operation of a Motor Vehicle, Refusal to Submit to a Breath Test, and Violation of a Traffic Control Device
Case Number: 3:21-po-XXXXX
Date: October 2021
Jurisdiction: United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida
Summary: Client was driving approximately 80 mph in a 25-mph zone within a National Park, was stopped, admitted to having a couple beers, performed field sobriety exercises, and was ultimately arrested for several offenses including DUI. Because these are petty offenses in federal court, client was not entitled to a jury trial. A bench trial was held in front of a Magistrate Judge and client was found not guilty of DUI but convicted of Unsafe Operation of a Motor Vehicle, Refusal to Submit to a Breath Test, and Violation of a Traffic Control Device.
Outcome: Referred to State Court for simple possession, 90 days jail
Charges: Conspiracy to Distribute more than 100 grams Heroin
Case Number: 3:20crXX
Date: September 2021
Jurisdiction: United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida
Summary: Client was charged in Federal Court with a conspiracy to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin which carried a 5-year minimum mandatory sentence. Mr. Terrezza was able to convince the Government that his client was a user not a dealer, and the case was referred to state court where his client entered a no contest plea to possession of heroin and was sentenced to 90 days jail.
Outcome: Dismissed
Charges: Tampering in misdemeanor proceeding, Battery, Criminal Mischief, Petit Theft
Case Number: 2020 CF 41XX
Date: June 2021
Jurisdiction: Escambia County, Florida Circuit Court
Summary: Client was charged after an argument with his girlfriend. Her best friend told police he pushed her down and stole her dog. After the case was set for trial all charges were dismissed.
Outcome: Dismissed
Charge: Petit Theft
Date: August 2021
Jurisdiction: Escambia County, Florida County Court
Summary: Woman was charged with theft after being accused of not scanning items at Wal Mart self-checkout. After Wal Mart failed to produce the surveillance video from the incident and the case was set for trial all charges were dismissed.
Outcome: Dismissed
Charges: Armed Burglary of a Dwelling, Dealing in Stolen Property, Grand Theft of a Firearm, Grand Theft of a Firearm, Grand Theft from a Dwelling
Case Number: 2020 CFR 10XX
Date: March 2021
Jurisdiction: Escambia County, Florida Circuit Court
Summary: Client was accused by an acquaintance of stealing her firearms while in jail and selling them to the pawn shop. After an investigation revealed that the alleged victim was a convicted felon and at least one of the firearms was found in the home of a different convicted felon the case was dismissed.
Outcome: Motion to Dismiss granted
Charge: Possession of a Concealed Weapon
Case Number: 2019 CFMA 25XX
Date: February 2021
Jurisdiction: Bay County, Florida Circuit Court
Summary: Client was arrested after being found in possession of a firearm in his waistband at his hotel pool. Client was represented by another lawyer and entered into a pretrial diversion agreement but violated just before completion. John Terrezza took the case over and filed a Motion to Dismiss alleging that it is not a crime to possess a concealed weapon on the grounds of your own hotel. The State agreed that the alleged conduct was not a crime, and the Court granted the Motion to Dismiss.
Outcome: Charge reduced to Reckless Operation of Vessel
Charge: Boating Under the Influence
Case Number: 2020 MM 22XX
Date: May 2021
Jurisdiction: Escambia County, Florida County Court
Summary: Client was charged with BUI on a jet ski after violating a no wake zone and admitting to drinking a few beers. Client performed field sobriety exercises but refused to submit a breath sample. The State agreed to reduce the charge to Reckless Operation of a Vessel and the client was ordered to pay court costs.
Outcome: Felony drug case dismissed due to violation of 4th Amendment
Charge(s): Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Case Number: 2019 CF XXXX40 A
Date: January 2020
Jurisdiction: Escambia Circuit Court
Summary: Client was stopped for a window tint violation. A drug dog was called to the scene of the traffic stop. The dog alerted, the vehicle was searched, and Suboxone pills and paraphernalia was found inside. I filed a Motion to Dismiss based on an unconstitutional delay in the traffic stop to wait for the arrival of the drug dog. The case was dismissed.
Outcome: Case dismissed
Charge(s): Domestic Violence Battery
Case Number: 2018 MM XXXX41 A
Date: November 2018
Jurisdiction: Escambia County Court
Summary: My client went to his wife’s place of employment to retrieve his vehicle from her. As my client tried to leave in his car his wife became aggressive and there was a struggle over a backpack. My client was able to hold on to the backpack and drive off despite the wife hanging onto the hood of his vehicle. I was able to obtain surveillance footage from the incident and convince the prosecution that the wife was the aggressor and the case was dismissed.
Outcome: All charges dismissed under the Stand Your Ground law
Charge(s): Battery, Resisting Arrest Without Violence
Case Number: 2019 MM XXXX96 B
Date: July 2019
Jurisdiction: Escambia County Court
Summary: Client confronted his neighbor about an unpaid debt and the altercation became physical. The neighbor’s wife called the police and alleged my client had punched her husband in the face. When the police arrived, they threw my client to the ground and charged him with battery and resisting arrest. I filed a Stand Your Ground Motion and the State could not meet their burden to demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that the Client was not acting in self-defense.
Outcome: Felony charge dismissed and firearm returned
Charge(s): Aggravated Assault with a Firearm
Case Number: 2019 CF XXXX92 A
Date: February 2019
Jurisdiction: Escambia Circuit Court
Summary: Client had an argument with friend while they were both drinking at the client’s apartment. Client became afraid and locked herself in the bathroom with her firearm and called 911. When police arrived the friend alleged that the client had pointed the gun at him threatening to shoot him. I spoke with the friend who recanted his story to the police and signed an affidavit swearing that the gun was never pointed at him. The charge was dismissed, and the client was able to get her firearm back.
Outcome: DUI dismissed
Charge(s): Driving Under the Influence
Case Number: 2019 MM XXXX58 A
Date: October 2019
Jurisdiction: Escambia County Court
Summary: Client was in downtown Pensacola hanging out in a parking lot talking to friends and listening to music on his car stereo. Police told him to leave and to turn the music down. After he moved to a nearby parking lot the officer stopped him for a traffic infraction. A DUI investigation was initiated despite that when the officer first ordered him to get in his car and leave, she did not articulate a concern about him being under the influence. Client was arrested for DUI despite performing well on field sobriety exercises and insisting he was not drunk. The case was dismissed on the morning of jury selection.
Outcome: DUI reduced to Reckless Driving; marijuana possession and drug paraphernalia charges dismissed.
Charge(s): Driving Under the Influence <.15; Possession of Marijuana; Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Case Number: 5:19mjXX
Date: November 2019
Jurisdiction: Northern District of Florida
Summary: Client was driving to get some McDonalds late at night on Hwy 98 within the federal jurisdiction of Tyndall Air Force Base when he was stopped for failing to maintain a single lane. The officer who made the traffic stop smelled alcohol and marijuana and the Defendant admitted drinking. The defendant gave a breath sample more than twice the legal limit. After providing mitigation to the prosecution and exploring a possible Motion to Suppress because of an improper traffic stop a plea agreement was reached reducing the DUI charge to reckless driving and dismissing the drug charges.
Outcome: Charges dismissed because of violation of 4th Amendment
Charge: Manufacturing Marijuana; Possession of a Controlled Substance
Case Number: 2018 CF XXXX76 A
Date: March 2019
Jurisdiction: Escambia Circuit Court
Summary: Client was arrested for growing marijuana in his home. After many requests we were finally able to obtain body camera footage showing that the officers threatened him and entered his house before they obtained a search warrant. I filed a Motion to Suppress the evidence based on the officer’s unlawful entry into his residence and the case was dismissed.
Outcome: Felony Drug Charges Dismissed
Charge: Possession of Marijuana More than 20 grams
Case No: 2019 CF XXXX76 A & 2019 MM XXXX77 A
Date: July 2019
Jurisdiction: Escambia Circuit and County Courts
Summary: Client was a passenger in a vehicle stopped for failing to maintain a single lane. During the stop the officer smelled marijuana and the client admitted having a jar of marijuana in his backpack. When the officer weighed the marijuana on the scene it was alleged to have weighed 20.6 grams, just over the threshold for a felony charge. After receiving discovery in the case and demanding the marijuana be weighed in a lab, it was determined to be less than 20 grams of marijuana reducing the charge to a misdemeanor. I filed a Motion to Suppress because the officer’s in-car video showed that the failure to maintain a single lane did not endanger any other vehicles and was not a valid basis for the stop. All charges were dismissed.
Outcome: Probation
Charge: Conspiracy to Distribute more than 50 grams Methamphetamine
Case Number: 3:18crXXX8
Date: January 2020
Jurisdiction: United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida
Summary: Client was indicted in federal court for an agreement to distribute methamphetamine. The charge carried a 10-year minimum mandatory prison sentence. The client was deemed eligible for relief from the minimum mandatory through the safety valve provision of the First Step Act. I had the Client evaluated by a neuropsychologist who determined that a mental handicap contributed to his commission of the offense. The Client received a downward variance from the sentencing guidelines to a probationary sentence.
Outcome: Sentence vacated and remanded for re-sentencing
Charge: Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana
Case Number: 18-11823
Date: August 2019
Jurisdiction: United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit
Summary: Client was sentenced to 60 months for a conspiracy to distribute marijuana. On appeal, I argued that the drug weight which formed the basis for his sentencing guideline calculation was based on unreliable hearsay and therefore violated his due process rights. After I argued the case before a three-judge panel in Atlanta, the court vacated his sentence and remanded for a new sentencing hearing.
Escambia County Court, 2019
Client charged with DUI, Resisting an Officer Without Violence, and No Valid Drivers License. I filed a Motion to Suppress because officers made the traffic stop outside of their jurisdictional authority. My Motion was granted after a hearing and the case was dismissed.
United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, 2018
Client went to a jury trial on charges of possession of several firearms as a convicted felon, possession of cocaine and heroin with intent to sell, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The jury found him guilty of possessing the guns and drugs but not guilty of possessing the firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking crime. Client was spared a 5-year consecutive minimum mandatory because of the jury’s verdict.
Escambia County Court, 2018
Client was charged with DUI with Property Damage. The case was dismissed after I filed a Motion alleging my client’s admission that she was the driver would not be admissible under the Corpus Delicti rule.
Escambia County Circuit Court, 2018
Client was charged with Marijuana Possession with Intent to Sell and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. The felony charge was reduced to a misdemeanor and the client was referred to the pre-trial intervention program and is eligible to have the charge dismissed upon successful completion.
Escambia County Circuit Court, 2018
Client was charged with a felony for marijuana edibles found in his hotel room. I filed a Motion to Suppress alleging the search of his hotel room was illegal and the case was dismissed.
Escambia County Court, 2018
Client was charged with Domestic Violence Battery. I filed a Motion to Dismiss under Florida’s Stand Your Ground law and the case was dismissed.
United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, 2018
Client was charged federally for DUI at the entrance to Eglin Air Force Base. The case was dismissed on the eve of trial.
Escambia County Circuit Court, 2018
Client was charged with a violation of his felony probation for driving a scooter on the sidewalk while his drivers license was suspended. I filed a Motion to Dismiss alleging that the law applied to the roadway only and the violation was dismissed.
Escambia County Circuit Court, 2018
Client was charged with Robbery with a Firearm, which is a first-degree felony punishable by life in prison. Client entered a plea to misdemeanor charges for time served.
Escambia County Court, 2018
Client was charged with DUI and proceeded to a jury trial where he was found not guilty despite the testimony of a toxicology expert retained by the State.
United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, 2018
Client was indicted for Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute and proceeded to a bench trial on this charge. A judgement of acquittal was entered by the Court.
Escambia County Circuit Court, 2018
Client was charged with Attempted Premeditated Murder with the Discharge of a Firearm resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, Home Invasion Robbery, and Aggravated Assault with a Firearm. All charges were dismissed.
Escambia County Court, 2017
Client charged with battery after being involved in an altercation outside a bar. A Motion was filed under Florida’s Stand Your Ground Law and after a hearing the Judge found that my client acted in lawful self defense and the case was dismissed.
Escambia County Circuit Court, 2017
Client was charged with possession of controlled substances and drug paraphernalia. Client was accepted into the Pre-trial Intervention program and the charges will be dismissed upon successful completion.
Escambia County Circuit Court, 2017
Client was charged with Leaving the Scene of a Crash with Injury, DUI with Property Damage, Resisting an Officer Without Violence, and Refusal to Submit to Testing. Client entered a plea for time served to Resisting an Officer Without Violence, all other charges were dismissed.
Escambia and Santa Rosa County Circuit Court, 2017
Client was charged with Carrying a Concealed Firearm and Possession of Marijuana in Escambia County while on probation in Santa Rosa County. A Motion to Suppress all evidence resulting from an illegal traffic stop was granted and all charges were dismissed.
Escambia County Court, 2017
Client was charged with Driving on a Suspended license after being observed driving a scooter on the Sidewalk. The case was dismissed after I successfully argued that the charged statute did not apply to persons operating a motor vehicle on the sidewalk.
Escambia County Circuit Court, 2017
Client who was not a United States Citizen was charged with the felony offense of Possession of More than 20 grams Marijuana. He was referred to the Pre-trial Intervention program on the misdemeanor charge of Possession of Less than 20 grams marijuana, which will result in the charge being dismissed upon successful completion.
United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, 2017
Client was charged with Possession of Marijuana on federal property. He entered into the drug diversion program and the charges will be dismissed and his record will be automatically expunged upon successful completion.
Escambia County Court, 2017
Client was charged with a battery upon her husband. The charges were dismissed.
Santa Rosa County Circuit Court, 2017
Client was charged with the felony offense of Fleeing and Eluding Law Enforcement which carries a mandatory adjudication of guilt but entered a negotiated plea to the misdemeanor offense of reckless driving.
Escambia County Court, 2016
Represented four defendants accused of possessing less than 20 grams of marijuana who were accepted into the pretrial intervention programs and had their charges dismissed upon successful completion.
Escambia County Court, 2016
Represented client accused of DUI who entered a no contest plea to the reduced charge of Reckless Driving.
Escambia County Circuit Court, 2016
Represented Client accused of Possession of Controlled Substances and Drug Paraphernalia. My Motion to Suppress evidence based on a lack of probable cause for her arrest was granted and charges were dismissed.
Escambia County Court, 2016
Represented client accused of DUI with blood alcohol level over .15g/mL. My Motion to Suppress blood test results obtained in violation of the client’s constitutional right to privacy was granted and the charge was reduced.
Escambia County Circuit Court, 2016
Represented client who was a habitual felony offender facing life in prison for the Armed Burglary of a Dwelling and Criminal Mischief. The client entered a no contest plea to the charge of Criminal Mischief for time served and the Armed Burglary charge was dismissed.
Escambia County Circuit Court, 2016
Represented a client accused of Domestic Battery by Strangulation. The Felony offense was reduced to misdemeanor simple battery and the client entered the pre-trial diversion program with all charges to be dismissed upon successful completion.
United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, 2015
Represented a Defendant charged with Theft of Government Property. Charge dismissed.
Santa Rosa County Court, 2015
Represented a Defendant accused of possessing less than 20 grams of marijuana. Defendant received pre-trial diversion, and was given an opportunity to have the charges dismissed.
Escambia County Court, 2015
Represented a Defendant accused of gambling. Plea offer was 60 days in jail. Charge dismissed.
Santa Rosa County Court, 2015
Represented a Defendant accused of a probation violation. My Motion to Dismiss on Constitutional Speedy Trial grounds was granted.
Circuit Court, Okaloosa County, 2015
Represented a Juvenile accused of shoplifting. Juvenile was accepted into a diversion program, and given an opportunity to have the charges dismissed.
Law Offices of Lloyd Vipperman Jr. Case Results
United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, 2015
Along with Lloyd Vipperman, I represented a client accused of being a felon in possession of a firearm, cocaine, and marijuana in the trial court. I drafted a Motion to Suppress based on improper promises of non-prosecution made by the police. The Motion to Suppress was denied by the district court and our client entered a plea reserving his right to appeal. I briefed his appeal to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, the district court’s decision was reversed, and our client was set free.
Circuit Court, Alachua County, 2015
I was lead trial counsel for a Defendant facing mandatory life imprisonment on charges of Armed Burglary with a Firearm and Attempted Home Invasion Robbery. The Defendant was found not guilty of possessing the charged firearm and convicted of a lesser offense.
United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, 2014
I assisted Lloyd Vipperman Jr. in representing a former Gainesville police officer accused of identity theft. The Defendant entered a guilty plea and received a one-day sentence from the Court.
Alachua County Court, 2014
I represented a Defendant accused of a battery. I was sole trial counsel, and defendant was found not guilty by a jury.
Alachua County Court, 2013
I represented a University of Florida student accused of hazing a fraternity pledge. All charges were dismissed.
Circuit Court, Baker County Florida, 2013
I assisted Lloyd Vipperman Jr. in representing a Defendant seeking a belated appeal. Defendant was granted a belated appeal by the Court based on prior counsel’s failure to advise him of his appellate rights.
Circuit Court, Alachua County Florida, 2013
Defendant was charged with Possession of Cannabis with Intent to Sell after 7 lbs. of marijuana were found in his trunk during a traffic stop. I filed a Motion to Suppress based on an unconstitutional stop and the charge was dismissed.
Circuit Court, Alachua County Florida, 2013
Defendant was accused of leaving the scene of an accident with great bodily injury. Defendant rejected pre-trial offer of prison sentence. I was lead trial counsel and defendant was found not guilty of all charges by a jury.
United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, 2012
I assisted Lloyd Vipperman Jr. in representing a Defendant accused of a conspiracy to commit forced labor, visa fraud, and document servitude. My investigation revealed that the Defendant’s conduct was not prohibited by law until after it was alleged to have been committed. All charges against our client were dismissed.
United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, 2012
I was second chair to Lloyd Vipperman Jr. during the trial of a Defendant accused of a conspiracy to distribute more than 1,000 kg of marijuana. The jury found our client guilty of possession of less than 50kg marijuana.
Alachua County Court, 2012
Client was charged with DUI. I was lead counsel at trial. In the middle of trial, client was offered, and accepted, a plea to reckless driving and a $25.00 fine.
Circuit Court, Levy County Florida, 2011
Defendant was charged with Possession of Cannabis with Intent to Sell. I drafted a Motion to Suppress evidence gathered from a search warrant which lacked sufficient specificity. Charge dismissed.
United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, 2011
I was second chair to Lloyd Vipperman Jr. during the trial of a Defendant accused of a conspiracy to grow more than 100 marijuana plants. Defendant was tried along with six other co-defendants. Our client was the only one found not guilty by the jury.
United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, 2011
I assisted Lloyd Vipperman Jr. in representing a University of Florida professor of nuclear engineering accused of defrauding NASA. Despite the Government’s allegations of a multi-million-dollar fraud, the Court found that NASA had suffered no monetary loss, and the Defendant received a six-month sentence.
Circuit Court, Bradford County Florida, 2011
Defendant was charged with an Armed Home Invasion Robbery. I drafted and argued a Motion to Suppress all evidence gathered as a result of his warrantless arrest. The Motion to Suppress was granted and all charges were dismissed.
