Panama City Criminal Defense Lawyer
An arrest in Panama City is prosecuted in Bay County and heard at the courthouse in Panama City.
Arrested in Panama City?
Panama City is the county seat, so this is where almost every case in the county ends up regardless of which department made the arrest. First appearance, arraignment, motion hearings and trial all happen here.
Who makes the arrest, and where the case goes
An arrest in Panama City is usually made by the Panama City Police Department inside the city limits and the Bay County Sheriff's Office outside them. Traffic stops happen on US 98 through downtown, US 231 heading north, and Harrison Avenue. Wherever the stop was, the charge is filed in Bay County and heard at the courthouse in Panama City, in the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit.
The part most people get wrong
Being charged in the county seat has one practical advantage: everything is in one place. It also means the courthouse is busy, and a case that nobody is pushing can sit.
What happens in the first 24 hours
First appearance is usually the morning after the arrest, and bond is set there. Between now and then, the two useful things you can do are to stay silent about the facts and to get an attorney involved. Early intervention may result in charges never being filed, or dismissed entirely.
Charges we defend for Panama City clients
- Domestic Violence
- Drug Crimes
- DUI
- Drug DUI
- Felony DUI
- Underage DUI
- BUI
- Cyber Crimes
- Misdemeanors
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The sooner you call, the sooner we can get to work
Early intervention may result in charges never being filed or dismissed entirely. The first consultation is free and the phone is answered 24 hours.