Melisa L. Militello - Inverness, FL

Melisa L. Militello practices primarily in the area of Criminal Defense. Ms. Militello has handled criminal cases in Central Florida for over 27 years. Born in Bowling Green, Kentucky but transplanted to Florida at 5 years old, Ms. Militello graduated in 1983 from Hernando High School in Brooksville, Florida. She then graduated from the University of Florida with a B.A. in Criminology & Law with a minor in Sociology in 1992 and her Juris Doctor in 1995. She is a huge Gator fan.

Ms. Militello served as an Assistant State Attorney prosecuting criminal cases in Citrus, Sumter, and Marion Counties from 1996 until 1998. During her years as a prosecutor, she prosecuted thousands of cases ranging from DUI's to major felony crimes. Ms. Militello also prosecuted juvenile crimes and domestic violence crimes. She left the State Attorney's Office in 1998 to work for Florida Foster Care Review Project a non-profit agency which conducted judicial reviews of children in foster care to ensure that the children were receiving all the services that they needed. Ms. Militello trained citizen volunteers to conduct judicial review hearings as well as attending the hearings and preparing the orders on review. In 2000, Ms. Militello was in private practice for 10 years in Inverness, Florida practicing Criminal Law and Family Law. In 2010, Ms. Militello worked at the Offices of the Public Defender, handling criminal defense of client's in over 3200 cases. Ms. Militello handled everything from all misdemeanor cases including DUI's (Drunk Driving), Assault, Criminal Mischief, Domestic Battery, Driving on a Suspended License and theft charges to the most serious felony cases including Life Felony cases, Sex Crimes, Drug Charges, Burglary, Dealing in Stolen Property, Manufacture of Methamphetamine, Conspiracy, False Information to Pawn Broker, Grand Theft, Possession of Drug cases, Violation of Probation, Trafficking, Sexual Battery, Organized Fraud and other felony offenses.

She has handled numerous Jury Trials in criminal cases in Citrus, Marion, and Sumter Counties.

Her experience includes jury trials in all types of criminal matters, pretrial motions, including motions to exclude and suppress evidence. Typical suppression issues in criminal cases include, unlawful search and seizure, lack of probable cause to stop or to detain and arrest a client, and statements or confessions from a client in violation of constitutional safeguards such as Miranda warnings.

Ms. Militello endeavors to provide the best possible defense to each of her clients. She is able to put her 27 years of experience both in and out of the courtroom to use when resolving her clients charges.

As a former prosecutor, Ms. Militello knowledge of the procedures and techniques employed by prosecutors allows her to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the prosecutor's case as well as being able to evaluate the defendant's case.

As a former legal instructor, she is familiar with the techniques, instruction and training provided to law enforcement officers, which provides additional insight when reviewing police officers conduct and reports in criminal cases.

She is a member of the Florida Bar, Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, past President of the Citrus County Bar Association and past member Marion County Bar Association. She is a past board member of the West Coast Florida Driver Improvement School and the Cornerstone School. She is a former law instructor at CF College. She is a Sustainer with the Junior League of Ocala. She enjoys travel, cooking and spending time with her children.

Her office is located in Inverness, Florida, in Citrus County, near the old Courthouse, across from Stumpknocker's Restaurant.