The Defense Group is a Criminal Defense Law Firm. Our practice is limited to the defense of those accused of crimes and domestic violence injunction proceedings.

Our defense professionals have over 100 years of combined experience. Our attorneys have handled thousands of criminal cases over the past 35 years. The cases include felonies from forgery to murder, misdemeanors from petit theft to domestic battery, traffic from speeding to DUI, manslaughter, sex offenses, all drug offenses and white collar crimes.

The Defense Group utilizes a "Team" approach to criminal defense.

Our DUI Defense Team emphasizes an aggressive approach to DUI, DUI Manslaughter, Vehicular Homicide, and driver's license related offenses. This is an increasingly complex area of the law and it affects all of us. Whether this is your first DUI or a felony offense, we take these cases seriously. This team handles nearly a third of the firm's cases. Team Leader Fred Trabold, Esq. brings both depth and breadth of experience to the DUI defense solution. Prior to joining The Defense group he worked both as a Senior Trial Attorney for the Public Defender's Office in the 9th Judicial Circuit, and as a DUI defense attorney with a firm that specialized in DUI defense. His experience in DMV representation as well as in Court is a great resource for our clients. Mr. Trabold is also fluent in Spanish, a skill much appreciated by our Hispanic clientelle.

Our Major Crimes Defense Team handles the case evaluation and attorney assignments for such crimes as Murder, Sex Crimes, Aggravated Child Abuse, Drug Trafficking and other more serious offenses. Team leader Hal Uhrig, Esq., has over 35 years of practice experience as well as law enforcement experience.

Our attorneys may be assigned to more than one team and sometimes our clients will have charges that cover several areas of emphasis. Legal assistant Pricilla Zapata is fluently bi-lingual in English and Spanish. She currently works with our spanish speaking attorneys, Peter Zies and Frederick Trabold, and other attorneys on the Domestic Violence Team and the DUI Team. Mrs. Zapata also assists other Group members with Spanish speaking clients and witnesses. Jad Brewer, Esq. leads the DUI defense team in Seminole County. Mr. Brewer is also an experienced former DUI prosecutor in other counties. The important thing to remember is that with over 100 years of combined experience, we have the resources to handle your criminal case.

Our Drug Crimes Defense Team is responsible for analyzing and developing a defense strategy for all narcotics related offenses.  Peter Zies, Esq. a former prosecutor, heads up this team and has substantial experience in cases related to drug offenses. Hal Uhrig, Esq. frequently joins Mr. Zies in this responsisblity.

Our Federal Practice and White Collar Crimes Team is currently handled on an "of-counsel" basis by Hermes Manuel ("Manny") Hernandez, Esq. He is a Board Certified Criminal Trial Specialist, very capable of  handling all matters set in the Federal Courts and complex fraud, business compliance, tax and other sophisticated "white collar" offenses. Mr. Hernandez has many years experience and has handled the full range of these cases. He was an Assistant United States Attorney for 10 years before commencing his private defense practice. He has over 20 years in the practice of criminal law, and is "AV" rated by Martindale-Hubblell. Mr. Hernandez is also bilingual (Spanish.)

Craig Sonner, Esq. is a former prosecutor and experienced trial lawyer who as established an "of counsel" relationship with The Defense Group. Although Craig has his own criminal defense practice, he partners with The Defense Group from time to time to bring additional experience (over 8 years practicing criminal law) and resources to the table for some of our cases. Our staff and our clients appreciate the contribution that Mr. Sonner provides. Mr. Sonner is also experienced and accomplished in the defense of juvenile cases.

For our community in the Marion County area, David Mengers, Esq. handles all of our criminal cases. Mr. Mengers is a Board Certified Criminal Trial attorney who focuses on the defense of criminal cases. In Mr. Mengers over 23 years of practice he has defended cases related to Vehicular Homicide, DUI, Attempted Murder, Armed Robbery, Burglary, various Sex Offenses, Dealing in Stolen Property, Grand Theft, Racketeering, and Trafficking/Sale/Possession of Controlled Substances.

In addition to the use of teams and team leaders, specific attorneys have specific primary responsibility for certain geographic areas where we practice. For Example Peter Zies, Esq.  has primary responsibility for cases filed in Orange County. Mr. Zies has practiced criminal defense for over 18 years and is also bilingual, speaking Spanish as well as English.  Jad Brewer, Esq. has primary responsibility for cases filed in Seminole County. Mr. Brewer was a prosecutor in both Orange and Osceola Counties before leaving the Office of State Artrorney to join The Defense Group. With over 5 years of courtroom experience, Mr. Brewer has practiced long enough to be eligible to hold the office of Circuit Judge. Mr. Uhrig has primary responsibility for cases filed in Lake and Volusia Counties. He has an office both in our Maitland offices and in our Daytona Beach office. Mr. Trabold is assigned primary responsibility for cases filed in Osceola and Brevard Counties. He spends time in both the Maitland offices and in the Kissimmee office.

Finally, we have off-site attorneys capable of handling all Appeals and Writs for the firm.  Terrence Kehoe, Esq. is an experienced appellate attorney who has limited his practice to appeals for many of his 27 years as a practicing attorney. He is a member of The Florida Bar's Appellate Rules Committee. Mr. Kehoe has been Board Cerrtified by The Florida Bar as a Criminal Appellate specialist for the last 15 years.

We practice in all State and Federal Courts in Central Florida.