Public Defender

Shawn D. Henry

I have experienced the Office of the Public Defender from inside jail, and I have experienced the Office of the Public Defender while on the streets. The experiences are exactly equal. They never answer. The operators are not educated in law. There is no list of public defender's. There is no online reservation system. You cannot enter the building without an appointment. To make an appointment, you have to schedule one with Rene. I know this because a lady told me over the intercom at the door to the building. Then she walked outside and handed me a card with a number to call. Rene never answered. I asked to speak with any public defender on that day, June 23rd at 2:30pm. Every public defender was in a meeting. All of them. At once. I sought to speak with my representative because of an illegal sentence. My felony public defender, M. Bodie did not do what I believed was in my best interest. Moreover, he set the terms of my plea deal and misdemeanor bump down charge. I was to serve 90 days on my 2nd degree misdemeanor, in addition to various other probationary terms. My misdemeanor public defender, Daniella, did not read the document and did not correct the terms. I argued that I had been given an illegal sentence, but she has declined to help me solve my legal matter. I wrote to Charlie Cofer, but I am unsure if he is legally able to practice law in Florida because his 1977 law degree is from Pennsylvania. It's "trickle down economics" of incompetency. How can we expect anything to function properly if the people at the top don't follow the rules?

Rye Baldy

So far, I have received no call back, just like the other people have said. I guess when my court date comes up, I will be telling the judge that I can not get them to call me, further dragging my case out. I have a right to a lawyer, but it would be nice for them to call me for we can review my case. Makes me super nervous about how they are going to handle the rest of this, since not calling back is pretty unprofessional. Like I said, I will definitely let the Judge know, as well as public officials and anybody at the court house that will listen, perhaps call up my congressman, these are state paid employees, so I am sure someone would like to hear about what's going on!!

Smith Smith

When ever you see this many bad reviews look out. Were there is smoke there is fire. I sure bet if you were working for these guys they would want you to do a better job at returning calls then they do. You see the same comment from several people. These guys do not return calls. There free but you get what you pay for. Its all just part of a system designed to make people money. My son had Shawna Appatiello for his defender. Not only did she not return calls but he was never formally charged and still just sat in jail with a 25000 bond. She just let him sit and did nothing.

Willie Lane

Paula Lane.. The most rudest group of people that supposed to be helping others. The public defender she is very rude and unprofessional with NO knowledge of how to hold a decent professional conversation. I wish I could say her name but she doesn’t need to be there and it really hurts my heart that my nephew life is in her hands. I spoke with her supervisor and he’s just as worse as she is now I see where she gets it from like supervisor like coworker. I pray that election time doesn’t put these people back in office because if so our LOVED ones are in trouble 👿.