BAIL BOND REDUCTION - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Firm, Senior Trial Attorney

DeeAnn Athan received her Juris Doctorate degree from New York Law School, N.Y., N.Y. in 1983, after receiving her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education from University of South Florida. DeeAnn began her career as a prosecutor with the State Attorney's Office in Hillsborough County, Florida. Upon leaving the Office of the State Attorney, DeeAnn began a general private practice where she litigated many criminal and family law matters over the course of the next nine years. She is not only an experienced trial attorney, but she is also a well versed appellate attorney having represented clients in both state and federal appellate courts in both civil and criminal matters. She is admitted to the practice of law in the State of Florida and in federal courts including the United States Supreme Court. After nine years of a successful private practice DeeAnn joined the Office of the Public Defender in Hillsborough County where she supervised other lawyers and continued to litigate serious cases. Ultimately, she became a member of the Homicide Division. DeeAnn is well known for her defense of high profile cases. She successfully represented Walter "JJ" Revear, a twelve year old charged with robberies and later, car thefts. She was lead counsel for fifteen year old Valessa Robinson who was accused of murdering her mother. In that successful defense, Valessa avoided life in prison with a lesser conviction for Third Degree Murder and Grand Theft. Both "JJ" and Valessa were targeted by the local and national medias. DeeAnn was ridiculed by many for her zealous and unwavering representation of these children. DeeAnn has appeared on Court T.V. now TruTV, both as a litigant and as an attorney expert, on 48 Hours on CBS, on Dateline NBC, and on American Justice on A&E. DeeAnn began with the law firm of Escobar, Michaels & Associates, in June of 2003 where she continues to litigate serious criminal matters. In 2010 she decided to return to the roots of her early practice by joining the Family Law group.DeeAnn continues to use her twenty-eight years of legal experience to aggressively litigate divorces, child support matters, child custody issues, termination of parental rights, dependency defense and domestic violence injunctions.

Denitsa Kolev moved from her home state of Pennsylvania to pursue her undergraduate degree at The Florida State University. After obtaining her Bachelors of Science, Denitsa became a "Double Nole," and obtained her Juris Doctorate at The Florida State University College of Law. Upon graduation, she began her career as a criminal defense attorney in Tampa as an Assistant Public Defender. Denitsa started her career as an Assistant Public Defender, where she represented clients in hundreds of cases, counseled people charged with juvenile, misdemeanor, and felony crimes, and led both bench and jury trials in front of Hillsborough County circuit and county judges. Denitsa then joined Escobar, Michaels & Associates where she has since expanded her practice in criminal law and represent s clients in counties across the state of Florida. She is a zealous advocate and represents cases thoroughly and aggressively while providing open and empathetic communication with her clients. Denitsa has been successful in arguing motion issues, such as "Stand Your Ground," motions to suppress evidence, motions to modify and terminate probation, bond motions, and motions to dismiss. She has also successfully defended juvenile, misdemeanor, and felony charges, resulting in dismissals, acquittals, and reduced charges. She has represented clients in high profile cases, and has been featured on Court TV in the Florida vs. Michael Keetley double homicide trial. She also worked closely on the Florida vs. Curtis Reeves case, a self-defense case which ended in an acquittal after a month-long jury trial. She is admitted to practice in all Florida State County and Circuit Courts as well as the United States Middle District of Florida. Denitsa speaks Spanish and is also fluent in Bulgarian. She enjoys her free time by traveling and spending time with her family and friends.

Dino Michaels was born in Miami, Florida and graduated from Florida State University in 1979 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government. He obtained his Juris Doctorate degree from Nova University Center for the Study of Law in 1983. As a former Pinellas County Public Defender, Dino acquired extensive knowledge of the court system and trial practice. Dino is an aggressive, creative and skilled criminal trial attorney who has won acquittals in over 80% of his jury trials.Dino has been successful in arguing many major criminal issues including consent in sexual battery cases, entrapment in 25 year minimum-mandatory drug trafficking cases, necessity in driving while license suspended cases and ketosis (due to fasting) in DUI cases. Dino's criminal defense experience also includes the successful defense (acquittal) of many misdemeanor and DUI trials. Dino is also an effective litigator in working for clients immediately post-arrest to prevent charges from being formally filed and in filing legal motions which prohibit the State from proceeding on the cases. In additional to felony and misdemeanor cases in both State and Federal Court, Dino is also experienced in DUI, Juvenile, Domestic Battery and Traffic Court matters. Dino also holds memberships with the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Pinellas County Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the Hillsborough Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Dino is admitted to practice in all Florida State County and Circuit Courts as well as the United States Middle District of Florida. Dino speaks Greek and is fluent in Spanish.

Job Titles:

• Trial Attorney, 1987 to 2015

Rene Palomino Jr. was born in Havana, Cuba in 1959 and arrived in Miami, FL in 1962. He was raised in Miami and attemnded Christopher Columbus High School. Upon graduation he attended the University of Miamiand obtained a degree in Business Administration in 1980 with honors. He immediately enrolled in Nova Southeastern University School of Law where he obtained his Juris Doctor degree in 1983. throughout his 39 years of practicing law he has represented over 3,000 cases in state court and approximately 200 cases in federal court. In 2017. In 2017 he relocated to Tampa, FL. and joined the Hillsborough County Public Defender's Office where he was a Felony Division Chief until the end of 2022. On January 3, 2023 he joined the firm of Escobar, Michaels, & Associates where he is presently emplyed.

Job Titles:

• Founding Partner of Escobar Michaels

Richard "Rick" Escobar is the founding partner of Escobar Michaels & Associates. He holds degrees from the University of South Florida (Bachelor of Arts, 1979) and Nova Southeastern College of Law (Juris Doctorate , 1983). Mr. Escobar was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1983. He also holds memberships in National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Hillsborough County Criminal Defense Association, and the Hillsborough County Bar Association. Rick is admitted to practice in all State of Florida Circuit and County Courts, all State of Florida appellate district courts, the Florida Supreme Court, the United States Supreme Court, and the United States Middle District of Florida. He has also practiced before the United States District Court of Texas, the United States District Court of South Carolina, United States District Court of Tennessee, and the United States Military Court. Richard Escobar has practiced law since 1983. He began the practice of law as a prosecutor in the office of the State Attorney for Hillsborough County, Florida. Rick was quickly promoted to lead the trial attorney's in the Felony division where he attained the position of Lead Felony Trial Prosecutor. He became recognized as one of the most aggressive and successful major crimes prosecutor for this office. Rick was known in the Prosecutor's Office to select the most difficult major crimes to prosecute. Rick successfully prosecuted thousands of cases for this office including many major Homicides, Racketeering, Drug Trafficking, Sexual Batteries, and White Collar Crime Cases. In 1986, Richard Escobar started his private practice with a specific focus on criminal defense. Rick has enjoyed great success in all facets of criminal defense in both state and federal cases. He has practiced throughout the state of Florida, in both state and federal cases, as well as, in the states of Georgia, Virginia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Arizona, California, and Ohio. A great deal of his practice focuses on defending Drug Trafficking crimes, Racketeering crimes, violent crimes including Homicide and White Collar, Theft and Fraud Crimes. Rick is recognized as an aggressive, passionate and thorough criminal defense practitioner. His belief is that only through aggressive investigations and thorough trial preparations can one maximize the probability of a positive resolution of criminal cases. Rick has earned an AV preeminent rating by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest possible rating for both legal ability and ethical standards. He has also been recognized by The National Law Journal and Tampa Bay Magazine in the "Top Lawyers of Tampa". While he is proud of theses honors his greatest satisfaction is the achieving justice for his clients. Rick believes that success can only happen when one out works your opponent. Rick also employs the finest investigators, forensic experts, and support professionals to accomplish this goal. Richard Escobar was born and raised in Tampa, Florida, and is married and has two children. Richard is an avid international sport fisherman. He competes internationally in bill fishing tournaments throughout the world. He has fished the waters of Guatemala, Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Cuba, Bahamas, and the United States, predominately, for trophy Marlin and Sailfish. Richard is also an avid tennis and basketball player. Additionally, he has coached youth baseball, football, and basketball teams. He is active in many local civic associations, and has held positions on the Mental Health Care Incorporated Board of Directors, and The University of South Florida Athletics Board of Directors, the University of South Florida Green Jacket Alumni Association, and the Krewe of the Knights of Sant' Yago.