Largo Bench Warrants Search

Bench warrants in Largo are issued through the Pinellas County court system in the 6th Judicial Circuit. Largo is one of the largest cities in Pinellas County, sitting between Clearwater and St. Petersburg on the Gulf Coast. All court cases from Largo go through the Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court in Clearwater. When a Largo resident misses a court hearing or violates a court order, the judge can issue a bench warrant. You can search for Largo bench warrants using the clerk's records system, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, or the FDLE statewide database. All of these are public records under Florida law.

Largo Warrants at the Pinellas Clerk

The Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court handles all bench warrant records for Largo. Ken Burke, CPA serves as the clerk. The office is at 315 Court Street in Clearwater, FL 33756. Phone: (727) 464-7000. Largo cases go into the same system as all Pinellas County cases. The clerk keeps case files, warrant status, court schedules, and related documents. You can ask about a bench warrant by name or case number at the clerk's office.

Records search requests can be made by mail, phone, or fax. The phone number for records is 941-861-7400 and the fax is 941-861-7738. Mail goes to the Public Access Department, P.O. Box 3079, Sarasota, FL. Search fees run $2.00 per name per year. Copies are $1.00 per page. Certification costs $2.00 per document. Exemplification is $7.00 per document. Credit card payments carry a 3.5% processing fee. These fees apply to bench warrant document requests for Largo cases.

Under Florida Statute 901.02, a judge must find probable cause before issuing a bench warrant. In Largo cases, the 6th Judicial Circuit judges sign bench warrants when someone fails to appear or breaks a court order. Once signed, the warrant is active and goes into the system immediately.

Search Largo Bench Warrants Online

The Pinellas County Clerk's website at mypinellasclerk.gov has online tools for searching court records. You can look up cases from the 6th Judicial Circuit, which covers all Largo bench warrants. Search by name, case number, or date. Results show the charge, case status, and any active warrants. This is a public access tool available to anyone. It covers criminal, civil, and traffic cases filed in Largo and the rest of Pinellas County.

The FDLE statewide database at fdle.state.fl.us provides another option. The screenshot below shows the FDLE homepage where you can access the wanted persons search tool that covers all 67 Florida counties.

FDLE updates its database every 24 hours. You can search by first name, last name, date of birth, or other details. The system includes bench warrants, arrest warrants, probation violation warrants, and fugitive warrants from Largo and across the state. FDLE warns that this data should not serve as proof a warrant is active. Always verify with the Pinellas County Clerk for the most current bench warrant status.

The Pinellas County Sheriff also has a warrants page that links to the FDLE search. The sheriff's site notes that their link searches statewide warrants, not just local Pinellas County warrants like parking ticket warrants. For Largo bench warrants, the clerk's records search is the most direct route.

Pinellas Sheriff and Largo Warrants

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office serves bench warrants in Largo. Their headquarters is actually located in Largo at 10750 Ulmerton Road, Largo, FL 33778. Phone: (727) 582-5865. Email: prr@pcsonet.com. The sheriff's deputies go out and arrest people on active bench warrants throughout Pinellas County, including Largo.

The Largo Police Department at 201 Highland Avenue NE, Largo, FL 33770 also plays a role. Phone: (727) 587-6730. Local officers can arrest people on active bench warrants during routine patrols and traffic stops. Under Florida Statute 901.04, any sheriff or law enforcement officer in the state can serve a bench warrant from Largo. The arrest can happen in any Florida county. There are no limits on time or day. A bench warrant from Largo goes into statewide databases that every officer in Florida can access.

Pinellas County also has a Crime Stoppers program. You can call TIPS (8477), visit www.crimestoppersofpinellas.org, or use the P3 Tips mobile app to share information about people with active warrants.

Note: The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office headquarters in Largo is the central hub for warrant service in the county.

Largo Bench Warrant Penalties

Skipping court in Largo leads to a bench warrant and possible new charges. Florida Statute 843.15 makes failure to appear a crime on its own. If the original charge was a felony and you missed court, that is now a third-degree felony. Up to five years in prison. For a misdemeanor, failing to show is a first-degree misdemeanor with up to one year in jail. These charges are added on top of the original case. The bench warrant itself is a separate issue from whatever you were supposed to be in court for.

Bench warrants in Largo do not expire. This is different from search warrants, which expire after 10 days under Florida Statute 933.05. A bench warrant stays active until the person is arrested, the judge recalls the warrant, or the subject is deceased. A bench warrant from years ago in Largo is still valid and will show up during any contact with law enforcement anywhere in the state.

Resolving Bench Warrants in Largo

Talk to a criminal defense attorney before you try to handle a Largo bench warrant. A lawyer can look at the case, check the warrant details, and tell you what your best options are. Filing a motion to quash asks the judge to cancel the warrant. This works best when the case is old or the charges are minor. Voluntary surrender is usually the better approach compared to being arrested at a random time. You can turn yourself in at the Pinellas County Jail at any time.

To resolve a Largo bench warrant, you can:

• Hire a lawyer to file a motion to quash or recall the warrant
• Surrender at the Pinellas County Jail
• Call the sheriff at (727) 582-5865
• Contact the clerk at (727) 464-7000 for case status
• Reach Largo Police at (727) 587-6730

Watch out for scam phone calls. Real police in Largo will never ask you to pay money over the phone to clear a bench warrant. Gift cards and wire transfers are never part of the process. If someone calls asking for payment, hang up and call the clerk or sheriff directly. Under Florida Statute 88.3051, a court can issue a bench warrant or writ of bodily attachment when someone fails to appear after proper notice. The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers network connects all 67 county offices and shares warrant data across the state. Under Florida Rule 3.730, the clerk or state attorney can prepare a direct capias to bring someone before the court in Largo cases.

Largo Warrant Public Records

All bench warrants from Largo are public records under the Sunshine Law, Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. Once a bench warrant is issued and entered in the system, anyone can look it up. You do not need to be part of the case. Some exceptions exist for juvenile records and sealed cases, but most Largo bench warrants are open for public search. The eWarrants system links police, state attorneys, clerks, judges, and sheriffs in Pinellas County and across Florida, so a Largo bench warrant shows up in databases used by law enforcement statewide.

Nearby Cities

These cities are close to Largo in the Tampa Bay area. St. Petersburg and Clearwater are in Pinellas County, while Tampa is across the bay in Hillsborough County.