Terence Lenamon: Criminal Defense Attorney in Miami

Lenamon’s Practice Focuses Upon Complex Criminal Matters Including Death Penalty Cases
Mr. Lenamon’s practice encompasses both state and federal charges in Florida and across the country. Today, he places special emphasis on capital litigation and violent crimes. a majority of his cases involve complex, serious crimes carrying the risk of lengthy or life imprisonment (or jail time) or the death penalty.

In more than 15 years of practice, Terence M. Lenamon has earned a reputation for skilled and high quality criminal defense.  Among the thousands of cases he has handled are more than 100  jury trials, with countless successes in high profile, complex cases in state and federal courts.

Lenamon Has Tried over 100 Jury Trials Involving Complex Criminal Defense
In more than 100 jury trials, Terry Lenamon has handled complex criminal matters.  Of his 20 first- degree murder trials in which he served as first or second chair “learned counsel,” he has tried eight death penalty cases to verdict. 

Terry Lenamon’s Clients Include Casey Anthony, Cesar Mena, Armond David, Sedrick Johnson, John Harris, and Mario Larra
Several of his notable clients include Cesar Mena, Armond Davis, Sedrick Johnson, John Harris, and Mario Larra.  His cases have been profiled nationally on “The First 48,” A & E’s “The Point,” CNN, and Nancy Grace, as well as in local media.

Recently, Terence Lenamon joined in the criminal defense representation of Casey Anthony, the “Tot Mom,” who faces serious criminal charges involving the death of her daughter, Caylee Anthony, which included a possible death penalty.  In doing so, Mr. Lenamon has become known in the media as a member of the “Casey Anthony Dream Team.”

Lenamon’s Recognized Death Penalty Expertise Focuses Upon Mental Health Issues
The majority of Terry Lenamon’s criminal defense work involves violent crimes with capital crime guilt and penalty phase proceedings.  In Florida, the state has the discretion to pursue the death penalty in the crimes of (1) first-degree murder, (2) felony murder, (3) capital drug trafficking, or (4) capital sexual battery.  After conviction of a capital offense subject to the death penalty, a second jury trial, known as “the penalty phase,” determines whether to impose a life or death sentence. 

During the penalty phase, which is Mr. Lenamon’s forte, the jury hears evidence concerning “aggravators,” circumstances that weigh toward death, and “mitigators,” which weigh in favor of mercy.  The jury then makes a sentencing recommendation to the judge based on these aggravators and mitigators.  Florida, unlike many other states, does not require that the jury’s death recommendation be unanimous.

Terry Lenamon has served as first chair counsel, responsible for the guilt phase, for over 20 defendants who were facing a sentence of death.  In more than 50 additional cases, Mr. Lenamon has served as learned second chair counsel, where he was responsible for penalty phase proceedings, mitigation, and death penalty waiver.  In those cases, he persuaded the State to waive the death penalty more than 26 times.

Lenamon’s Expertise in Mental Health as a Factor in Sentencing
A major factor in Mr. Lenamon’s outstanding success in death penalty cases is his mitigation strategy, which has a special emphasis on mental health issues.  In each case, he assembles a team of experts with specialties tailored to his particular client.  His resources include a network of expert private investigators, mental health professionals, cultural anthropologists, neuro-cognitive scientists, psychiatrists, forensic sociologists, and other medical specialists.  Lenamon’s team performs extensive research into the client’s background, psychological history, and medical history.  The data is then analyzed and summarized to provide the appropriate legal defenses for both guilt and penalty phases. 

Terry’s approach to the criminal defense of a defendant facing capital punishment, i.e., the death penalty, has been honed over time.  His success has garnered him national recognition as a criminal defense attorney to call when a defendant is facing that most ultimate of punishments: the taking of his life by the state as punishment for a committed crime.

Continued Studies and Participation
Terry Lenamon is an active participant in the Trial Lawyer’s College.  The Trial Lawyers College, founded by Gerry Spence, is renowned for its litigation techniques and strategies.  He has also taught techniques in mitigation investigation for the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and he has earned over 500 hours of continuing legal education in the study of the death penalty in the United States.  Due to his expertise, Terry was chosen to present techniques on creative brief writing in capital litigation.

Mr. Lenamon is a member of the Florida Bar and the Federal Bar.  He is admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court, the U.S. Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, the U.S. Middle District Court of Florida, and the U.S. Southern District Court of Florida.  Terry Lenamon is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) and the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (FACDL). 

Today, Terry Lenamon partners with Ken Swartz, another renowned criminal defense attorney, in the law firm of Swartz & Lenamon.  He serves clients from the South Florida area as well as throughout the state of Florida and nationally at the federal level. 

Background
Board Certified as Criminal Trial Lawyer by the Florida Bar Association (1999 – present)
AV Rating by Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating
Juris Doctorate, Nova University School of Law 

Admissions
United States Supreme Court
       2001
United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
       2000
United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
       2000
United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
       1996
Florida State Bar
       1993
Certified Legal Intern
       1992-1993           

Memberships
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL)
       Member
Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (FACDL)
       Member

A&E -- “The First 48”

A&E – “The Point”

CNN

Nancy Grace

Banfield & Ford: Courtside on In Session

Houston Examiner
“Casey Anthony and Her High Powered Dream Team”
January 14, 2009
Terence Lenamon Joins Casey Anthony Defense Team

Orlando Sentinel
State won't seek death penalty for Casey
December 6, 2008
Terence Lenamon

Miami Herald
CRIME: Justice moving slowly in Taylor case 
November 26, 2009
Terence Lenamon speaks as an authority on first degree murder

Orlando Sentinel
Report argues against death for Caylee's mom
 November 6, 2008
Terence Lenamon

UPI
Lawyer: No death penalty for Caylee's mom
 November 6, 2008
Terence Lenamon

WKMG-FL
CHANNEL 6 NEWS 2008-10-22 05:14:10
October 22, 2008
Terence Lenamon

Miami Herald
CRIME | Miami-DADE CIRCUIT COURT: Mother to jury: Spare my son from death
August 16, 2008
Terence Lenamon

Miami Herald
COURTS: Man guilty of murdering eyewitness
June 21, 2008
Terence Lenamon

Miami Herald
Man guilty of killing eyewitness
June 20, 2008
Terence Lenamon

Miami Herald
Miami-DADE CIRCUIT COURT: Lawyer: Killing was to protect brother
June 14, 2008
Terence Lenamon

Miami Herald
COURTS: 2 found guilty in guard's killing
January 31, 2008
Terence Lenamon

Miami Herald
Closings begin in jewelry store murder trial
January 30, 2008
Terence Lenamon

Miami Herald
Miami-DADE COURTS: Murder trial witnesses say they were threatened Two witnesses in a murder trial said they were threatened, and two others now claim to have forgotten what they saw and heard about the case.
January 25, 2008
Terence Lenamon

Miami Herald
Murder trial witnesses: We were threatened
January 24, 2008
Terence Lenamon

El Nuevo Herald
Recomiendan cadena perpetua para Mena
November 11, 2007
Terence Lenamon

Miami Herald
2002 KIDNAPPING: Jury recommends life in teenager's murder Jurors convicted one of the so-called Orlando Boys of killing a teenager and trying to kill her boyfriend.
November 11, 2007
Terence Lenamon

Miami Herald
MURDER IN THE EVERGLADES: Death upheld for girl's killer A man convicted of dumping a 5-year-old girl in the Everglades and leaving her to die was given the death penalty by a Miami-Dade judge.
October 16, 2007
Terence Lenamon

Miami Herald
Killer gets death in child's gator death
October 15, 2007
Terence Lenamon

El Nuevo Herald
Muerte para hombre que dejá morir a niña en los Everglades
September  1, 2007
Terence Lenamon

Miami Herald
Miami-DADE: Jury recommends death for killer of 5-year-old A Miami-DADE JURY DELIBERATED FOR TWO HOURS BEFORE VOTING 11-1 TO RECOMMEND THE DEATH SENTENCE FOR HARRELL BRADDY.
September 1, 2007
Terence Lenamon

Miami Herald
Jury urges death penalty in Everglades case
August 31, 2007
Terence Lenamon

Miami Herald
COURTS: Family of girl's killer pleads for his life Harrell Braddy's family told a judge and jurors that putting the convicted murderer to death would devastate them.
August 30, 2007
Terence Lenamon

Miami Herald
Family of girl's killer pleads for his life.
August 29, 2007
Terence Lenamon

Miami Herald
Jury hears about killer's criminal past
August 30, 2007
Terence Lenamon
  
El Nuevo Herald
Un veredicto "culpable" que esperá 9 años
July 18, 2007
Terence Lenamon

Miami Herald
COURTS: Braddy guilty of girl's murder A Miami-Dade jury convicted Harrel Braddy of first-degree murder for dumping a 5-year-old in the Everglades,where she was killed by alligators.
July 18, 2007
Terence Lenamon

Miami Herald
Miami-DADE CIRCUIT COURT: Mother testifies she tried to save daughter Taking the stand for the second day, the mother of a 5-year-old left to die in the Everglades recalls how she tried to save her daughter.
July 11, 2007
Terence Lenamon

Miami Herald
Miami-DADE CIRCUIT COURT | TRIAL OF HARREL BRADDY: Man on trial over girl killed by gators Nine years after police say he left a 5-year-old to be eaten by gators, Harrel Braddy is on trial and facing the death penalty.
July 10, 2007
Terence Lenamon

South Florida Sun Sentinel
PINES MAN SENTENCED FOR SELLING FAKE DRUGS
September 4, 2003
Terence Lenamon

South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Miami man guilty in bizarre Santeria slaying
March 22, 2003
Terence Lenamon

Miami Herald
N.Y. LAWMAKER, Miami INMATE DISCUSS A WARNING
October 7, 2001
Terence Lenamon

South Florida Sun-Sentinel
INMATE SAYS HE TOLD FBI OF TERRORIST PLOT
October 5, 2001
Terence Lenamon

Miami Herald
4 MONKS DENY THEY WERE ABUSED
April 10, 2001
Terence Lenamon

Miami Herald
SUSPECT CLAIMS SEXUAL ABUSE
April 8, 2001
Terence Lenamon

Miami Herald
4 HIRE LAWYERS IN NUN'S MURDER
April 6, 2001

Seminars
Trial Lawyer’s College (Gerry Spence) (participant)

Techniques in Mitigation Investigation (instructor)
Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (FACDL)

Motion Practice (instructor)
Death is Different -- March 2009
Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (FACDL)

500+ hours, as of 2008, of continuing legal education regarding the death penalty

Publicaitons
“Role Reduction Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines”
By Ken Swartz
Florida Defender, Winter 2002

“A Few Basics About Contempt”
By Ken Swartz
Florida Defender, Winter 2003

“Eleventh Circuit Case Law Update and Survey”
By Ken Swartz
Column, Florida Defender  (2008)

State of Florida v. Roosevelt Peterson, Jr.
Charged with felony cocaine possession and purchase, his client was faced with long incarceration.  Terry convinced the State to drop charges, even after the jury was sworn.

State of Florida v. Antonio Encinosa
A jury found Antonio Encinosa “NOT GUILTY” on a charge of aggravated assault with a firearm thanks to Terry’s advocacy.

State of Florida v. John McKenzie
John McKenzie was found “NOT GUILTY” of burglary when Terry argued his case to the jury.

State of Florida v. Rolando Vo-Mendez
Terry’s trial skills persuaded the jury to acquit, and the client was found “NOT GUILTY” of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

State of Florida v. Andre Bailey
Andre Bailey was found “NOT GUILTY” of armed robbery with a weapon by the jury due to Terry.

State of Florida v. John Worthey
A jury acquitted Terry’s client of a charge of selling and delivering cocaine.

State of Florida v. Keith Campbell
Keith Campbell was found “NOT GUILTY” of robbery with an armed weapon and acquitted by the court on related charges due toe Terry’s efforts.

State of Florida v. Juan Martinez
After Terry argued the case to the jury, Juan Martinez was acquitted on two felony charges – burglary and third degree grand theft.

State of Florida v. Yvette Yallico
Yvette Yallico confessed to drowning her daughter.  Based on mental health mitigation by her criminal attorney Terry Lenamon, the State of Florida dropped the death penalty and reduced charges to 2nd degree murder.  Working with Mr. Lenamon as her defense counsel, she ultimately pled guilty and was sentenced to 15 years.  

State of Florida v. Casey Anthony
Orlando resident Casey Anthonywas accused of murdering her daughter Caylee Anthony, in a case that quickly garnered daily, national media coverage.  As a member of the Anthony defense team (which the media has dubbed “the Casey Anthony Dream Team”), Terry Lenamon persuaded the State of Florida not to seek the death penalty by a mitigation package that stressed the mental health aspects of maternal filicide.

State of Florida v. Henry Cuesta
Henry Cuesta was accused of the contract killing of a woman as well as the attempted murder of her boyfriend.  Based on Mr. Lenamon’s mitigation package, which included mental health issues, the State of Florida waived the death penalty.

State of Florida v. Victor Robinson
Here, Mr. Lenamon’s client, Victor Robinson, was charged with the killing of an infant.  As his criminal defense attorney, Terry Lenamon offered substantial mitigation, which resulted in a death penalty punishment being waived and a 40 year plea agreement with the State of Florida.

State of Florida v. Michael Person
First-degree murder charges against Michael Person were dropped after Terry Lenamon discredited the State of Florida’s key witness in an evidentiary hearing.

State of Florida v. Johnson Michel
The death penalty was waived for Johnson Michel due to criminal defense trial attorney Terence Lenamon’s mitigation  efforts and tactics during trial.  

State of Florida v. Arwin Simmons
Arwin Simmons turned himself in for the double murder of a father in a wheelchair and his son, and hired Terry Lenamon to be his criminal defense attorney.  Mr. Lenamon not only convinced the State of Florida to waive the death penalty for two counts of first-degree murder and at trial, but ultimately persuaded the jury not to convict on first-degree murder.  

State of Florida v. Walter Chris Best
Walter Chris Best was charged with first-degree murder for a shooting that happened during the robbery of a fast food restaurant.  As Mr. Best’s criminal defense attorney, Terry Lenamon secured a waiver of the death sentence and then convinced the court to sentence the defendant on a lesser charge and 10 years in prison.

State of Florida v. Taylor
Defense client Taylor was in a drag race in which several people were killed.  At the criminal trial, Mr. Lenamon successfully argued to the jury that the defendant was not guilty of manslaughter but instead the lesser charge of reckless driving.

State of Florida v. Deleon Brown
As Deleon Brown’s criminal defense attorney, Terence Lenamon had his charges were reduced to accessory after fact and 10 years, after first persuading the State of Florida to drop the death penalty.

State of Florida v. James White
After Terence Lenamon’s negotiations, the State of Florida dropped charges after originally wanting the death penalty for the first-degree murder counts against criminal defense client James White.

State of Florida v. Janice Grant
In a false confession, Janice Grant falsely claimed that she dressed up as a boy and committed a murder. After taking her criminal case, defense attorney Terry Lenamon persuaded the prosecution of the false confession.  The death penalty was waived, and she received a 15-year plea agreement on lesser charges.

State of Florida v. Nathaniel Stevens
The jury had already been sworn in the trial of an accused serial killer, when criminal defense attorney Terence Lenamon discredited the confession of Nathaniel Stevens.  As a result, the State of Florida offered a lesser sentence of 8 years rather than the death penalty.

State of Florida v. Generoso Lieo
Generoso Lleo confessed to murder; Terry Lenamon was able to get the case thrown out by showing that the confession was false.

State of Florida v. Roy Bonner
Roy Bonner was a high school football star who confessed to two counts of first-degree murder.  As his defense attorney, Terence Lenamon successfully attacked the reliability of his statements at trial, and the jury hung (11-1) with 11 of the 12 jurors voting to acquit.  After trial, the State of Floida, in negotiations with Mr. Lenamon and his client, offered eight years with credit for time served.

State of Florida v. Rick Edric Thomas
Mr. Lenamon’s client, Rick Edric Thomas, was caught in a police sting and charged with (1) conspiracy to possess with intent to sell cocaine and (2) conspiracy to commit robbery.  At the trial, criminal defense trial lawyer Terry Lenamon successfully argued that the defendant’s confession was untrue, and Rick Edric Thomas was acquitted. 

State of Florida v. Latravis Gallashaw
A known member of the notorious John Doe Gang, Latravis Gallashaw, was charged with multiple homicides; nevertheless, his counsel Terence Lenamon began negotiations with the State of Florida that resulted in a plea of 70 years instead of the death penalty.

State of Florida v. Carlos Fernandez
Carlos Fernandez was charged in a gang-related homicide by the State of Florida; acting of behalf of his client, Mr. Lenamon persuaded the State of Florida to waive the death penalty and instead, offer an eight-year sentence.

State of Florida v. Ovel Lewis
Over Lewis was allegedly involved in several murders by the Jamaican Posse gang.  At trial, his criminal defense attorney Terence Lenamon discredited the main witness, forcing  the State to reduce the first-degree murder charges to 12 years, accessory after the fact.

State of Florida v. Cesar Mena
Cesar Mena was found guilty of the rape and murder of a young woman and the attempted murder of her boyfriend.  At the penalty phase, Terry Lenamon successfully argued for a life sentence rather than death.

State of Florida v. Terrance Green
Newly released from prison, Terrrance Green killed a 15 year old cashier at a fast food restaurant.  At penalty phase, his attorney, Terence Lenamon, convinced a jury to his spare life.

State of Florida v. Armond Davis
Using his expertise in penalty phase mitigation work, Mr. Lenamon saved the life of Armond Davis, who had been convicted of a double homicide during a home invasion robbery.

State of Florida v. Andrew Williams
Mr. Lenamon’s client was convicted of killing a security guard during a robbery at a Coral Gables shopping mall, but his attorney Terry Lenamon successfully prevented Andrew Williams from receiving a death sentence.

State of Florida v Sedrick Johnson.
When Sedrick Johnson went to trial for killing the owner of a gun store in a robbery and shooting several other people, his criminal lawyerTerry Lenamon presented mitigation that convinced the jury to spare Sedrick’s life.

State of Florida v. John Harris
John Harris’s life was spared after conviction on first-degree murder charges when his lawyer Terry Lenamon presented mitigation material developed by experts concerning Mr. Harris’ drug use.

State of Florida v. Mario Lara
Mario Lara had been sentenced to death multiple times and was living on Death Row.  Nevertheless, in the penalty phase of a new trial, Terry Lenamon convinced the jury to recommend life in prison for Mario Lara.  The judge accepted the recommendation, and the defendant is now serving a life term.

State of Florida v. Ronnie Jones
Ronnie Jones had been setting on death row for 14 years until his lawyer, Terence Lenamon, offered substantial mitigation.  Today, Ronnie Jones is off death row and serving three life sentences in a state facility.

Currently Under Appeal
Because of his expertise in capital offenses, the State of Florida has appointed Terry Lenamon to defend some of its most difficult cases.  In the following two matters, the State of Florida refused to waive the death penalty despite aggressive arguments by Mr. Lenamon and even pleas of mercy by the victim’s own family; however, the jury recommendations were not unanimous in the choice between a life sentence or death and now, both cases are currently under appeal:

• State of Florida v. Harrel Braddy – Harrel Braddy, the “Miami Strangler,” was sentenced to death by a jury vote of 11-1 after conviction for leaving a five-year-old girl to be killed by alligators.        
    
• State of Florida v. Wadada Delhall – Wadada Delhall was sentenced to death by a jury vote of 8-4 after conviction for a shooting a witness in an unrelated case against his brother.

DUI Defense
Terry has handled numerous DUI and driving without license cases.  He achieved successful outcomes for his clients charged with these offenses.  Among these cases were State v. Medina, State v. De Los Santos, State v. Steele, Stat4e v. Martin, State v. Rivera, and State v. Bucca.