Hiring an Experienced Attorney

Former State Prosecutors – The attorneys in our office are both former state prosecutors. We learned how the system works from the inside. As a result, we know the strategies and tactics used by the State. This provides us with insight on defenses that may be effective and where the prosecutor’s case may be weakest.

Trained Like Law Enforcement – Attorney Marc Pelletier and Attorney Zachariah Wade are trained in the proper administration of Field Sobriety Exercises, having received the same training as law enforcement in the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration Standardized Field Sobriety Testing curriculum. We can review law enforcement’s administration of the FST’s in your case to determine if it was handled correctly and if the results can be relied upon as an accurate measure of sobriety.

Certified Intoxilyzer Operator – Attorney Pelletier obtained training and certification for the operation of the Intoxilyzer 8000 in 2002. This experience and familiarity with the device provides him with an understanding of how the breath test machine works, the necessary maintenance, calibration, testing procedures, and rules that govern breath testing in the State of Florida. We are therefore well equipped to discover if the machine used in your case has an operational history of malfunctions or inaccuracies.

Defending Your Tomorrow 

Marc N. Pelletier

Marc has acquired considerable skill and in-depth knowledge of the criminal justice system.  His experience and expertise is highly regarded.  

He graduated with honors from both Virginia Commonwealth University and Stetson College of Law.  While at Stetson, he was recognized for his superior academic achievement in the areas of Criminal Sentencing Issues, Advanced Criminal Trial Advocacy and Appellate Practice.

He has worked for one of the largest law firms in the Southeast and clerked at the Virginia State Supreme Court. Marc was also employed by a nationally recognized criminal defense firm in Richmond, Virginia.

After being admitted to the Florida Bar, Marc served as a Florida State Prosecutor. In addition to prosecuting violations of the law, Marc was responsible for lecturing police officers on DUI law. He was also an onsite advisor to law enforcement agencies concerning the complex legal issues that sometimes arose at DUI checkpoints. He later went on to receive the “Agency Service Award for Outstanding Performance and Service” in the execution of his duties as a State Prosecutor.

Marc’s specialized credentials include certification as a breath test operator from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and certification in the proper administration of field sobriety testing from the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration. He has also completed Advanced Continuing Legal Education Training in the areas of both DUI and criminal defense, as well as, intensive continuing legal education at Harvard Law School’s National College for DUI Defense.  

In 2008, Marc was honored to receive the “Best of St. Petersburg, Attorney” award from the U.S. Local Business Association. The local criminal defense bar recognized Marc’s experience and knowledge in the law by electing him to serve as the President of the Pinellas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers for 2010-2011. In 2015-2016, Marc served as the treasurer for the campaign committee to elect a Pinellas County Court Judge which resulted in a landslide victory where the candidate received 71% of the vote.  Marc has continued to serve on the Campaign Committees for multiple sitting judges and judicial candidates in 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2024, all of whom were elected or re-elected to the bench.

Online consumer lawyer rating organization, “AVVO” awarded Marc with its highest designation of “Superb.” This popular consumer guide found that Marc Pelletier is widely recognized by the legal community for a superb professional reputation.

Zachariah Wade

Zachariah’s experience as a former prosecutor and law school professor adds a distinct perspective and high level of understanding to each case he handles.

He is a born-and-raised Central Floridian who attended Florida A & M University before obtaining his law degree from the Stetson University College of Law. During college, Zachariah was a member of FAMU’s Incomparable Marching “100” in the percussion section. While attending law school, he was a member of the #1 Trial Team in the nation, winning trial advocacy competitions across the United States.

After law school, Zachariah served the people of Pinellas County as an Assistant State Attorney and handled thousands of cases ranging from DUI and drug offenses to domestic violence, firearm/weapons charges, and murder. Zachariah has training and education that is relatively uncommon for defense attorneys, as he has attended seminars and certification courses exclusive to law enforcement. As a prosecutor, Zachariah was a member of the Traffic Homicide Unit and was the lead, on-scene, Assistant State Attorney during multiple DUI manslaughter and Vehicular Homicide investigations. 

Zachariah also worked as an Advocacy Skills Trainer with Stetson Law where he trained future lawyers to compete in the same competitions he won as a law student.  Stetson Law School later hired him as an Adjunct Professor of Trial Advocacy and he spent several years teaching young lawyers the art of courtroom advocacy and communication.

Zachariah has served on the Executive Board for the Barney Masterson Inn of Court and currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Clearwater Bar Association. He is also a member of the Pinellas County Trial Lawyers Association and the Pinellas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He has been awarded the Marc L. Levine Award for Leadership, “The Rock” award for exceptional service to the community, the “Golden Tie Award” for success in trial, and the “Rising Prosecutor of the Year” award for exemplary integrity, fairness, and professional ethics as a prosecutor. 

Clients praise Zachariah for his hard work, communication, accessibility, and stellar results. As a Senior Associate with the Law Offices of Marc N. Pelletier, Zachariah handles each case with a high level of experience and a deep understanding of the criminal justice system.