Sara Hammond
Sara started her career at the State Attorney’s Office for the 17th Judicial Circuit in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Initially assigned to the Juvenile Division, Sara tried dozens of felony delinquency cases in front of circuit court judges. After a year in Juvenile Court, she was promoted to the Felony Trial Unit and eventually became the Lead Trial Attorney in her felony division, where she tried numerous cases before juries including armed robbery, drug trafficking, attempted murder in the first degree, sexual battery, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, grand theft, and burglary. Sara stayed in the 17th Circuit until the end of 2019, when she transitioned to the 6th Circuit in Clearwater to continue working as a prosecutor.
Prior to joining the Rickman Law Firm, Sara was most recently assigned to the prosecution of Child Abuse cases, where she was responsible for handling the investigation, filing, and prosecution of cases involving physical and sexual child abuse. She has tried offenses including capital sexual battery, possession of child pornography, lewd and lascivious molestation, and sexual battery familial authority. She was also responsible for the investigation, filing, and prosecution of a number of First Degree Murders caused by the Unlawful Distribution of Fentanyl.
Throughout her career as a litigator in criminal court, Sara has tried over 50 cases before juries, conducted hundreds of motions and hearings in front of circuit court judges, and conducted thousands of depositions and interviews, including those of experts in the fields of DNA, ballistics, drug toxicology, accident reconstruction, forensic pathology, cell site data, digital forensics, blood spatter, and cause and manner of death.
Sara is an active supporter of several nonprofit organizations. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, reading, and practicing yoga.
Lou Leinhauser
Lou began his career with the Houston Police Department where he was a Field Training Officer and an Investigator. He was assigned to Narcotics and the Violent Crimes Task Force where he worked undercover infiltrating criminal organizations that were involved with committing major narcotic smuggling to murder for hire and human trafficking. He returned home to Tampa where he joined the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. While there he was quickly promoted to detective in the Organized Crime Bureau. He was assigned to the DEA Task Force where he worked undercover investigating major drug offenders and organized crime. He later was assigned to headquarters working as a detective in the Legal Section investigating Asset Forfeiture and Civil Law Suits against the HCSO involving allegations of officer misconduct such as excessive force, vehicle pursuits involving death or serious injury and officer involved shootings resulting in civil action against the office. Lou left the HCSO to become the Chief of Law Enforcement for the State of Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco. He supervised 86 sworn agents and seven field offices from Orlando to Ft. Myers. He later joined the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services where he was second in command of over 200 uniform and investigators statewide. Lou reorganized the fraud investigations, targeting criminal organizations involving all types of consumer and financial crimes. Lou has been involved and supervised many high-profile cases that have been publicized in the national and international media.
Nicholas Glance
Nick graduated magna cum laude from Gannon University in Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts degree in legal studies, a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice, and a minor in philosophy. He earned his Juris Doctor degree from Stetson University in St. Petersburg, Florida and interned at the State Attorney’s Office in Pinellas County as a certified legal intern, trying criminal cases while finishing law school. He joined the Rickman Law Firm in 2019 with 13 years of experience as a prosecutor, litigating the most serious and complex cases from beginning to end.
As an accomplished litigator, Nick has tried over 100 cases before juries and handled thousands of bench trials, motions, and hearings in front of Judges throughout the State of Florida both for the State of Florida and in defense of his clients accused or being investigated for crimes. He has handled and tried to jury all types of cases such as first-degree premeditated murders, first degree felony murders, second degree murders, manslaughters, vehicular homicides, racketeering (RICO) cases, armed robberies, burglaries, drug trafficking, conspiracies, sex crimes, child abuse, aggravated batteries, aggravated assaults, firearms charges, robberies, violent obstruction and resisting charges, school threats and threats of mass violence, thefts, drugs charges, criminal mischief cases, money laundering, fleeing and eluding cases, witness and evidence tampering, false imprisonments, dealing in stolen property charges, stalking, violations of injunctions, DUIs, BUIs, and numerous traffic offenses. He has successfully defended clients under Florida’s Stand Your Ground laws.
Mr. Glance also has extensive experience in high level negotiations, has presented his cases to homicide and traffic homicide committees in relation to plea negotiations and the death penalty, and has conducted tens of thousands of depositions with all types of witnesses including experts in the fields of narcotics, fingerprints, toolmark analysis, DNA, cell site data, accident reconstruction, human factors, forensic pathology, toxicology, anatomic pathology, and cause and manner of death. He has successfully defended clients at all stages of prosecution, even before an official investigation begins, and has been able to prevent formal charges from ever being filed even after a full criminal investigation by law enforcement agencies. Nick has also helped clients to pursue or to defend against injunctions, to defend against risk protection orders, and to expunge or seal arrest records.
Nick began his career as a prosecutor for the Office of the State Attorney in Hillsborough County. He worked in Juvenile and County Criminal Courts where he prosecuted all juvenile delinquency matters, adult misdemeanors, and all traffic cases including DUIs. He was promoted to the Felony Trial Division where he handled all felony cases prosecuted in Circuit Criminal Court where he was designated as a domestic violence specialist, and eventually promoted to Lead Trial Attorney. In addition to his work in the courtroom, Nick became a training director, where he supervised all the juvenile and county criminal prosecutors in the agency. Prior to joining The Rickman Law Firm, Nicholas Glance was promoted to Deputy Chief of a Felony Trial Division where he worked directly with the Division Chief to handle the filing, assignment, and prosecution of all felony cases assigned to the trial division. As a Deputy Chief, he reported directly to the Chief of his Division and the Elected State Attorney. Additionally, Nick was responsible for trying complex cases including drug trafficking and homicide cases and for supervising the attorneys in the division. Due to his extensive knowledge and experience with Criminal Law, Nick was called upon to teach, lecture and train attorneys, law enforcement, and experts in multiple areas of law. His interns and students have been promoted within their agencies and are now Felony Division Chiefs, Majors in law enforcement, and even Judges.
Anthony Rickman
Anthony Rickman is a Tampa based Attorney with over 17 years of experience in the areas of Criminal Defense. Anthony Rickman practices in and throughout the State of Florida and in the Middle and Southern Districts in Federal Court. Anthony has represented thousands of clients in multiple counties throughout that are charged with crimes including, but not limited to, Serious Felonies, DUI, DUI Manslaughter, Drug Possession, Drug Trafficking/Manufacturing, Violations of Probation, Sex Offenses, Child Pornography, Sexual Battery, Robbery, Child Abuse, Gun Charges, Burglary, Fraud, Forgery, Assault and Battery, Theft, Domestic Violence, Murder, and all other State or Federal Felony and Misdemeanor Offenses. As lead defense counsel, Anthony has successfully argued hundreds of motions and tried numerous cases before a Juries and Judges to verdict. Many of the cases handled by Anthony Rickman are complex criminal matters which often garner media and public attention. Anthony has represented multiple clients in “high profile” case in state and federal court. These cases included highly publicized homicides, sexual offenses, violent crimes, drug offenses, and white-collar crimes.
Anthony Rickman represented individuals arrested or accused of state and federal crimes. Anthony and his team of attorneys, paralegals, and investigators represent clients in all stages of their case. Utilizing his experience, skills, and knowledge, Anthony will conduct a thorough investigation into your case in hopes of stopping the prosecution before it begins. In cases where there is an ongoing prosecution, or in which the Government has brought formal charges, Anthony provides zealous, aggressive, and effective representation in all stages of the criminal prosecution. Through motion practice, Anthony will file motions to dismiss, motions to suppress evidence, or motions to exclude evidence. As an experienced trial attorney, Anthony provides effective, skillful, and zealous representation before juries and judges to obtain a not guilty verdict at trial. In cases where a client does not wish to proceed to trial, he will advocate and mitigate on the client’s behalf to achieve a favorable plea agreement.
A Tampa Bay native, Anthony attended the University of South Florida where he received a full academic scholarship and graduated Cum Laude. He then attended the Florida State University College of Law where he earned his law degree. Upon graduating law school, Anthony was a prosecutor at Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office. As an Assistant State Attorney, Anthony prosecuted thousands of DUI, misdemeanor, traffic, and felony cases. Anthony joined the law firm of Taracks Gomez & Associates in 2007, and in 2011, Anthony was named a partner at Taracks Rickman & Associates. In 2016, Anthony Rickman founded “The Rickman Law Firm”, a firm dedicated to representing clients throughout the State of Florida and in the Middle and Southern Districts of Florida.
Recognized in the legal community and by judges for his knowledge and professionalism, Anthony Rickman has been recognized by US News and World Report as a Best Lawyer in America (Criminal Law) and has received an AV preeminent rating from Martindale Hubble – the highest rating an attorney can receive for legal ability and ethical standard. Anthony has also been recognized as a Florida Super Lawyer and received the designation as a “Florida Legal Elite” Attorney. Anthony is often featured on local and national television providing legal analysis on a wide array of issues. Anthony is a regular legal commentator on FOX, and has appeared on CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN, ESPN, and other major networks. Anthony Rickman has been interviewed by multiple newspapers and publications and is often called upon by print media outlets to give his opinion on legal issues.
