DeeAnn D. Athan, 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. After leaving the State Attorney's Office, DeeAnn entered private practice where she litigated many state and federal cases over the course of the next nine years. She not only litigated on the trial court level, but is also an experienced appellate attorney having represented clients in both state and federal appellate courts. 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 litigated many serious felony cases including homicides. Ultimately, she became a member of the Homicide Division. DeeAnn is well known for her defense of high profile cases in Hillsborough County. She successfully represented Walter "JJ" Revear, a twelve year old charged with robberies and later car thefts. She was lead counsel for 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 Felony Murder and Grand Theft Motor Vehicle. Both "JJ" and Valessa were targeted by the local and national media. DeeAnn was ridiculed by many for her zealous and unwavering representation of these children. Other high profile cases handled by DeeAnn include the multiple homicide case against Silvio Izquierdo-Leyva, who was responsible for the death of five individuals at a local hotel on the eve of the millennium, and Paula Guitierrez, whose paramour forced her to participate in a bank robbery with him, killed a local police officer and then committed suicide. DeeAnn has appeared on Court T.V., 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, Ramirez & Associates, in June of 2003 where she continues to litigate serious criminal matters.

• U.S. v. Pope 1995

• U.S. v. Laetividal-Gonzalez 1991

• U.S. v. Fink (Antonietti) 1996

• U.S. v. Callahan 1993

• Marshall v. Gore 1987