Mr. Cleveland received his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with honors from Dallas Baptist University while serving with the Dallas County Constable's Office. He attained the certification of Master Peace Officer in 1993, the first year that the certification was created. Mr. Cleveland was a Criminal Justice Honoree scholar and member of the Alpha Chi Honor Society. During his sixteen-year law enforcement career, Mr. Cleveland distinguished himself in the area of organized and financial criminal investigations while working in cooperation with other state and federal law enforcement organizations. Mr. Cleveland received his Juris Doctorate from Texas Wesleyan University School of Law where he participated in both Moot Court and Mock Trial honors programs. He was accepted into Phi Delta Phi honors fraternity and was later elected as Magister (president) of Elliott Inn of that organization.

Following law school, Mr. Cleveland was appointed as an Assistant District Attorney in Johnson and Somervell Counties where he prosecuted all types of felony offenses with an emphasis on drug crimes. He received special training in and worked on cases involving the civil forfeiture of assets arising out of felony prosecutions , an area he continues to practice in as a defense attorney.

Since entering private practice in 1999, Mr. Cleveland has focused his career on felony criminal defense and represents clients accused of offenses ranging from minor property crimes to capital murder. Mr. Cleveland has twice been named as one of the best criminal defense lawyers in Tarrant County by FORT WORTH MAGAZINE and has been interviewed and quoted by local media regarding several high profile cases that he has defended.

Mr. Cleveland volunteers his time with Boy Scouts of America, the I.O.O.F., and the Tarrant County Bar Association. He values the work he has donated or done at reduced rates defending juveniles accused of crimes as particularly rewarding.