In this section of the website, I answer many common, and not so common questions that clients have asked me over the years. There are three ways to find the answers to your question or questions. One, type your question in the search box that is found down and to the right - then click … [Read more...] about How This Section Of The Website Works
Q & A
Arrested in Fort Walton Beach During Spring Break? Here’s How the Okaloosa County Court Process Works
Spring break on the Emerald Coast is not like other places in Florida. The water is clearer, the sand is whiter, and law enforcement is more aggressive than most visitors expect. Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Okaloosa Island, Miramar Beach, and Santa Rosa Beach draw tens of thousands of spring … [Read more...] about Arrested in Fort Walton Beach During Spring Break? Here’s How the Okaloosa County Court Process Works
Prescription Drug Charges in Florida: Penalties and Defenses
I've been a drug defense lawyer in Fort Walton Beach for over 20 years. First as an Okaloosa County prosecutor, now defending drug arrests throughout Northwest Florida. I see this scenario constantly. People get caught with prescription medications without a valid prescription and have no idea how … [Read more...] about Prescription Drug Charges in Florida: Penalties and Defenses
What Happens When a Military Member Gets a DUI?
By Attorney Shawn Lupella, Managing Partner | Florida Bar Member Since 2004 | Former Okaloosa County Prosecutor | 10,000+ Court Appearances Last month, a staff sergeant from Eglin Air Force Base sat in my office, completely devastated. He'd been arrested for DUI on Highway 98 near Destin. First … [Read more...] about What Happens When a Military Member Gets a DUI?
Valentine’s Day and Domestic Violence: False Accusations, Real Consequences
By Attorney Shawn Lupella, Managing Partner | Florida Bar Member Since 2004 | Former Okaloosa County Prosecutor | 10,000+ Court Appearances Every February 14th, my phone rings off the hook. Half the calls come from people sitting in the Okaloosa County Jail, arrested after a Valentine's Day … [Read more...] about Valentine’s Day and Domestic Violence: False Accusations, Real Consequences
First Offense DUI: Can You Avoid Conviction in Florida?
By Attorney Shawn Lupella, Managing Partner | Florida Bar Member Since 2004 | Former Okaloosa County Prosecutor | 10,000+ Court Appearances I've defended hundreds of first-time DUI cases in Northwest Florida over the past 20 years. A DUI arrest doesn't have to mean a DUI conviction. That teacher I … [Read more...] about First Offense DUI: Can You Avoid Conviction in Florida?
Florida Drug Trafficking vs. Possession: What’s the Difference?
By Attorney Shawn Lupella, Managing Partner | Florida Bar Member Since 2004 | Former Okaloosa County Prosecutor | 10,000+ Court Appearances Last month, I sat across from a client at the Okaloosa County Jail. He couldn't understand why he was facing a mandatory three-year prison sentence. He'd never … [Read more...] about Florida Drug Trafficking vs. Possession: What’s the Difference?