Florida sex offender registration requirements are the rules that force people convicted of certain sex crimes to report personal information to law enforcement, often for the rest of their lives. These rules apply the moment a conviction becomes final, and they follow a person into nearly every … [Read more...] about Juvenile Arrest in Okaloosa County: Will It Go on Their Permanent Record?
Q & A
What Happens If You Didn’t Know the Alleged Victim Was Over 65? Assault and Battery Charges in Okaloosa and Walton County
If you were arrested for assault or battery and later learned the alleged victim was 65 or older, you may be wondering how that single fact changed your case so dramatically. Maybe the encounter happened in the middle of an argument, a bar fight, or a chaotic moment where you never stopped to … [Read more...] about What Happens If You Didn’t Know the Alleged Victim Was Over 65? Assault and Battery Charges in Okaloosa and Walton County
Shoplifting Charges in Destin, Florida: Will You Go to Jail for Petit Theft?
I'm T.S. Lupella, and for more than twenty years I've defended people arrested across Okaloosa County, including plenty of shoplifting cases at the stores and outlets in Destin. When someone calls me right after an arrest, the question I hear first is almost always the same. Am I going to jail? If … [Read more...] about Shoplifting Charges in Destin, Florida: Will You Go to Jail for Petit Theft?
How Much Marijuana Is a Felony in Florida? Understanding Weight Limits
Marijuana arrests in Fort Walton Beach and Destin catch a lot of people off guard, especially visitors who assume a small amount is not worth worrying about. Florida does not see it that way. In Florida, marijuana possession becomes a felony the moment you have more than 20 grams, and the penalties … [Read more...] about How Much Marijuana Is a Felony in Florida? Understanding Weight Limits
Arrested for DUI in Okaloosa County: Know Your Rights
Getting pulled over on Highway 98 or Beal Parkway with blue lights flashing behind you is stressful enough. Getting arrested for DUI in Okaloosa County adds fear, confusion, and questions you cannot easily answer at one in the morning from the back of a patrol car. Your rights after a DUI arrest … [Read more...] about Arrested for DUI in Okaloosa County: Know Your Rights
Reckless Driving in Florida: Criminal Charge or Just a Ticket?
I get a version of this call every month. Someone gets pulled over near Okaloosa Island or out on Highway 98 in Destin, and the officer writes “reckless driving” on the citation. The driver assumes it works like a speeding ticket: pay a fine online and move on. Then they read the paperwork more … [Read more...] about Reckless Driving in Florida: Criminal Charge or Just a Ticket?