If your child was arrested in Okaloosa County, you are probably worried about one thing more than any other: whether this will follow them for the rest of their life. I hear that same fear from parents in Fort Walton Beach, Destin, and Crestview almost every week. They sit across from me, picturing … [Read more...] about Juvenile Arrest in Okaloosa County: Will It Go on Their Permanent Record?
Q & A
Can the Military Access Your Civilian Arrest Records in Florida?
If you serve at Eglin Air Force Base or Hurlburt Field and you were arrested off base, one question tends to take over everything else. Will the military find out about this? I have sat across from many service members in my Fort Walton Beach office who came in carrying that exact worry, and they … [Read more...] about Can the Military Access Your Civilian Arrest Records in Florida?
Can You Get a DUI on a Boat in Florida? BUI Laws Explained
If you spent a Saturday on Choctawhatchee Bay or out near Destin Harbor and ended up stopped by an officer, you may be wondering whether you can really get a DUI on a boat. The short answer is yes, but Florida does not call it a DUI. On the water, it is called BUI, which stands for boating under the … [Read more...] about Can You Get a DUI on a Boat in Florida? BUI Laws Explained
Statement Released on Behalf of Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky’s Legal Defense Team
Click here to download T.S. Lupella's attorney statement as a PDF. On behalf of Dr. Shaknovsky and the Shaknovsky family, his legal defense team would submit the following statement to news media and the public regarding his current criminal charges as we vigorously challenge the false and … [Read more...] about Statement Released on Behalf of Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky’s Legal Defense Team
Arrested on Vacation in Destin or Fort Walton Beach? Here’s What to Do
A trip to the Emerald Coast is supposed to be the highlight of your year. So when a night out ends with handcuffs instead of a sunset walk on the beach, the fear sets in fast. I have practiced criminal defense law in this area for more than 20 years, and I can tell you that an arrest while you are … [Read more...] about Arrested on Vacation in Destin or Fort Walton Beach? Here’s What to Do
Florida Hit and Run Penalties: Leaving the Scene of an Accident
I have spent more than twenty years in the courtrooms of Okaloosa, Walton, and Santa Rosa Counties, and one of the most common things I hear from people is this: “I panicked, and I drove away.” If that sounds like you, take a breath. You are not the first good person to make a split-second decision … [Read more...] about Florida Hit and Run Penalties: Leaving the Scene of an Accident