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
What to Expect at Your First Court Appearance in Okaloosa County
Most people walking into an Okaloosa County courtroom for the first time have no idea what is about to happen. They do not know what the judge will ask, what they should say, or what entering the wrong plea at the wrong moment actually costs them. That uncertainty makes an already stressful … [Read more...] about What to Expect at Your First Court Appearance in Okaloosa County
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?