 |
Hiring a Lawyer
When a person is arrested, the most important decision he or she will make is to hire an excellent criminal defense lawyer. The skill of the lawyer can mean the difference between going to jail or prison and suffering the stigma of a felony conviction, or minimizing the consequences and having a chance to move your life forward in a positive direction.
If an arrested person does not already know who the best lawyer for them will be, it is important to interview a board certified criminal trial speciaiist. Take the time to find the right lawyer. It is not necessary to retain a lawyer before posting bail.
Case Summaries
In these following case summaries, examples of the hundreds of people Don Lykkebak has defended may be found:
DUI Manslaughter
A young woman professional was involved in an auto accident in which two people died. The charge potentially carried a 30 year prison sentence. After extensive investigation and hiring of traffic accident experts to reconstruct the entire accident using identical make and model vehicles as well as video taping same for use at trial, the client was allowed to plea to a misdemeanor with probation.
Murder Investigation Intervention
The client’s husband was found murdered in their home in a rural area. When the police were called they immediately focused on the wife as if she was a suspect. Fortunately, she was acquainted with Don Lykkebak and contacted him for assistance. Due to his intervention, all questioning ceased. Years later the case remains unsolved and the woman has never been charged for the homicide. Don won a law suit against the insurance company for payment to the wife of a substantial policy.
Drug Possession
A man who owned a business in a local oceanside town was arrested for possession of cannabis with intent to sell and delivery of cannabis to a confidential informant. Because this man had a prior record when he was much younger, he was facing prison time. He contacted Don Lykkebak who immediately began investigation of the case. After a two-day trial this businessman was acquitted of all charges.
Unlawful Search and Suppressed Evidence
A young woman was in a hotel room with two other individuals. She had paid for the room with cash and one of the bills turned out to be counterfeit currency. The police were called and entered the room without warrant. Contraband was in open view and subsequent search revealed several pounds of marijuana and other illegal drugs. After extensive pre-trial hearing, the Judge granted a motion to suppress. Without the drugs and counterfeit currency as evidence, the State was forced to dismiss the pending charges.
Thorough Investigation Prevents Vehicular Homicide Conviction
A 17-year-old young man was driving a small pick-up truck with several of his friends as passengers in the cab and the bed of the truck. One of the truck’s tires went off the shoulder of a well-traveled country road and the driver lost control of the vehicle. One of the riders in the bed of the truck was thrown out and fatally injured as the truck rolled over him. Parents of the driver hired Don Lykkebak to represent their son on a vehicular homicide charge. Extensive pre-trial investigation developed witnesses previously concealed by the State investigators. The young man was cleared of all charges.
Child Abuse Trial Ends in Acquittal
A childcare worker in her 30s with no prior record was accused of child abuse by a disgruntled former employee. She hired Don Lykkebak who mounted a vigorous defense. The case went to trial and the client was acquitted of all charges.
Self-defense Not Aggravated Assault with a Firearm
A tradesman and his girlfriend were awakened late at night by noises of a fight in progress outside their apartment. When he confronted those carousing outside his window, they threatened him and ran up the stairs, beating on his door and damaging a planter. Believing that he and his girlfriend were in jeopardy, he stepped out on his patio with his shotgun. The police had been called and ultimately arrested him for aggravated assault with a firearm. This charge carried a minimum, mandatory sentence of three years in state prison. He hired Don Lykkebak to defend him and was completely exonerated.
Police Called to Bar; Patron Charged with Battery; Case Dismissed
A tourist and her fiancee were visiting the Orlando area. They were at a local nightclub and she was confronted by a bouncer (an off-duty police officer in plain clothes) for not paying for a drink. She protested that he had gotten her mixed up with someone else and attempted to eject her. She resisted his attempts and pushed his arm away when he reached to grab her. The police were called and she was arrested for battery on a law enforcement officer, a felony charge. Don Lykkebak was hired to defend the charges, and the case was dismissed by the Court.
Cocaine Charge Thrown Out; Unlawful Search & Seizure
Police officers entered a home after an alleged 911 call to see if there was anyone in distress. While in the home, the officers searched without a warrant and a large amount of cocaine was discovered in a closet in one of the bedrooms. The tenant of the house who was not at home at the time of the search, was arrested and charged with trafficking in cocaine. This charge carried a minimum mandatory prison sentence if convicted. Don Lykkebak was hired and after thorough research and pre-trial preparation, the evidence was thrown out on the basis of an unlawful search and seizure.
Minor Traffic Stop Not Reason for Drug Search; Charge Dismissed
A man who worked for a well-known corporation was stopped by the police for failure to stop at a stop sign. Because he was in a known drug area of town, his vehicle was searched and a small amount of cocaine was discovered in the search. Don Lykkebak was hired and after hearing on a motion to suppress, the evidence was thrown out by the Court for unlawful search.
Ulterior Motive for Spouse Abuse Charge
A prominent civil engineer was accused of domestic battery by his wife, a non-U.S. citizen who had overstayed her visa. During trial Mr. Lykkebak proved that the wife orchestrated the false accusation solely to support a simultaneously filed petition to cure her immigration problem and remain in the United States. The accused husband was acquitted.
Parent’s Job Influences Murder Charge in Tragic Death
A young mother, who worked nights in the adult entertainment industry, fell asleep in her home during the afternoon. Her young child and another child she was watching slipped out the back door and drowned in a swimming pool. The State Attorney charged her with aggravated manslaughter, felony murder and child abuse. If convicted, she was exposed to a sentence of 27 to 46 years in state prison. After a three-day trial which was featured on Court TV, Mr. Lykkebak’s client was acquitted of all charges.
|
Complex Mortgage Fraud Case Ends in Not Guilty verdict
A young woman professional was charged with two others in a multi-count indictment for mortgage fraud and grand theft alleging the loss of hundreds of thousand of dollars. Her family hired Mr. Lykkebak and after a three- week trial, she was acquitted on all charges.
Robbery Charge & Mandatory Sentencing Threatens Young Man
A man in his mid-twenties was charged with robbery with a firearm. Because of his prior arrest record and the prison penalties associated with the crime, he faced substantial prison time if convicted. Mr. Lykkebak represented him in a three-day trial, and the young defendant was acquitted of all charges.
Sexual Battery Charge By Girlfriend Ends in Acquittal
A young man was arrested and charged with sexual battery. The alleged victim was his girlfriend at the time of the incident. Mr. Lykkebak handled his case and after a three-day trial, the jury ruled not-guilty.
Prison Sting Operation Results in Inmate Prosecution
After a reverse-sting operation by Federal prison officials and the FBI, a prison inmate was charged in a multi-count indictment for conspiracy and introduction of contraband (marijuana) into a penitentiary. Mr. Lykkebak was hired by the inmate’s family. After a five-day trial in Federal court, the Defendant was acquitted of all counts.
Bail Bondsman’s Former Clients Become Accusers in Drug Charge
A bail bondsman was indicted in Federal District Court for conspiracy to sell and distribute heroin. Witnesses for the prosecution were inmates from the Federal penitentiary who had all made the bondsman’s acquaintance when they previously hired him to post bonds for them. Although the jury returned with a verdict of guilty, Mr. Lykkebak had filed a motion to the Court for judgment of acquittal. After further legal argument was heard and briefs filed, the Judge reversed the jury’s guilty verdict and acquitted the defendant of all charges.
Incident with Border Patrol Exposes Innocent Woman to Serious Battery Charges
A woman was accosted by a U.S. Border Patrol agent while that agent was purportedly conducting an official investigation. After a violent altercation, the Border Patrol agent charged her with battery on a Federal officer, a serious Federal charge exposing her to 10 years in the Bureau of Prisons. After she hired Mr. Lykkebak, he discovered and proved that the Border Patrol had deported two illegal aliens who had been seated in the back of the patrol car and witnessed the entire episode. The District Court dismissed the Indictment and all charges against the client.
Representing Another Lawyer Accused of Several Serious Crimes
A Florida lawyer and former State Circuit Judge was charged with subornation of perjury, obstruction of justice, falsification of union records and embezzlement of union funds. The lawyer had formerly represented his accusers in their own Federal trial alleging the bombing of a trucking company. Now the former clients accused their lawyer. Don Lykkebak represented that lawyer in a two-week trial. The accused lawyer was acquitted of all charges and recently celebrated his 50 year anniversary as a member of the Florida Bar.
Part of the Crew Smuggling 17 Thousand Pounds of Marijuana: Not Guilty
An Orlando man was indicted in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida in Miami. The charge was smuggling 17,000 pounds of marijuana into the United States. A DC-3 full of marijuana had been intercepted in Lake County, Florida and the plane with marijuana seized. It was alleged that the accused was one of the off-loaders at the off-load site. At trial in Miami the Defendant was found not guilty.
Illegal Arms Sales In "Iranscam" Case: Not Guilty
A Lebanese citizen with an Iranian spouse were both accused of attempting to sell anti-tank missiles to Iran. This followed a lengthy FBI sting operation. The news media nicknamed this case "Iranscam." After a five-week trial in U.S. District Court in Orlando, Mr. Lykkebak’s client and the client’s wife were both found not guilty.
Seven Week Trial in Cocaine & Marijuana Trafficking: Not Guilty
An Osceola County electrical contractor was indicted in Federal Court in the Southern District of Florida, Key West Division, in an extensive multi-defendant, multi-count indictment alleging marijuana and cocaine trafficking. The indictment was nicknamed "The Bubba Bust." The trial lasted approximately seven weeks and resulted in acquittal of all defendants.
Sting Operation by U.S. Customs Entraps Doctor
A German opthamologist and his colleague from Spain were arrested in Orlando after a reverse sting operation by U.S. Customs. They were indicted in Federal Court in Orlando for the attempted unlawful sale of anti-tank missiles to Libya and Iraq. After a trial of approximately one month, both men were acquitted.
High Profile Criminal Cases
Most criminal investigations do not make it to the front page of the newspaper; however, in a high profile crime, some individuals have the burden of a double concern. First, defending the charge and getting the right lawyer to do so and second, minimizing the damage that comes from media smears associated with the accusation.
In any given week, somewhere in Central Florida, a criminal allegation seems to become the subject of special media scrutiny. During his career as a criminal defense lawyer, Don Lykkebak has represented a number of people whose alleged crimes were high-profile. In these cases, not only was a man’s freedom on the line, but the reputation of the accused and the lives of his family were also significantly jeopardized.
For example, In the early 1990s Mr. Lykkebak represented Edward Humphrey, a then 19-year-old college student who became the chief suspect in the murder of five University of Florida students. Although Ed Humphrey was completely innocent of these horrific murders, it took months of constantly defending him to prosecutors and to the public before he was finally able to resume as normal a life as possible. One of the chief victories in that case was rehabilitating Mr. Humphrey's image and reputation. This was done with the assistance of a media consultant and Mr. Lykkebak's good working relationship with media.
When the case justifies and the client agrees, Mr. Lykkebak will utilize the services of a media consultant to manage the media's demand for information and interview. In so doing, a media professional will help protect the image of the accused and avoid persecution in the newspaper or on television.To the client, this effort may be equally valuable as a courtroom victory. |
