Sunday, June 20, 2010
Destin attorney Scott Whitehead to serve jail time
Original Story at: http://www.thedestinlog.com/articles/violating-14232-jail-driving.html
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Tom McLaughlin - 2010-06-18 15:06:00
A local attorney whose alcohol abuse has gotten him into trouble several times in the last couple of years will serve an 11-month jail sentence for his second probation violation.
R. Scott Whitehead of Destin was sentenced to a total of approximately a year in jail for violating probation on charges of DUI, driving with a suspended license and reckless driving.
County Judge T. Patterson Maney ordered Whitehead to serve six months for violating on the DUI conviction, 60 days on the driving with suspended license conviction and 90 days for violating on the reckless driving conviction.
Maney said that all of the jail sentences should be served consecutively, according to Adrienne Emerson, who prosecuted the case.
The judge reserved sentencing for violating on a fourth charge until Sept. 30.
“He wants to review the case at that time,” Emerson said. “To see if Mr. Whitehead is eligible to go into a long term in-patient rehabilitation program.”
Rehab will not be an option while Whitehead is incarcerated, Emerson said.
She said the state had sought 23 months in prison for Whitehead. The judge’s 11 month sentence will allow Whitehead to serve all of his time in the Okaloosa County Jail and not be transferred to a state facility.
For the back story, click here.
Whitehead was arrested twice in an eight-day period in May of 2009. The first arrest came after he left the scene of an accident, authorities said. The second arrest was for DUI, speeding and driving with a suspended license.
He violated his probation on those charges when he was arrested for criminal mischief that August.
He was sentenced to serve 60 days in jail and undergo outpatient rehabilitation in February
Whitehead was arrested again last month on a violation of probation charge after he entered the home of man who didn’t know him and inquired about a woman named “Becky” or “Barbara.”
A deputy who contacted him after the trespassing violation reported that Whitehead appeared intoxicated. He was later arrested.
On June 9 the Florida Bar ordered that Whitehead be suspended from practicing law. The suspension stems not only from the repeated arrests and probation violations but also from more than a dozen complaints of negligence against him, Bar officials said.
Bar counsel Olivia Klein said she intends to file a formal complaint against Whitehead that could lead to his permanent disbarment in the state of Florida.
Whitehead, who defended clients in criminal and DUI cases, appeared in court between his final two arrests as the lawyer for Kyle Walling, who is facing murder charges for his alleged involvement in the shooting death of 17-year-old Christopher Pitcock.
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Tom McLaughlin - 2010-06-18 15:06:00
A local attorney whose alcohol abuse has gotten him into trouble several times in the last couple of years will serve an 11-month jail sentence for his second probation violation.
R. Scott Whitehead of Destin was sentenced to a total of approximately a year in jail for violating probation on charges of DUI, driving with a suspended license and reckless driving.
County Judge T. Patterson Maney ordered Whitehead to serve six months for violating on the DUI conviction, 60 days on the driving with suspended license conviction and 90 days for violating on the reckless driving conviction.
Maney said that all of the jail sentences should be served consecutively, according to Adrienne Emerson, who prosecuted the case.
The judge reserved sentencing for violating on a fourth charge until Sept. 30.
“He wants to review the case at that time,” Emerson said. “To see if Mr. Whitehead is eligible to go into a long term in-patient rehabilitation program.”
Rehab will not be an option while Whitehead is incarcerated, Emerson said.
She said the state had sought 23 months in prison for Whitehead. The judge’s 11 month sentence will allow Whitehead to serve all of his time in the Okaloosa County Jail and not be transferred to a state facility.
For the back story, click here.
Whitehead was arrested twice in an eight-day period in May of 2009. The first arrest came after he left the scene of an accident, authorities said. The second arrest was for DUI, speeding and driving with a suspended license.
He violated his probation on those charges when he was arrested for criminal mischief that August.
He was sentenced to serve 60 days in jail and undergo outpatient rehabilitation in February
Whitehead was arrested again last month on a violation of probation charge after he entered the home of man who didn’t know him and inquired about a woman named “Becky” or “Barbara.”
A deputy who contacted him after the trespassing violation reported that Whitehead appeared intoxicated. He was later arrested.
On June 9 the Florida Bar ordered that Whitehead be suspended from practicing law. The suspension stems not only from the repeated arrests and probation violations but also from more than a dozen complaints of negligence against him, Bar officials said.
Bar counsel Olivia Klein said she intends to file a formal complaint against Whitehead that could lead to his permanent disbarment in the state of Florida.
Whitehead, who defended clients in criminal and DUI cases, appeared in court between his final two arrests as the lawyer for Kyle Walling, who is facing murder charges for his alleged involvement in the shooting death of 17-year-old Christopher Pitcock.
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Saturday, June 19, 2010
Destin attorney suspended after arrests
2010-06-16 21:27:12
Destin attorney R. Scott Whitehead has been suspended by the Florida Bar Association.
The Florida Supreme Court on June 9 suspended Whitehead from practicing law indefinitely following arrests for driving under the influence and violation of probation. Whitehead cannot accept any new clients, and he has 30 days to cease representing his clients and close his office.
Read the state Supreme Court's petition to suspend Whitehead
“We’re trying to do the best we can to protect the clients’ interests and the clients’ legal rights,” said Olivia Klein, bar counsel representing the First Judicial District for the Florida Bar Association, which filed the petition against Whitehead. “That’s our primary concern.”
In addition to shutting down his office, Whitehead must also shut down his website and furnish a copy of his suspension order to all of his current clients, judges and opposing counsels in cases he was working on. As of Wednesday, his website was still active.
Whitehead’s suspension stems not only from his recent arrest but from more than a dozen complaints of negligence that have been filed against him by his clients.
Klein said she will file a formal complaint against Whitehead in the next 60 days and that he could be permanently disbarred in Florida.
Whitehead was arrested twice in an eight-day period last May. The first arrest followed his leaving the scene of an accident, authorities said, and the second was for speeding, driving with a suspended license and DUI.
He violated his probation on those charges when he was arrested for criminal mischief in August.
Whitehead was sentenced to 60 days in jail for driving under the influence after the state had sought a year.
Whitehead was arrested again last month on a violation of probation charge after he entered the home of man who didn’t know him and inquired about a woman named “Becky” or “Barbara.” When located across the street, at a home occupied by a woman named Becky, Whitehead appeared intoxicated, a deputy said in his report. While talking to the officer, Whitehead urinated on himself, the report said.
His sentencing hearing on the latest probation violation charge is scheduled for today.
READ MORE ABOUT THE CASE
Destin attorney Whitehead jailed again
Destin attorney sentenced to 60 days for DUIs
Destin attorney Whitehead back in the news for golf cart mischief
Defense attorney charged with DUI »
Destin attorney arrested again »
Attorney guilty of one DUI, other charge reduced »
Whitehead attorney: DUI story "false" »
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2010-06-16 21:27:12
Destin attorney R. Scott Whitehead has been suspended by the Florida Bar Association.
The Florida Supreme Court on June 9 suspended Whitehead from practicing law indefinitely following arrests for driving under the influence and violation of probation. Whitehead cannot accept any new clients, and he has 30 days to cease representing his clients and close his office.
Read the state Supreme Court's petition to suspend Whitehead
“We’re trying to do the best we can to protect the clients’ interests and the clients’ legal rights,” said Olivia Klein, bar counsel representing the First Judicial District for the Florida Bar Association, which filed the petition against Whitehead. “That’s our primary concern.”
In addition to shutting down his office, Whitehead must also shut down his website and furnish a copy of his suspension order to all of his current clients, judges and opposing counsels in cases he was working on. As of Wednesday, his website was still active.
Whitehead’s suspension stems not only from his recent arrest but from more than a dozen complaints of negligence that have been filed against him by his clients.
Klein said she will file a formal complaint against Whitehead in the next 60 days and that he could be permanently disbarred in Florida.
Whitehead was arrested twice in an eight-day period last May. The first arrest followed his leaving the scene of an accident, authorities said, and the second was for speeding, driving with a suspended license and DUI.
He violated his probation on those charges when he was arrested for criminal mischief in August.
Whitehead was sentenced to 60 days in jail for driving under the influence after the state had sought a year.
Whitehead was arrested again last month on a violation of probation charge after he entered the home of man who didn’t know him and inquired about a woman named “Becky” or “Barbara.” When located across the street, at a home occupied by a woman named Becky, Whitehead appeared intoxicated, a deputy said in his report. While talking to the officer, Whitehead urinated on himself, the report said.
His sentencing hearing on the latest probation violation charge is scheduled for today.
READ MORE ABOUT THE CASE
Destin attorney Whitehead jailed again
Destin attorney sentenced to 60 days for DUIs
Destin attorney Whitehead back in the news for golf cart mischief
Defense attorney charged with DUI »
Destin attorney arrested again »
Attorney guilty of one DUI, other charge reduced »
Whitehead attorney: DUI story "false" »
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Tuesday, June 1, 2010
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