Wiggins, Charles T.

As a lawyer and Criminal Defense Specialist with more than 39 years experience, Don Lykkebak is well-known for aggressive courtroom defense in both state and federal courts. This experience has also developed negotiation skills very advantageous for his clients.

He has extensive experience in complicated and extended jury trials. During the last several years he twice represented professionals accused of illegal weapons sales. He was hired to defend a German physician charged with conspiring to sell missiles to Middle Eastern countries. On another occasion he defended a Lebanese businessman accused of selling weapons to Iran. In both cases, extensive multi-week jury trials in U.S. District Court were required. Both cases were closely followed in front page stories throughout those extended proceedings.

In addition to high-profile cases such as those recited above, approximately 50% of his law practice is devoted to defending people from drug trafficking and possession charges. Defendants range from misdemeanor marijuana possession (which is a particular interest by reason of many years as a member of the National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws legal committee) to clients whose Colombian cartel connection earned their photos a place on the cover of Newsweek magazine. Don's other areas of criminal law concentration include white collar crime, embezzlement and fraud.

Many persons remember Mr. Lykkebak from his successful representation of a young man initially accused in the slaying of five students at the University of Florida during the early fall term in 1990. The young man was already “tried and convicted
 by newspaper and national media before his family contacted Lykkebak. Don's advocacy not only addressed the criminal accusation, but also restoration of the young man's civil rights in an unrelated case that had been mishandled before Lykkebak was hired. The youth went on to graduate with honors from another university and has enjoyed a happy and productive life.

During the last several years he has represented a Walt Disney World credit union executive who embezzled over $1 million; a mother charged with murder in the drowning deaths of two children; and a woman indicted for allegedly assaulting federal officers who violated her constitutional rights in a labor dispute involving immigrant workers, a physician charged with molesting a patient and a NASA astronaut charged with attempted kidnapping, burglary and battery. In each of these matters and in numerous other cases (see Significant Criminal Cases) Don Lykkebak strove to provide his clients with the best legal defense possible.

Don Lykkebak is Board Certified in Criminal Trial Law by the Florida Bar (http://www.floridabar.org/) and certified as a Criminal Trial Specialist by the National Board of Legal Specialty Certification (http://www.nblsc.us/) (What it means to be Board Certified.). He has served in several leadership positions with The Florida Bar and the American Civil Liberties Union. He is also on the legal panel of the National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) and regularly writes and speaks to groups on the U.S. Constitution, the decriminalization of marijuana and the failure of current policies of drug prohibition (arrest, prosecution and incarceration.) Don often speaks to civil and community groups in an effort to educate and inform on court and law enforcement concerns. His civic involvement includes the Orlando Rotary Club and the Tiger Bay Club, a political forum. (Former president of the latter.)

Mr. Lykkebak's distinguished career in criminal law began with a three-year tenure as a Marine Corps officer serving as Judge Advocate (1970-73-Captain). As a Marine officer he both defended and prosecuted marines accused before special and general courts martial. A graduate of the University of Illinois and University of Florida School of Law, Mr. Lykkebak also served in Orlando as an Assistant State Attorney for four years before beginning his successful private practice in 1977. As a state prosecutor he handled only felony cases and was a felony division chief.