By: Peter Drill
on 08:46
FHP Trooper Jailed for 5 days for Missing DUI Trial | Orlandoduiteam#topnav ul li a,.sidebar h4,.tk-news-gothic-std{font-family:"news-gothic-std",sans-serif;}p{margin-left:0 !important;}a{color:#0D8BB7 !important;} Orlando DUI Team Published by Orlando, Florida DUI Lawyers :: Katz & Phillips, P.A.(321) 332-6864 HOMEBLOGCONTACT US
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Contact Us DO YOU HAVE A CASE?Contact our attorneys NOW Name: Email: Phone: Comments: Enter text from the Image Above: Submit FHP Trooper Jailed for 5 days for Missing DUI Trial The Orlando DUI Team has learned that a Florida Highway Patrol trooper has been jailed for five days after failing to appear in court last month for a DUI trial.
Trooper John Costa was sent to the county jail Friday for contempt of court by Judge Belle Schumann. In addition, Judge Schumann fined Trooper Costa $500.
Costa’s absence during an October 30th DUI Trial forced Judge Schumann to enter a judgment of acquittal on all charges for a motorist with an alleged history of drunk driving. This means that the driver will carry no punishment on her record for this charge.
Before dismissing the case, court workers apparently repeatedly tried to locate the Trooper, who did not answer telephone calls or knocks on the door of his home.
Reports show that Trooper Costa may be the first member of the Florida Highway Patrol jailed for contempt of court. Certainly, the Orlando DUI Team has not seen this type of action by the Court for a failure to appear by an officer.
It is not clear whether Trooper Costa was allowed to explain the reason why he failed to appear and the Orlando DUI Team will not speculate as to the potential ramifications on Trooper Costa’s career, however, it is apparent that both the Court and the Florida Highway Patrol are fully invested in the failure to appear at this particular DUI Trial.
The reaction may be increased by the nature of the DUI case, which allegedly involved a woman who was stopped for driving erratically at 92 miles per hour and who had taken a breath test which showed she had a blood alcohol level of 0.192.
The state definition of intoxication for a driver is 0.08 and higher.
The Orlando DUI Team has learned that the driver was convicted of DUI in 2009. Because DUI offenses allegedly committed within a certain period of time together increase penalties, the dismissal of this charge is likely more alarming to the Court
According to Florida DUI laws, the driver would have faced up to a year in jail if convicted of a second DUI with a blood alcohol level higher than 0.15. And she would have lost her driver’s license for five years for a second conviction within five years of her first.
If you or a loved one is facing a criminal charge, whether it be DUI or any other criminal offense, please feel free to contact the Orlando DUI Team.
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