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10/15/2026

DRUG POSSESSION CONVICTION RESULTS IN THREE YEARS OF DRUG OFFENDER PROBATION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 15, 2026

MONROE COUNTY, FL – In a recent case, Circuit Judge Mark Jones sentenced Paul Mills after Mills pleaded no contest and was adjudicated guilty of Possession of Co***ne and Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device.

Mills was sentenced to 36 months of drug offender probation on each count, to run concurrently, and was ordered to participate in Drug Court. He must submit to urinalysis twice weekly, attend three Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous meetings each week, undergo a substance-abuse evaluation within 60 days and complete any treatment recommended. His driver’s license was suspended for six months.

Drug offender probation combines substance-abuse treatment with intensive supervision and monitoring designed to address substance-abuse issues while holding offenders accountable.

Mills was ordered to pay $588 in court costs, fees and investigative and prosecution costs, along with a $50 monthly cost of supervision.

If Mills does not successfully fulfill the requirements of his probation, his probation could be revoked and he could face significant prison time.

The case was investigated by the Key West Police Department.

Chief Assistant State Attorney Joseph Mansfield said, “This sentence gives the defendant an opportunity to address his substance-abuse issues while holding him accountable under strict supervision.”

Assistant State Attorney Michael Tetelman prosecuted the case.

MONROE COUNTY STATE ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
The Office of the State Attorney for the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit, led by State Attorney Dennis W. Ward, is committed to upholding the law through ethical prosecution, collaboration with investigative partners, and the pursuit of justice for the citizens of Monroe County.

10/13/2026

DRUNK DRIVER GETS FOUR YEARS FOR CRASH THAT FOREVER CHANGED DEPUTY'S LIFE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 13, 2026

MONROE COUNTY, FL – Alexandra Marlene Baraga, 29, was adjudicated guilty on seven charges and sentenced to four years in state prison, followed by six years of probation, as part of a negotiated plea agreement stemming from a drunk-driving crash that left Monroe County Sheriff’s Deputy Julian Garcia with catastrophic, permanent injuries. The sentence was imposed Tuesday afternoon by Circuit Judge James Morgan.

Baraga received four years in state prison, followed by one year of probation, on the felony charge of DUI Causing Serious Bodily Injury. She was also sentenced to five years of probation on the felony charge of Reckless Driving Causing Serious Bodily Injury, to run consecutively to the probation imposed on the first count. She received concurrent jail sentences on the remaining misdemeanor charges.

In addition, Baraga’s driver’s license was suspended for three years. She was ordered to complete 50 hours of community service, attend DUI school and submit to random drug and alcohol testing.

The courtroom was filled with Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deputies and personnel who came to support Deputy Garcia, whose life was permanently changed by the April 9, 2024, crash.

According to reports from the Florida Highway Patrol and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Garcia was conducting a traffic stop along U.S. 1 near mile marker 87 in Islamorada when Baraga struck the rear of his patrol vehicle, pushing it into the vehicle he had stopped and pinning Garcia between them.

Garcia suffered catastrophic, life-altering injuries. Fellow deputies rushed to his aid, applying tourniquets to control severe bleeding before he was airlifted by Trauma Star to Jackson South Medical Center in Miami.

The Florida Highway Patrol investigated the crash. Subsequent blood testing by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement revealed Baraga’s blood alcohol concentration was approximately .268, more than three times Florida’s legal limit of .08.

Chief Assistant State Attorney Joseph Mansfield emphasized the lasting consequences of Baraga’s actions and her silence during sentencing.

“This was entirely preventable. Baraga made the decision to drive drunk, and a deputy who was simply doing his job will live with the consequences for the rest of his life. What is particularly troubling is that she stood before the court today and said nothing to the deputy whose life she permanently changed. Not one word to the man who will carry the scars of her actions for the rest of his life. Her four years in prison will eventually end. Deputy Garcia’s injuries will not. No plea agreement and no prison sentence can undo the damage caused by her reckless and selfish decision.”

The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Melissa Simmons and Trey Evans.

The State Attorney’s Office also recognizes the deputies, emergency medical personnel and Florida Highway Patrol troopers who responded to the crash, along with the many members of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office who stood in support of Deputy Garcia throughout the case.

MONROE COUNTY STATE ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
The Office of the State Attorney for the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit, led by State Attorney Dennis W. Ward, is committed to upholding the law through ethical prosecution, collaboration with investigative partners, and the pursuit of justice for the citizens of Monroe County.

10/09/2026

LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE FOR KEY LARGO RESORT MURDER

October 9, 2026

MONROE COUNTY, FL – Dylan Cody Lamb, 35, was sentenced today by Circuit Judge James Morgan to life in state prison without the possibility of parole for the April 2025 murder of a woman at a Key Largo resort.

Lamb also received five-year sentences for False Imprisonment and Altering, Destroying, Concealing or Removing Physical Evidence, both to run concurrently with his life sentence. The court also imposed $22,829.13 in costs, including $11,869.13 in prosecution costs for the State Attorney’s Office and $10,960 in investigative costs for the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.

Before sentencing, the victim’s mother, sister and daughters addressed the court, describing the devastating impact of her death on their family and the grief they continue to endure. Each asked the court to impose the maximum sentence allowed by law, expressing a desire for justice and accountability for their loved one.

Five of the six jurors who returned the guilty verdict also attended Lamb’s sentencing, along with deputies and detectives from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office who investigated the case.

The case began on April 7, 2025, when the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office investigated the victim’s disappearance after her family reported being unable to reach her. Her vehicle was found at a Key Largo resort, where crime-scene detectives later discovered her body concealed inside a closet beneath a water heater in a room Lamb had previously occupied.

Lamb was arrested the following day with the victim’s credit card concealed inside his wallet. After initially giving conflicting accounts, he admitted blocking the doorway with his body when the victim attempted to leave, preventing her from exiting the room. He also admitted striking her during the confrontation and later discovering that she was not breathing. The Medical Examiner determined that she died from blunt-force trauma to the head and neck.

Rather than calling 911, Lamb attempted to clean the room, concealed the victim’s body and packed bloodied linens, her cellphone and other belongings into trash bags. He then moved to another room at the resort, leaving her body behind. Hotel staff later discarded the bags without realizing their significance. By the time investigators learned of them, the items could not be recovered.

Chief Assistant State Attorney Joseph Mansfield said the sentence brings accountability for a brutal crime.

“This defendant took a woman’s life, tried to erase the evidence of what he had done and left her family with a loss they will carry forever,” Mansfield said. “He may have believed he could clean away the evidence and hide the truth, but he could not escape accountability. Today, the court ensured that he will spend the rest of his life in prison.”

Mansfield also recognized the courage of the victim’s family members who addressed the court.

“They entered that courtroom carrying enormous grief yet found the strength to speak about someone they loved and the terrible emptiness her death has left in their lives,” Mansfield said. “No sentence, not even life in prison, can bring her back or restore the years they should have had together. But I hope they leave the courthouse knowing their voices were heard that her life mattered and that justice was served.”

Major Crimes Assistant State Attorney Colleen Dunne and Assistant State Attorney Trey Evans prosecuted the case.

MONROE COUNTY STATE ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
The Office of the State Attorney for the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit, led by State Attorney Dennis W. Ward, is committed to upholding the law through ethical prosecution, collaboration with investigative partners, and the pursuit of justice for the citizens of Monroe County.

10/07/2026

ATTEMPT TO BEAT DRUG TEST WITH ‘WHIZZINATOR’ LEADS TO 54.9 MONTH STATE PRISON SENTENCE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 7, 2026

KEY WEST, FL – A man on drug-offender probation following a felony DUI conviction has been sentenced to more than four and a half years in state prison after admitting he violated the terms of his probation.

Circuit Judge Mark Jones revoked the probation of Jason William Ricketts and sentenced him to 54.9 months in state prison after Ricketts admitted the violation. The court also recommended that Ricketts receive substance-abuse treatment while in prison.

Ricketts had been placed on 36 months of drug-offender probation following his May 2025 conviction for felony DUI and other offenses. His probation included drug court, random drug testing, NA/AA meetings, substance-abuse evaluation and treatment, DUI school, an ignition interlock device and 50 hours of community service. His driver’s license was also suspended or revoked for 10 years.

In December 2025, Ricketts violated his probation after testing positive for fentanyl during a required drug test at the probation office in Marathon. Laboratory testing confirmed the result, and Ricketts admitted to probation officers that he had used fentanyl. Instead of having his probation revoked at that time, Ricketts was given another chance and was reinstated on drug-offender probation with additional conditions.

Less than a month later, on February 26, 2026, Ricketts returned to the probation office for another required drug test. According to the Florida Department of Corrections violation report, a probation officer was observing Ricketts as he provided the sample when the officer heard what sounded like the emptying of a squeeze bottle and noticed what appeared to be a prosthetic device that did not match Ricketts’ skin tone. The device, commonly known as a “Whizzinator,” is designed to dispense synthetic or substituted urine in an attempt to defeat a drug test.

After Ricketts left the probation office, an officer checked a nearby public restroom and found the device in a trash can. Ricketts denied using it. The Department of Corrections recommended revocation of his probation and incarceration.

The underlying case began on November 8, 2024, when Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a single-vehicle crash on Big Pine Key and found Ricketts unresponsive behind the wheel of a pickup truck that had crashed into trees. The truck was still running and in drive, and rescue personnel had to break a window to reach him and wake him. Deputies reported finding drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle and observed signs of drug impairment.

Ricketts provided two breath samples showing no alcohol but refused to provide a urine sample for drug testing. He later pleaded no contest and was adjudicated guilty of felony DUI, driving while his license was suspended or revoked, refusing to submit to testing following a prior refusal, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Chief Assistant State Attorney Joseph Mansfield said, “There are bad ideas, and then there is showing up at your probation office with a Whizzinator while someone is standing there watching you take the test. Mr. Ricketts had already been given another chance after testing positive for fentanyl. Apparently, he thought the answer was to get more creative. It wasn’t. You may be able to buy fake urine and a fake body part, but you can’t fake your way through probation. The punchline here is serious: 54.9 months in state prison.”

The violation-of-probation case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Michael Tetelman.

MONROE COUNTY STATE ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
The Office of the State Attorney for the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit, led by State Attorney Dennis W. Ward, is committed to upholding the law through ethical prosecution, collaboration with investigative partners, and the pursuit of justice for the citizens of Monroe County.

10/06/2026

A SEVEN-DAY HONEYMOON WITH PROBATION ENDS IN NEW ARREST

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 6, 2026

MONROE COUNTY, FL – Just seven days after being sentenced in Plantation Key for felony petit theft, Richard William Wade was arrested again in Key West on new theft allegations.

On September 22, Circuit Judge James Morgan adjudicated Wade guilty after he pleaded no contest to felony petit theft under Florida Statute 812.014(3)(c). Wade was sentenced to 45 days in the Monroe County Jail, with credit for 27 days already served, followed by 24 months of probation. He was also ordered to stay away from the restaurant involved in the case and comply with all conditions of probation.

The court imposed $1,910.75 in costs, fees and restitution, including $827.75 for prisoner transportation back to Monroe County and $50 in restitution to the restaurant.

The case began on August 13 at Lido 73 Restaurant in Tavernier. According to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office investigation, Wade and a woman ordered approximately $50 worth of food and drinks and left without paying. When an employee confronted Wade outside, he presented a credit card but said there was no money on it. He then provided his North Carolina driver’s license and said he would return within an hour to pay the bill. He never returned.

Restaurant surveillance video supported the employee’s account, and Wade was identified through the driver’s license he had provided. Because Wade had two previous petit-theft convictions, the latest theft was charged as a third-degree felony.

Seven days later, on September 29, Key West Police arrested Wade in a separate case involving alleged thefts at the Hyatt and from a local taxi driver. As officers investigated the new case, they contacted Wade’s probation officer and learned that Wade had not reported as required.

The new charges are separate from the case for which Wade was sentenced on September 22 and remain pending. Wade is presumed innocent of those charges, and any determination that the new allegations or his failure to report constitute a violation of probation will be made by the court.

Chief Assistant State Attorney Joseph Mansfield said, “Seven days is not much of a honeymoon with probation. If the court finds he violated probation and the new felony theft charge results in a conviction, he could be trading probation for significant time in state prison.”

The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Melissa Simmons.

MONROE COUNTY STATE ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
The Office of the State Attorney for the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit, led by State Attorney Dennis W. Ward, is committed to upholding the law through ethical prosecution, collaboration with investigative partners, and the pursuit of justice for the citizens of Monroe County.

10/02/2026

ARMANDO LOPEZ, 53, FOUND GUILTY ON 11 COUNTS FOLLOWING FIVE-DAY JURY TRIAL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 2, 2026

MONROE COUNTY, FL – Following a five-day jury trial before Circuit Judge James Morgan, a Monroe County jury found 53-year-old Armando Lopez guilty on 11 criminal counts. The jury deliberated for approximately one hour before returning its verdicts.

Lopez was found guilty of Burglary of a Dwelling with a Battery, Aggravated Battery, Burglary of an Authorized Emergency Vehicle, Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle, Resisting an Officer with Violence, Battery on a Police Officer, Burglary of a Conveyance with a Battery, Carjacking, Fleeing or Attempting to Elude at High Speed or Recklessly, and two counts of Reckless Driving with Property Damage. The jury acquitted Lopez on two additional counts, Domestic Battery by Strangulation and False Imprisonment.

Lopez, who had been released on a $460,000 bond, failed to appear in court today. Judge Morgan issued a no-bond warrant for his arrest, and the proceedings continued in his absence.

The case began on December 22, 2024, when Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a reported domestic disturbance in Key Largo. According to the investigation, Lopez repeatedly struck the victim in the head, causing fractures and other injuries.

When Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant James Hager arrived at the residence, Lopez attacked him, tackling him to the floor, repeatedly striking him with a closed fist and attempting to take his duty fi***rm. Lopez then ran from the residence, entered Hager’s unlocked marked patrol vehicle and drove away.

Lopez drove the marked MCSO patrol vehicle south with its emergency lights activated. He later stopped at the Sandal Factory in Key Largo, where he approached another vehicle and forcibly removed a woman from the driver’s seat. According to the investigation, the woman initially believed Lopez was a law enforcement officer because she had seen him exit the marked patrol vehicle with its emergency lights activated. Lopez then drove away in her vehicle.

A Florida Highway Patrol trooper subsequently encountered the vehicle traveling northbound on U.S. 1 at an extremely high rate of speed and driving erratically. The vehicle collided with another vehicle, overturned and came to rest on its roof near Mile Marker 104. Lopez was removed from the overturned vehicle, taken into custody and transported for medical treatment.

The case was investigated by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and Florida Highway Patrol.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Madeleine Thompson and Melissa Simmons. Victim Advocate Director Isnarlys Parker assisted the victim throughout the case and trial.

“Assistant State Attorneys Madeleine Thompson and Melissa Simmons did an outstanding job presenting this case, and Victim Advocate Isnarlys Parker was there supporting the victim throughout the process,” said Chief Assistant State Attorney Joseph Mansfield. “This was a difficult case, and their work helped bring it to a successful conclusion with guilty verdicts on 11 counts.”

Lopez faces the possibility of life in prison. Among his convictions are two counts of Burglary with a Battery, each a first-degree felony punishable by up to life in prison under Florida law. He will be sentenced by Circuit Judge James Morgan at a later date.

MONROE COUNTY STATE ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
The Office of the State Attorney for the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit, led by State Attorney Dennis W. Ward, is committed to upholding the law through ethical prosecution, collaboration with investigative partners, and the pursuit of justice for the citizens of Monroe County.

10/01/2026

FORMER TRAUMA STAR DIVISION CHIEF FOUND GUILTY ON ALL 10 COUNTS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 1, 2026

MONROE COUNTY, FL – On September 30, following a six-day trial before Circuit Judge Mark Jones, a Monroe County jury found former Monroe County Fire Rescue EMS and Trauma Star Division Chief Andrea Arlene Thompson guilty on all 10 criminal charges presented to the jury. The jury deliberated for three hours before returning its verdicts.

Thompson was convicted of two counts of Official Misconduct, three counts of Giving False Information to Law Enforcement During an Investigation, two counts of Attempted Tampering with Physical Evidence and three counts of Tampering with a Witness.

The case grew out of a 2022 investigation by Monroe County Sheriff’s Office detectives into missing controlled substances from Monroe County’s Trauma Star air ambulance program. Thompson held a senior leadership position within Monroe County Fire Rescue and ultimately served as Division Chief overseeing EMS and Trauma Star.

As MCSO detectives worked to determine what happened to the missing controlled substances, Thompson’s own conduct became part of the investigation, including her actions involving investigators, evidence and witnesses.

The two Official Misconduct charges involved Thompson’s actions as a public servant and efforts to obstruct, delay or prevent the communication of information concerning the commission of a felony to law enforcement. She was also convicted of providing false information to law enforcement on three separate occasions in 2022 with the intent to mislead or impede the investigation.

The two Attempted Tampering with Physical Evidence charges involved efforts to alter, destroy, conceal or remove records, documents or other items to impair their integrity or availability during the criminal investigation. The three Tampering with a Witness charges involved efforts to influence or interfere with the communication of information to law enforcement.

The initial MCSO investigation coupled with the extensive Monroe County Clerk of Court's Trauma Star audit led proceedings before the Monroe County Grand Jury, which indicted Thompson in August 2024. Major Crimes Assistant State Attorney Colleen Dunne handled the case through the Grand Jury proceedings and prosecuted Thompson at trial.

Chief Assistant State Attorney Joseph Mansfield said the verdict reflects both the responsibility that comes with holding a position of public trust and the importance of protecting the integrity of a criminal investigation.

“When someone holds a position of public trust, there is an even greater responsibility to act with honesty and integrity,” Mansfield said. “No position or title places anyone beyond accountability. Law enforcement must be able to follow the evidence without being deliberately misled, evidence must be protected and witnesses must be able to provide information without interference.”

Mansfield also credited the MCSO detectives and witnesses whose work and cooperation helped bring the case to trial.

“This was a lengthy and difficult investigation. We thank the MCSO detectives, the Monroe County Clerk's Office and all the witnesses who came forward. We thank them for their persistence, and we especially thank them for their cooperation with our investigation and testifying in a very difficult situation. Their work and cooperation were essential to bringing this case before a jury.”

Mansfield also recognized Dunne and the State Attorney’s Office staff who worked on the prosecution.

“Major Crimes Assistant State Attorney Colleen Dunne deserves special recognition for the years of work, preparation and persistence she brought to this case, from the investigation and Grand Jury proceedings through trial and the guilty verdicts,” Mansfield said. “I also want to thank our staff who spent countless hours preparing evidence, coordinating witnesses and supporting the prosecution, as well as the members of the Grand Jury and the trial jurors for their time and public service.”

Thompson is scheduled to appear before Circuit Judge Mark Jones for sentencing on October 29 at 2:00 p.m.

MONROE COUNTY STATE ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
The Office of the State Attorney for the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit, led by State Attorney Dennis W. Ward, is committed to upholding the law through ethical prosecution, collaboration with investigative partners, and the pursuit of justice for the citizens of Monroe County.

09/24/2026

FROM SNAPCHAT TO A PRISON CELL: SEXUAL PREDATOR GETS 40 MONTHS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 24, 2026

MONROE COUNTY, FL – On September 22, 2026, Circuit Judge James Morgan sentenced Rafael Bajos, 29, after he pleaded no contest and was adjudicated guilty of Soliciting a Child for Unlawful Sexual Conduct Using Computer Services or Devices; Lewd or Lascivious Written Solicitation of Certain Minors; two counts of Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device; Interference With Custody; and two counts of In-State Transmission of Material Harmful to Minors.

Bajos was sentenced to 40 months in state prison on each count, with the sentences ordered to run concurrently. And as consequence of his plea, he will also be designated a sexual predator and will be required to register as such for life. Bajos was ordered to pay a total of $1,386 in court costs.

Upon his release, Bajos will remain subject to Florida’s sexual predator registration requirements, including reporting his residence, employment information, telephone numbers, email addresses and internet identifiers associated with social media accounts. He must keep required registration information current, report changes as required by law and comply with applicable in-person registration and travel-reporting requirements. Failure to comply with registration requirements can result in additional felony charges.

The case began in February 2024, when Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deputies received a complaint involving inappropriate electronic communications between Bajos, then 26, and a minor. According to the investigation, Bajos initially contacted the minor through TikTok before the conversations moved to Snapchat and text messages.

The minor reported that she initially believed Bajos was closer to her age. After learning he was 26, she informed him that she was a minor and was uncomfortable continuing their conversations. Despite knowing her age, Bajos sent sexually explicit photographs and offered her money in exchange for sexual activity. The minor blocked him on Snapchat and subsequently blocked his telephone number after receiving additional inappropriate messages. Despite being blocked, Bajos continued attempting to contact her through social media.

The minor brought the inappropriate communications to her family’s attention. Her father subsequently contacted the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, prompting an investigation.

The case was assigned to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit, which began investigating the electronic communications and obtaining records from the social media platforms involved.

After obtaining consent from the minor and her mother, detectives of the Monroe County Sheriff's Office used the minor's Snapchat account to communicate with Bajos while posing as the minor, allowing investigators to document additional communications.

During the undercover conversations, Bajos sent additional sexually explicit material and discussed meeting in person. Investigators documented the communications, including discussions about transportation and arrangements for a possible meeting.

Based on the investigation, an arrest warrant was issued for Bajos. He was taken into custody by the Homestead Police Department on February 29, 2024, and transferred to the Monroe County Detention Center on March 5, 2024.

Chief Assistant State Attorney Joseph Mansfield said, “This defendant deliberately targeted a minor, sent sexually explicit material and attempted to exploit a child for his own sexual gratification. His conduct was calculated, predatory and inexcusable. This young girl had the courage to tell her family what was happening, and her family did exactly what they should have done by contacting law enforcement. Their actions helped bring this predator to justice and may have prevented other children from becoming victims. I commend Assistant State Attorney Trey Evans for working closely with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit throughout this investigation and prosecution. I also want to recognize Victim Advocate Supervisor Isnarlys Parker for her work with the victim and her family throughout this case. Their determination and teamwork helped secure concurrent 40-month state prison sentences, holding this defendant accountable for his actions. Let this sentence serve as a warning to anyone who believes they can hide behind a computer screen to prey on children: We will find you, we will prosecute you, and we will fight to put you behind bars for as long as the law allows.”

The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Trey Evans. The investigation was conducted by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit, with assistance from the Homestead Police Department in taking Bajos into custody.

MONROE COUNTY STATE ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
The Office of the State Attorney for the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit, led by State Attorney Dennis W. Ward, is committed to upholding the law through ethical prosecution, collaboration with investigative partners, and the pursuit of justice for the citizens of Monroe County.

09/22/2026

TWO DUI CONVICTIONS RESULT IN JAIL SENTENCES, TWO YEARS OF PROBATION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 22, 2026

MONROE COUNTY, FL – In two recent cases, County Judge Sharon Hamilton sentenced Sergio Yero Jr. after he pleaded no contest and was adjudicated guilty to Driving Under the Influence (Enhanced) and Driving Under the Influence. Yero was sentenced to 12 months of probation in each case, with the sentences ordered to run consecutively.

In the first case, stemming from a May 5 arrest, Yero was sentenced to 101 days in the Monroe County Jail, with 90 days suspended and credit for 11 days served. In the second case, stemming from a July 31 arrest, he was sentenced to nine days in the Monroe County Jail, with credit for nine days served.

Yero was ordered to pay a combined $2,362 in fines, court costs, attorney fees, costs of defense, costs of prosecution and supervision costs. His driver’s license was suspended for six months in each case.

As part of his sentences, Yero must complete DUI school, attend a victim impact panel, perform 50 hours of community service in each case and submit to random urinalysis at his own expense. He must also complete a substance-abuse evaluation and any required treatment. DUI school and treatment are required only once. He is prohibited from consuming alcohol, using illegal drugs or taking drugs without a prescription while on probation. Vehicle impoundment was waived in both cases.

The first case began on May 5, when a Florida Highway Patrol trooper observed a silver Dodge hatchback traveling northbound in the southbound lanes of U.S. 1 near Mile Marker 92 in Tavernier. The trooper activated his emergency lights and siren and attempted to stop the vehicle. While following the vehicle, he observed it swerving within its lane and nearly leaving the roadway. The vehicle eventually stopped in the left-turn lane just north of Burton Drive.

The trooper identified Yero as the driver and observed that he had watery, glassy eyes, a flushed face and thick-tongued speech. A strong odor of an alcoholic beverage was coming from Yero and the vehicle.

Yero told the trooper he had consumed approximately two to three alcoholic drinks, specifically tequila shots, before driving. He also stated that he had been involved in an argument and was attempting to return to his residence in Homestead.

During field sobriety exercises, Yero exhibited several indicators of impairment, including difficulty maintaining his balance and following instructions. He stopped one exercise before completing it and told the trooper he was too impaired to continue.

Yero was arrested for Driving Under the Influence. Subsequent breath tests showed blood alcohol concentrations of .203 and .193, more than twice Florida’s legal limit of .08.

The second case began on July 31, when Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a reported disturbance at a gas station near Mile Marker 90 in Plantation Key. A witness reported seeing a man chasing a woman who was getting into an Uber. The man then entered a silver Chevrolet hatchback and followed the Uber southbound on U.S. 1.

A deputy positioned near Mile Marker 87 observed both vehicles and saw the Chevrolet weaving into the center median and failing to maintain its designated lane. The deputy conducted a traffic stop near Mile Marker 86.5 and identified Yero as the driver.

During the investigation, the deputy detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from Yero and observed that his eyes were bloodshot and watery. Yero told the deputy he had consumed two beers before the incident.

Yero agreed to perform field sobriety exercises, during which the deputy observed several indicators of impairment. He was subsequently arrested for Driving Under the Influence.

Breath tests administered following his arrest showed blood alcohol concentrations of .169 and .166, both more than twice Florida’s legal limit of .08.

“These two arrests, less than three months apart, show a blatant disregard for the safety of everyone traveling on our highways,” said Chief Assistant State Attorney Joseph Mansfield. “Driving the wrong way on U.S. 1 with a blood alcohol level more than twice the legal limit could have ended in tragedy. Yet, after that arrest, this defendant made the decision to drive drunk again. Our highways are not a place for second chances with impaired driving. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold those who put innocent lives at risk accountable.”

Assistant State Attorney Nick Gastesi prosecuted both cases.

MONROE COUNTY STATE ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
The Office of the State Attorney for the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit, led by State Attorney Dennis W. Ward, is committed to upholding the law through ethical prosecution, collaboration with investigative partners, and the pursuit of justice for the citizens of Monroe County.

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