A Venice man pleaded no contest to drug possession and driving impaired and was sentenced Feb. 23 to probation in connection with a Holmes Beach arrest nearly a year ago.
Twelfth Circuit Judge Susan B. Maulucci found Blake Richman, 23, guilty of driving under the influence and, on a drug possession count, withheld adjudication and ordered an 18-month probation.
Maulucci also sentenced Richman to credit for time served on a paraphernalia count.
Richman’s driving privileges were suspended for six months and his vehicle impounded for 10 days. He was ordered to complete DUI school, attend a victim-impact panel and perform 150 hours of public service. The order also provided his supervision could be transferred to Sarasota County.
HBPD arrested Richman in April 2016 after he parked a vehicle behind an officer’s squad at 4:37 a.m. in the Manatee Public Beach parking lot. An officer asked if he needed help, determined he was impaired and reported finding a bag of pills and a pipe containing marijuana residue in his vehicle.
The judge also assessed Richman $1,496 in court costs and fines, which can be paid in public service at a rate of $10 per hour.