Raymond Cox, 50, of Riner, Virginia, was behind bars for his fifth driving under the influence arrest — before he had finished probation for his fourth DUI conviction.
Holmes Beach police arrested Cox in March 2021 after stopping him for driving recklessly and speeding.
Cox then failed to perform field sobriety exercises. Meanwhile, police searched his vehicle and found an unlicensed firearm and a bag of marijuana.
Later, while the man was detained at the Holmes Beach Police Department, officers found a missing handcuff key in his pocket.
Cox was arrested and charged with four felonies and a misdemeanor.
DUIs are generally classified as second-degree misdemeanors, but Cox was arrested on the same charge in December 2001, April 2009 and May 2013, and was charged with a third-degree felony for his fourth DUI violation.
Cox also was charged with:
- A second-degree felony for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon;
- A third-degree felony for possessing and concealing a handcuff key.
- A third-degree felony for possessing a concealed weapon;
- A first-degree misdemeanor for possessing less than 20 grams of marijuana.
The state attorney’s office dropped the concealed weapon charge in April 2021.
Cox pleaded no contest Feb. 17, 2022, to the remaining four charges and was sentenced to a one-year, two-month and 12-day prison sentence, with 343 days credited for the time he spent incarcerated ahead of the conviction.
Cox also was sentenced to serve 24 months of probation, which he began following his release from prison later that year.
Cox was set to finish probation this May but was arrested Jan. 2 in Pulaski County, Virginia, for his fifth DUI and placed in jail without bond.
He appealed the lack of a bond, but a bond was again denied at a Jan. 17 hearing.
On Jan. 29, the court issued an arrest warrant for violating probation and extradition papers to bring Cox to Manatee County.
Cox remained in the Virginia jail without bond as of Feb. 12.