Sebring resident Paul Tertan, 53, is set to complete in November a six-month probationary sentence for a second-degree misdemeanor for reckless driving.
Tertan was arrested Aug. 20, 2023, after a Bradenton police officer witnessed him crash his vehicle on the Palma Sola Causeway in the 8400 block of Manatee Avenue West.
The Holmes Beach Police Department was contacted to provide officer assistance for a driving under the influence investigation.
The Holmes Beach officer responded and found Tertan displayed signs of impairment.
Tertan failed field sobriety exercises and was arrested. At the HBPD, he refused to provide a breath sample for testing.
He was initially charged with three first-degree misdemeanors — two for DUI property damage and one for a third DUI outside of 10 years.
However, last November, the state’s attorney dropped the third DUI outside of 10 years charge.
By a May 30 court hearing, the SAO also dropped one of the two remaining DUI property damage charges and amended the other to a second-degree misdemeanor for reckless driving.
Tertan pleaded no contest to the remaining charge and while at the same hearing, 12th Circuit Judge Melissa Gould ruled him guilty of the second-degree misdemeanor.
She sentenced him to complete six months of probation, advanced DUI school and a victim impact panel, as well as 50 hours of public service work.
— Ryan Paice