Judge Frederick Mercurio of the 12th Circuit Court ruled July 9 to withhold adjudication against Chris Hernandez-Licona, 20, of Bradenton, for a third-degree felony charge of grand theft.
Hernandez-Licona was arrested April 9 for stealing $1,083.98 over multiple days from cash registers at his workplace, Alvin’s Island Store, 3602 E. Bay Drive, Holmes Beach.
He was charged with a third-degree felony, which carries punishment of up to five years in prison.
At a July 9 hearing, Hernandez-Licona pleaded no contest to the charge, which means a defendant does not admit guilt but gives up his/her right to a trial and accepts a court’s punishment.
Mercurio withheld adjudication, which allows the court to issue a sentence without a formal conviction.
Hernandez-Licona was sentenced to 18 months of probation, 100 hours of community service, and to submit a biological specimen to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Another part of the ruling was to prohibit Hernandez-Licona from returning to Alvin’s.
