Former Officer On Probation After Fatality
POSTED: 12:28 p.m. EDT May 29, 2003
LAKE CITY, Fla. -- A former city police officer received a year of probation and was ordered to perform 100 hours of community service for driving under the influence of alcohol in a fatal motorcycle accident.
Misty Mechelle Gable (pictured, right), 37, of Lake City, was sentenced Wednesday after pleading no-contest to DUI last month for the Nov. 10 crash that killed Anthony Cericola, 35, of Daytona Beach. Shortly before the plea, she lost her job with the Police Department.
"It's just a very tragic situation," prosecutor Dan Clark said.
Gable and Cericola were riding together on motorcycles when the accident happened on U.S. 41 near Rumors Lounge in Columbia County. Cericola rear-ended the motorcycle driven by Gable, the Florida Highway Patrol reported. The two were thrown from their motorcycles, and Cericola then was hit by the driver of a Ford Explorer who did not stop.
A blood-alcohol test showed Gable's blood-alcohol level was 0.132 percent. The legal limit in Florida is 0.08 percent. Blood tests also showed that she tested positive for hydrocodone, a prescription painkiller, FHP reported. Test results from Cericola's blood showed his blood-alcohol level was 0.07 percent.
Gable was off duty at the time. Neither Gable or Cericola were wearing helmets.
The case against the driver of the Explorer is pending.
Gable must spend at least half of her community service hours in a hospital emergency room. She must also participate in a Suwannee County victim impact panel, where defendants are exposed to the consequences of their actions by face-to-face interaction with crime victims, Clark said.
Her driver's license also was suspended for a year. She must pay $943 in fines and costs, and she was adjudicated guilty, meaning she will have a permanent record of the conviction.
Copyright 2003 by News4Jax.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Misty Mechelle Gable (pictured, right), 37, of Lake City, was sentenced Wednesday after pleading no-contest to DUI last month for the Nov. 10 crash that killed Anthony Cericola, 35, of Daytona Beach. Shortly before the plea, she lost her job with the Police Department.
"It's just a very tragic situation," prosecutor Dan Clark said.
Gable and Cericola were riding together on motorcycles when the accident happened on U.S. 41 near Rumors Lounge in Columbia County. Cericola rear-ended the motorcycle driven by Gable, the Florida Highway Patrol reported. The two were thrown from their motorcycles, and Cericola then was hit by the driver of a Ford Explorer who did not stop.
A blood-alcohol test showed Gable's blood-alcohol level was 0.132 percent. The legal limit in Florida is 0.08 percent. Blood tests also showed that she tested positive for hydrocodone, a prescription painkiller, FHP reported. Test results from Cericola's blood showed his blood-alcohol level was 0.07 percent.
Gable was off duty at the time. Neither Gable or Cericola were wearing helmets.
The case against the driver of the Explorer is pending.
Gable must spend at least half of her community service hours in a hospital emergency room. She must also participate in a Suwannee County victim impact panel, where defendants are exposed to the consequences of their actions by face-to-face interaction with crime victims, Clark said.
Her driver's license also was suspended for a year. She must pay $943 in fines and costs, and she was adjudicated guilty, meaning she will have a permanent record of the conviction.
Previous Story:
- January 23, 2003: Lake City Cop Charged With DUI After Fatal Crash
Copyright 2003 by News4Jax.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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