Collision With Hillsborough County Patrol Car Yields DUI, Child Endangerment Charges for Land O’ Lakes Man

A Land O’ Lakes man is facing drunk driving and child neglect charges on allegations that he struck a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicle while intoxicated.

According to deputies, the 29-year-old man was driving his Oldsmobilie Alero south on Nebraska Avenue in the early-morning hours of August 18 when he approached a Dodge Charger patrol vehicle near the intersection of Bearss Avenue. The patrol vehicle was positioned to block traffic near an unrelated traffic accident, and deputies say the vehicle had its emergency lights running at the time.

Deputies say the defendant’s vehicle struck the patrol car, triggering the airbags in the defendant’s vehicle. No injuries were reported, but an infant in a car seat within the defendant’s vehicle was taken to hospital as a precaution.

Per deputies, the defendant was clearly intoxicated. A breath test for alcohol allegedly yielded a blood-alcohol content of 0.171%, which is over twice the level at which Florida law determines a driver to be impaired.

The Florida native was arrested at the scene and booked into the Hillsborough County Jail on charges of driving under the influence accompanied by a person under 18, second DUI conviction with property damage, child neglect, driving with a suspended license, and violating probation on a prior DUI charge. He was released the next morning after posting a bond of $6,500.

The Law Offices of Bjorn Brunvand have been representing people charged with capital murder, felony drug charges, drunk driving, government fraud, and white-collar crimes for over a quarter century. Contact our office today to discuss your Tampa Bay-area state or federal charges.

What happens when charged with a felony?

In addition to vehicular homicide, police charged Guevara with racing and reckless driving. Guevara was also recently charged with driving intoxicated.

Felony charges carry serious penalties in the state of Florida. Guevara faces 15 years in prison for the vehicular homicide charge, in addition to any time he receives if ultimately convicted of the previous driving while intoxicated charge. Since the incidents are separate, any prison time is served consecutively, meaning Guevara faces a couple of decades of incarceration.

How can an attorney help?

Gambling your future in criminal court with an inexperienced attorney can be risky. Without an exhaustive knowledge of court process, evidentiary rules and even an understanding of each judge’s individual preferences, a defendant could face more time than necessary.

Experience is the key to good representation. For more information on our defense track record, see our full web site.