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DUI Trial Approaching For Sheriff's Administrator

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By KYLE MARTIN

Published: January 30, 2009

BROOKSVILLE - There's an unsigned "no contest" plea in the criminal case folder of Emily Vernon.

But whether the sheriff's finance director intends to tender a plea to her DUI charge remains unclear.

Vernon's case stems from the night of July 12, when witnesses dialed 911 to report an out-of-control pickup veering across the road and forcing vehicles to swerve out of the way.

The witnesses followed the pickup to the shoulder of rural Lake Lindsey Road, where they saw a woman standing outside the truck inspecting the grill. A flattened road sign lay nearby. It was Vernon.

One of the witnesses took the keys out of the ignition, ostensibly to keep the woman from driving away. Arriving deputies said Vernon had trouble pronouncing her name and was dancing in the roadway. A traffic deputy found an empty wine carafe in the pickup.

Vernon was not charged with DUI at the time, however, because no one could place her behind the wheel. Days later, witnesses came forward and identified Vernon as the driver who exited the pickup that had skidded to a stop in front of them.

In December, Vernon's attorney, Declan Mansfield, filed a motion requesting the state prove it had evidence Vernon was driving under the influence.

That motion was scheduled to be argued on Friday, but neither Vernon nor her attorney appeared in court. Messages left Friday for Mansfield were not returned.

Vernon is scheduled for another pre-trial on Feb. 12, with a trial date of Feb. 17.

County Judge Donald Scaglione was adamant that the case be closed soon, either via a jury verdict or a plea agreement.

"It will be resolved the week of Feb. 17, one way or the other," he said in court Friday.

Reporter Kyle Martin can be reached at 352-544-5271 or kmartin@hernandotoday.com.

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