DUI charge against WTVT's Rhodes dropped in plea deal

Morning TV anchor Russell Rhodes has agreed to plead no contest to misdemeanor obstruction of justice after prosecutors agreed today to drop a DUI charge.

Rhodes' attorney, Jeffrey Brown, said he hammered out the agreement late this morning directly with Hillsborough County State Attorney Mark Ober.

"He finally had time to look at the case and he did the right thing," Brown said.

The decision came after Hillsborough County Judge Cheryl Thomas last week threw out blood-alcohol tests in the case, saying Rhodes didn't voluntarily consent to give blood.

Rhodes is scheduled to enter his plea Wednesday.

Brown said his client agreed to perform 50 hours of community service and that the state will withhold adjudication of guilt, meaning Rhodes will not have a record in the case.

Pam Bondi, spokeswoman for Ober's office, said she couldn't comment on pending cases.

Rhodes was to go on trial today, but Thomas agreed to a postponement until Wednesday to give Brown time to get transcripts from last week's hearing.

Rhodes, who works for WTVT, Channel 13, was arrested Jan. 16 after an off-duty deputy said he saw Rhodes driving a BMW recklessly in the Channelside parking garage and then running away after the deputy tried to take his keys.

The deputy said Rhodes refused to turn over his keys, twice tried to walk away and then attempted to run out of the garage. The deputy said he took Rhodes to the ground to be handcuffed.

Rhodes was taken to Tampa General Hospital with face injuries.

Brown said deputies waited to charge his client with driving under the influence until they had the results of blood tests. Without the blood tests, he said, his client would never have been charged.

The tests taken the night of Rhodes' arrest were the primary evidence in the DUI charge. They showed his blood-alcohol level was 0.179 and 0.178, according to court documents. Florida law presumes impairment at 0.08.

Prosecutors didn't appeal Thomas' ruling.