A 33-year-old man was placed on two years of house arrest after pleading no contest today to killing a pedestrian while driving drunk on New Year's Day 2010.
Kevin Brian Mock pleaded no contest to a felony charge of driving under the influence-manslaughter and a misdemeanor charge of DUI with property damage.
Mock, an assistant golf professional at Saddlebrook Resort, admitted to hitting Vestin Mingo Jr. as the 24-year-old man was crossing Bullard Parkway near North Glen Arven Avenue in Temple Terrace about 2 a.m.
Prosecutor Barbara Coleman said Mock's blood-alcohol level was 0.17 percent three hours after the wreck. Florida law presumes impairment at 0.08 percent.
Hillsborough Circuit Judge Kimberly K. Fernandez accepted a plea deal that Mock's attorney, Stephen L. Romine, worked out with Coleman.
Mingo's wife, Jessica Bankston, signed off on the deal but said her mother-in-law did not.
Before Fernandez imposed sentence, a victim's advocate read a statement from Bankston.
"He was someone you could always count on to make you laugh and he loved music," Bankston wrote of her husband. "He was my provider, my protector, my security.
"There is no way to describe the pain and the heartache Mr. Mock caused. He caused our future to be taken away."
In addition to house arrest, Fernandez placed Mock on eight years of probation and ordered him to perform 150 hours of community service, including giving public talks about drinking and driving.
She also fined Mock $2,000 and permanently revoked his driving privileges.
Mock must write letters of apology to Bankston and Mingo's mother, among others.
"I hope this helps Kevin understand what he did," Bankston said.
Jail records show Mock was arrested on a DUI charge in 2004, but court records show no disposition of the case.
Coleman said Mock's passenger, Brandy Bailey, broke her nose in the 2010 crash. Bailey is suing Mock for her injuries; the case is pending.
(813) 259-7698
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