LAKELAND, FL – April 7, 2020 – According to an online news report provided by USNews.com, Polk County Sheriff's Office gave a press report concerning a motor vehicle that crashed into residence causing injures. The rest of the accident led to three individuals being arrested for probation violations, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office. The accident occurred on Sunday morning, according to Brian Bruchey, the spokesman for the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
Brian Bruchey stated that a 42-year-old woman was the driver of the 1999 Buick sedan that struck the house. Bruchey reported that the 42-year-old woman was driving and somehow left the road, lost control of the vehicle and then slammed into a house. Bruchey didn't discuss the reason why the car left the roadway at this time.
Fortunately, there were no occupants inside the home that was struck by the motor vehicle at the time of the accident. The driver did receive a broken arm, and she was treated for her injuries. Residents attempted to keep the two passengers and the driver at the scene of the accident until law enforcement arrived. However, the occupants in the vehicle forcibly fled the scene of the accident.
Later, the driver and one of the passengers returned to the accident scene and were taken into custody. The driver of the motor vehicle was arrested and charged with knowingly driving while license suspended/revoked, third-degree leaving the scene of a crash with injury, and violation of probation.
The two passengers, riding in the Buick, were charged with probation violations. One of the passengers was also charged with two counts of misdemeanor battery. One of the passengers was charged with violating probation because he was outside of his home past his court-ordered curfew time.
Florida Violation of Probation (VOP) Charges, Laws and Penalties
According to Florida Statute Chapter 948 – Probation and Community Control, In the State of Florida, a violation of probation happens when a person who was convicted of a crime and is given probation and then purposefully and substantially violates the terms and conditions of their probationary sentence. Probation is part of the defendant's punishment and is not optional. The State of Florida, like most states, consider probation is considered a grace that is given by the state to help rehabilitate the defendant and to better protect society with community supervision. Probation also benefits the offender because the offender can serve out a period of probation in lieu of serving time in prison.
Therefore, a "violation of probation" criminal charge is considered a very serious offense to the criminal justice system throughout the State of Florida. When an individual has been charged with a probation violation, the burden of proof is much less. Also, probation proceedings in the State of Florida lack many of the constitutional protections and procedures that are common in criminal cases.