FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Man sentenced to five years prison for DUI

March 2, 2007

State Attorney Steve Meadows announces the conviction and sentencing, in Bay County Circuit Court, of Andre C. Smith on a charge of Felony DUI.

After a trial that went into the night, the four males, two females jury took about two hours to find that Smith, 36, of 8009 East Highway 22, was guilty of the February 14, 2006, charge and that he had previously been convicted of DUI in 1998 and 1999. Florida law provides that a third DUI is treated as a felony.

Assistant State Attorney Rachel Seaton, in her first felony trial, presented evidence that Smith’s blood alcohol level was .27 three hours after his car struck two other vehicles on Thomas Drive on Panama City Beach.

Circuit Court Judge Dedee S. Costello sentenced Smith to the maximum of five years prison. Florida law requires that inmates serve at least 85 per cent of the sentence.