Jeffrey Morrell Stone has been found guilty as charged of DUI with Serious Bodily Injury and DUI with Damage to Person/Property. The crime involved the defendant crashing his vehicle into a man who was walking his dog.
The jury returned the verdict just after 6 p.m. Wednesday evening following a two-day trial in Collier County. Assistant State Attorney Nicole Santini and Assistant State Attorney Mara Marzano prosecuted the case.
The crime happened on November 16, 2020. As the victim was walking on Port Au Prince Road, with his dog walking on a leash, beside him in the grass, a Mitsubishi Outlander SUV approached, and suddenly turned towards them. The driver did not stop, hitting the victim’s dog and then hit the man.
The dog was critically injured and died soon after from the impact, ending up on the opposite side of the street. The man suffered serious injuries including broken bones. He was able to look up and saw the driver, later identified as the defendant, who he recognized as a neighbor.
The Collier County Sheriff’s Office arrived on scene. The SUV had noticeable damage including a side mirror that was broken off in the impact, leaving exposed wires and other vehicle damage. Deputies saw that the defendant had noticeable impairments that would compromise his ability to operate a motor vehicle safely.
The defendant admitted being the driver of the vehicle to responders on scene. Later at trial he claimed he was not driving.
A urine test done by the defendant after the crash, tested positive for amphetamines, opiates, and cocaine. The Florida Highway Patrol handled the investigation.
Sentencing is scheduled for April 24, 2024.
Samantha Syoen – Communications Director, State Attorney’s Office