Police in Marion County announced that an Ocala man was taken into custody for allegedly driving while intoxicated on Saturday morning.
Leonard Chiasson, 60, faces a DUI charge. His bond was set at $12,000. The press did not name an attorney for him.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), a trooper pulled over someone driving a Toyota RAV4 at approximately 12:30 a.m. on January 25 at the intersection of County Road 484 and State Road 200. The driver was reportedly weaving in and out of a lane.
After stopping the vehicle, the driver, who was identified as Chiasson, told the trooper that he was searching for his wife. Chiasson had to hold onto the trooper and his vehicle several times after he got out of the car, the FHP report said. He urinated on himself while talking to the trooper, and was unable to perform a field sobriety exercises. He allegedly told the trooper that he had drank four beers at a nearby bar, according to the report.
The trooper reported smelling a strong odor of alcohol from Chiasson’s breath. His speech was also slurred and his eyes were watery and bloodshot, the report states. Chiasson was so intoxicated he had to be transported from the local jail to an area hospital for treatment. His blood alcohol level was .316 and .318, which is almost four times more than the legal limit of .08.
This isn’t Chiasson’s first run-in with the law. Records show that he was arrested earlier this month for allegedly exploiting an 84-year-old woman by taking over $100,000 from her bank accounts.
Chiasson was arrested on January 7 and charged with exploitation of the elderly for $50,000 or more. He was released after posting $10,000 bond. It is unclear if he acquired the services of an attorney in that case.
According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the victim told investigators that Chiasson had been kicked out of his home, so she allowed him to stay with her so he could assist her. At his request, the elderly woman signed power of attorney over to him, and he allegedly used that power to take money out of her bank accounts over the next several months.
In October 2019, the victim’s bank reported possible exploitation after reviewing her bank statements and noticing that Chiasson had allegedly spent more than $100,000 from their checking, credit card, and investment accounts.
Chiasson had allegedly made withdrawals and charges totally over $130,000. He used the funds to pay for a home, expensive dinners at a steakhouse, bar tabs of over $6,800, and fireworks worth $1,900. When questioned about his actions, Chiasson purportedly told an investigator that the victim had told him he could have everything she owns, and she was going to leave everything to him in her will.
South Florida DUI Attorney
If you have been arrested for a DUI, then you should hire an attorney. Contact Brian Silver, P.A. to set up a free initial consultation and work with one of South Florida’s most experienced DUI attorneys.
Source: 1.26.20 man charged with DUI was arrested earlier this month for exploiting elderly woman.pdf