FLORIDA DUI BLOG: Woman Looks For Reduced Sentence Following DUI Plea In Fatal Crash
The list of tragic DUI accidents in Hernando County seems to be a long one lately. One of those cases has resurfaced despite the fact the defendant in the case already accepted a plea that included a sentence of 13 years in jail. Barbara Diffendal pled guilty to DUI causing an accident that took the life on Jeanine Bethoney but according to an article in Hernando Today’s online newspaper, the woman is telling her side of the story in hopes of a reduced sentence.
A motion has been filed by Diffendal asking that her sentence be reduced. She tells a story of how she had tried to have a friend drive her to work after she had a couple of beers but when her ride failed to show she took to the roads with her daughter in tow. While driving Difendal says all the light’s on her dashboard began to flash and the car swerved. She tried to regain control of the car but overcompensated and ended up jumping the median and causing the head-on collision. She claims she left the scene to use the phone having no idea how serious the accident was. Blood tests later showed Difendal had a blood-alcohol content of 0.05, which is below the legal limit but she also had cocaine in her system. She is asking for house arrest following the mandatory four years in prison.
If you have been charged with a DUI in Florida, please do not hesitate to contact Florida DUI Defense Attorney Stephen Higgins at 1-800-FIGHT-IT (1-800-344-4848) or online at FightYourDUI.com to discuss the matter. Also you can contact Stephen via email.
