Orange County Sheriff’s Son Arrested for DUI

August 18, 2022 Don Pumphrey, Jr. Criminal Defense, Drunk Driving/DUI, News & Announcements Social Share

Driving under the influence comes with a hefty price in Florida. A recent story in the state highlights how the Orange County Sheriff’s son was charged with a DUI, despite not actually driving at the time.

We will cover the details of the arrest, DUIs in Florida, and a statement by John Mina.

What was the Incident?

Around 11:40 p.m. on Sunday in Winter Garden, police arrested Chase Mina, 27, after they found him asleep at the wheel on the side of the road. Chase is the son of John Mina, the Orange County Sheriff.

The arrest affidavit explains that the police received a call about a disabled vehicle, and upon arrival, they found Chase Mina “slumped over and asleep” at the driving wheel of his truck. There were two open beer containers in the cup holders.

An officer woke up Chase and questioned where he was coming from, to which he responded “the ride home.” Chase was unable to provide the police with his driver’s license when the police requested to see it. The defendant searched his pockets and came up empty. He continued to search throughout his vehicle, despite having police order him to stay where he was.

Chase admitted to the police he had “a little to drink” that night. Police reported that Chase had bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, was having difficulty standing up straight, and smelled of strong alcohol.

When asked if they could take a field sobriety test, Chase refused. This resulted in him getting arrested on the suspicion of driving under the influence. Chase refused again for a breathalyzer test at the Orange County DUI Testing Center and was then taken to the Orange County Jail.

His father Sheriff John Mina gave the simple comment after the arrest: “This is a personal matter involving my adult son, and I expect this case to be handled like any other case through the justice system.”

DUI Charges in Florida

Getting arrested for a DUI is extremely serious. Florida has some of the strictest laws on driving under the influence, and a guilty conviction can lead to harsh consequences. Florida Statute Section 316.193 defines an individual driving under the influence as when they are either driving or in “physical control” of a vehicle while under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

In Florida, you are considered to be driving under the influence if your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is above the limit of .08. A police officer can test your BAC level with a breathalyzer test, a blood test, or a urine sample.

It is important to note that you can be charged with a DUI even if the vehicle is parked. Often times drivers under the influence attempt to “sleep it off” in a parking lot—or on the side of the road, like in the case mentioned above. The common factors a judge will look at to determine there is sufficient evidence to convict a person of a DUI while parked is as follows:

• The vehicle was running
• The location of the parked vehicle
• The hood of the vehicle was hot, indicating the car had recently been driven
• The keys were inside of the ignition
• The defendant’s position in the vehicle
• The vehicle’s ability to be operated or if there was a mechanical issue

To read more about DUIs and its possible defenses, find our informative page here.

Finding a Defense Attorney in Tallahassee, Florida

If you or someone you love has been arrested for driving under the influence, your first step should be reaching out to a skilled defense attorney in your area. Getting charged with a DUI can lead to harsh consequences such as expensive fines, imprisonment, community service, and the stigma of holding a criminal conviction on your permanent record. Your best shot of earning your freedom is working with an experienced DUI attorney. Don Pumphrey and his legal team at Pumphrey Law Firm have represented clients across the state for various criminal charges. Call us for a free consultation today at (850) 681-7777 or leave us an online message on our website.

Written by Karissa Key

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