Breaking News: Richard Anderson enters into plea agreement

Breaking News

Sentence announced this morning

What started as a tragic head-on collision on SR46 last April ended in a Lake County courtroom this morning, as former Apopka City Administrator Richard Anderson entered into an agreement with the State Attorney's Office in which he pled guilty to leaving the scene of a crash involving injury, and leaving the scene of an accident.

Anderson was sentenced to three years probation on the charge of leaving the scene of a crash involving injury, and six months probation on the charge of leaving the scene of an accident. Two other charges - reckless driving causing serious bodily injury, and reckless driving with bodily damage were dropped by the State Attorney (filed Nolle Prosequi) because they were unable to prove Anderson drove the vehicle. The two probation sentences will run concurrent.

Richard Anderson

Anderson was most recently a Lobbyist/Consultant for the City of Apopka until the City Council voted to terminate his contract on June 1st of 2016.

On April 5th, 2016 Anderson was involved in a head-on collision on SR 46 in Lake County according to the Florida Highway Patrol. His Dodge Ram pickup crossed the center line and crashed head-on into a Toyota driven by Michael Falcon. Falcon was seriously injured and airlifted to the Orlando Regional Medical Center. Falcon later filed a lawsuit against Anderson on April 19th, 2016 for the collision, and the Florida Highway Patrol issued an arrest warrant for Anderson on May 31st, 2016. Anderson turned himself into the Seminole County Jail the same day and bonded out.

Anderson was charged with five counts including leaving the scene of a crash with serious bodily injury, leaving the scene of a crash with property damage, reckless driving with serious bodily injury, and reckless driving with property damage. All of the charges are third-degree felonies, which in Florida has a maximum punishment of five years in prison, five years probation, and a $5,000 fine per count.

This is a breaking story and it will be updated.