Richard Anderson
Richard Anderson's legal fate could be decided in a judge's chambers next month rather than in a courtroom.
Assistant State Attorney Emily Curington confirmed that Fifth Judicial Circuit Judge Lawrence J. Semento has scheduled a private plea negotiation conference in the Lake County Courthouse in Tavares for Anderson’s attorney Kendell Ali of Orlando and Curington.
"A plea negotiation conference is scheduled for August 3rd in Judge Semento's chambers," said Curington. “If Mr. Anderson were to be sentenced, Judge Semento's next available sentencing date is August 11th."
The State Attorney formally filed charges earlier this month, but no trial date has been set.
Ali has taken over Anderson’s criminal case after his previous attorney Joerg Jaeger died in June. Ali is from the same law firm – Jaeger, Ali and Blankner of Orlando. He is a partner with the firm, and was as a former prosecutor for the State Attorney's Office in Orange County.
Anderson is the former Apopka City Administrator (until 2014), who was most recently a Lobbyist/Consultant for the City of Apopka until the City Council voted to terminate his contract on June 1st.
On April 5th, Anderson was involved in a head-on collision on SR 46 in Lake County according to the Florida Highway Patrol. A Dodge Ram pickup he owned crossed the centerline and crashed head-on into a Toyota driven by Michael Falcon. Falcon was seriously injured and airlifted to ORMC. Falcon later filed a lawsuit against Anderson on April 19th for the collision, and the Florida Highway Patrol issued an arrest warrant for Anderson on May 31st.
Anderson is charged with multiple 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.
