A Naples man convicted for his role in a November 2020 accident that killed a dog and seriously injured its owner will spend 10 years behind bars, a judge ruled this week.
Collier Circuit Judge Elizabeth Krier on Monday sentenced Jeffrey Morrell Stone, 65. A Collier County jury convicted him in April of DUI with great bodily injury and DUI with injury to a person or property. The jury returned its verdict shortly after 6pm on Wednesday following a two-day trial.
The 59-year-old man and his leashed pitbull dog, Prince Charming, were walking on the east shoulder of Port Au Prince Road on Nov. 16, 2020, when Stone’s vehicle turned left and began traveling on the side. wrong of the road, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The crash happened at 5:45 a.m. at Port Au Prince Road and Salinas Drive, near Lely.
Authorities said Stone hit the dog first before injuring its owner.
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The dog was seriously injured and died shortly after on impact, ending up on the opposite side of the street.
The man suffered serious injuries, including broken bones. He saw the driver, later identified as Stone, who he recognized as a neighbor.
The Collier County Sheriff’s Office arrived on scene and discovered that Stone’s SUV had visible damage, including a side mirror that shattered upon impact, leaving exposed wires and other damage to the vehicle.
Deputies reported that Stone had “visible disabilities” that would compromise his ability to safely operate a motor vehicle.
Stone admitted to being the driver of first responders at the scene, but at trial he claimed otherwise.
A urine test taken after the crash came back positive for amphetamines, opiates and cocaine, authorities said.
Laura Jahnke, a volunteer with the Humane Society Naples, told the Daily News on April 26 that Prince Charming “was only adopted shortly before his death.”
Tomas Rodriguez is a breaking/live news reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can contact Tomas at TRodriguez@gannett.com or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Threads @tomasfrobeltranInstagram @tomasfrobeltran and Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews.
This article originally appeared in the Naples Daily News: Naples Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Drunk Driving Accident That Killed Dog
