Yesterday (Oct 6), Circuit Judge Charles Crawford presided over a sentencing hearing for Latrenerra STRIDIRON (29) who was found guilty on August 20, 2021, of two (2) counts of DUI with Serious Bodily Injury (F3), and one (1) count of DUI with Damage or Injury (M1), after a week-long trial.

In addition to considering a pre-sentencing report, Judge Crawford also heard testimony from the investigating FHP Trooper, along with two defense witnesses and the defendant STRIDIRON. While the State argued for the maximum sentence, the defense sought a downward departure. Judge Crawford found that STRIDIRON had not demonstrated she was remorseful, or met other qualifying conditions and denied the request. He then sentenced her to nine (9) years in state prison as consecutive five (5) year and four (4) year terms for the Felony DUI counts, followed by one (1) year of supervised probation for the misdemeanor DUI. Judge Crawford also ordered STRIDIRON's driver license be permanently revoked, along with $2,756.12 in court costs and fines.

In a statement after the sentencing, Assistant State Attorney Michael Garcia said, “I’m grateful to Judge Crawford for his thoughtful consideration of the victims in crafting this sentence.” He added “We can’t undo the pain and suffering of Eden [Tall], Scott [Smith] and their families, but at least they know that every day for the next 10 years, Ms. STRIDIRON will answer for what she did.”

STRIDIRON was ordered held at the Brevard County Jail, awaiting transfer to the Florida Department of Corrections to begin serving her sentence.

Case Summary

Just before 1:30 am on August 29, 2019, Florida Highway Patrol Troopers responded to a vehicle crash on Highway A1A at Ocean Oaks Drive where they found a 2016 Buick SUV driven by STRIDIRON, had crashed into the rear of a 2011 Kia while traveling at 106 mph. The Kia was occupied by Scott Smith (24), and driven by Eden Tall (27), when the violent impact drove their vehicle 75 feet off the road into a ditch, spun through a fence, and sideways into a light pole. Tall suffered near fatal, physically devastating injuries, that even after two years of treatment, have left her confined to a home hospital bed, completely dependent upon her mother and family for daily care. Smith was also seriously injured along with Marteisha Samuel, a passenger in STRIDIRON's vehicle, who suffered a broken leg and fracture above her eye.

 STRIDIRON was not significantly injured and passed out after being examined at the hospital. She refused to cooperate with the investigation and blood drawn approximately 3 1/2 hours after the crash, showed an alcohol level of .184, well above the legal limit of .08.