Nicaraguan man illegally in US facing 'enhanced' charges after drunken hit-and-run: sheriff

A Nicaraguan man in the United States illegally is facing enhanced charges due to his immigration status in Florida for a drunken hit-and-run over the weekend according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office Sheriff Grady Judd explained deputies arrested Roberto Sandobal-Lopez on Saturday after he crashed his white Honda into someone's fence in Winter Haven at around p m and walked off Deputies were alerted to the crash after spectators called the sheriff's office to summary the occurrence UBER DRIVER ACCUSED OF SEXUALLY ASSAULTING YOUNG WOMAN NOW FACES ICE ARREST DETAINER AFTER OVERSTAYING VISASandobal-Lopez was detected by law enforcement walking in the nearby area shortly after the crash and deputies determined he was intoxicated His eyes were described as watery and bloodshot and deputies declared they could smell alcohol When he was sought if he had been drinking Sandobal-Lopez allegedly stated he drank six bottles of Modelo a limited hours earlier at around p m Two samples during a breath test revealed BAC levels of and according to the PCSO Field sobriety tests also displayed several signs of impairment the sheriff's office explained ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT TRUCK DRIVER ACCUSED IN DEADLY FLORIDA CRASH GOT BIDEN WORK PERMIT AFTER TRUMP DENIAL DHSSandobal-Lopez was taken to the Polk County Jail and charged with DUI with property damage driving under the influence leaving the scene of the crash with property damage and not having a driver's license His charges have been upgraded by one degree because he is in the U S illegally which makes his DUI with property damage charge a third-degree felony The remaining charges are all first-degree misdemeanors Sheriff Grady Judd declared in a Facebook post that Sandobal-Lopez will remain in jail until he is picked up by U S Immigration and Customs Enforcement Judd revealed it's fortunate that only a fence was damaged during the drunken drive and called Sandobal-Lopez a coward for walking away from the scene and responsibility The sheriff also reiterated that being in the U S illegally is a crime and in Florida immigration status will impact the severity of criminal charges In Florida if you re committing the crime of being here illegally your other criminal charges are enhanced one degree he's now facing a serious felony because he caused damage to property while driving under the influence Judd explained