A neurologist from Leesburg has been sentenced to one year probation for a DUI arrest. Dr. Sheri Hamnik, 46, had two other misdemeanors for unlawful possession of prescription drugs, but those charges were dropped after the judge ruled that Hamnik had lawful prescriptions for the drugs.   "All things considered she didn't want to wait for a trial," said Hamnik's attorney John Spivey. "She wanted to resolve it and move on."   According to the Florida Department of Health, Hamnik still has her medical license. She is currently on leave from the Central Florida Health Alliance. At the time of her DUI arrest in February, her blood alcohol level was .081 and .087, both over the legal limit to drive in Florida. Police also discovered 251 loose pills in her purse and arrested her for illegal possession of prescription drugs. Those charges were dropped and her DUI case was downgraded to a misdemeanor. Hamnik pleaded no contest to the DUI charge.   As part of her sentence, Hamnik loses her driver's license for six months and must complete drug and alcohol treatment and DUI School. She must also complete 50 hours of community service and pay $1,731 in court and administrative costs. ...read more

The epidemic of prescription drug abuse is destroying families in Clay County in northeastern Florida. In the first three months of 2012 in Clay County, the Department of Children and Families has had to remove nearly 80 children from their homes for their own safety. That is an increase of 45 percent compared to last year. In many of the removal cases, the parents were abusing prescription pain pills or methamphetamine. Their actions and their addictions put their children at risk. The Department of Children and Families learned that prescription drug abuse played a role in the removals. In many cases, there was serious abuse of prescription pain pills, arrests of both parents for drug sales while their children were present, parents who were incapacitated by their own drug use, and serious neglect or abuse of children. Prescription drug abuse has been a factor in child removals in as many as 70 percent in some areas of northeastern Florida. The removals create problems for an already overburdened and underfunded foster care system. ...read more

 The prosecutor in the Casey Anthony trial has decided to defend his 21-year-old son on a DUI charge. Jeff Ashton will defend his son Alexander this week in a Seminole County courtroom. Alexander Ashton was arrested on Oct. 25 by police in Seminole County. His blood alcohol level was 0.174, more than twice the legal limit. "I love him and I believe in his right to have his day in court like any other citizen, as would any parent," wrote Ashton is a released statement. The elder Ashton is running for state attorney in Orange and Osceola counties. ...read more