Sentence Delayed For DUI Manslaughter Suspect

A Bushnell man facing five DUI charges including manslaughter will be formally sentenced next Friday.

Rickey Scroggins, 23, accepted an offer in court on Thursday of three years in prison, two years house arrest and five years probation for charges stemming from a crash last April that killed his friend, 19-year-old Andrew Cuthbertson.

Scroggins, who has posted an $83,000 bond, was scheduled for trial on Monday.

Circuit Judge Stephen Rushing was agreeable to the plea bargain, but reserved the right to withdraw his approval pending the outcome of a testimonial hearing next Friday.

"We'll see what happens at that time," he said.

Also in circuit court Thursday:

•A documented gang member was denied a petition to lower his $400,000 bond for charges related to a kidnapping and robbery in August.

Alan Fanter, attorney for Luis Baez, 21, pointed out that the bond schedule for charges of armed burglary, robbery and kidnapping only amounts to $105,000 and pleaded for leniency so that Baez could be with his small child.

Prosecutor Erin Daly strongly opposed any bond reduction, saying Baez was a documented gang member and that he was implicated in a stabbing a few weeks prior to this latest incident on Aug. 4.

That's when investigators say Baez and Abimael Diaz broke into a Spring Hill home, kidnapped the resident and forced him to withdraw money from an ATM at gunpoint.

•A woman pleaded guilty to playing a role in the attempted murder of a Lutz man last March.

The victim, 19-year-old Luke Griggs, was kidnapped by four associates and taken to the intersection of Dan Brown Hill and Hayman roads in rural south Hernando County where he was shot and set on fire.

Carlene Troyer, 36, was named as an accomplice and witness and charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, attempted murder and armed kidnapping. On Thursday, those charges were reduced to principal to aggravated battery and Troyer was sentenced to five years probation.