Christine Deramo was pulled over earlier this month. She is Lee County Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass’ assistant.
Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputies say she tried to use his name to avoid going to jail.
Lehigh Acres Gazette finally heard from Pendergrass about the incident, and he told us to contact Betsy Clayton, APR, CPRC Communications Director Lee County Government her comment is, “Lee County Government does not discuss personnel matters.”
Deramo’s name-dropping was insufficient to keep the Lee County Sheriff’s Office from posting her name and face on its arrest page.
“While she herself is not a public official, she is the direct assistant for someone that is.
According to her arrest report, she tried to use her boss’ name to get out of a DUI.
After the deputy pulled Deramo over on Alico Road on January 7, the deputy said Deramo said she, “Didn’t want to put the deputy in a bad position.”
A little later, the deputy said Deramo asked if was too late to call Carmine, a clear reference to Sheriff Carmine Marceno.
The deputy made it clear that Deramo refused to take a field sobriety test and a breathalyzer.
If you refuse to take the sobriety test in Florida, your license could be suspended for up to one year, and that’s for your first offense.
She has hired an attorney Daniel J. Garza with Wilbur Smith Law, who also did not answer Lehigh Acres Gazette calls or emails.
On Aug 31, 2021, Wilbur Smith Law gave Lee County Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass $1000 for his campaign.
Yes, all the law enforcement and lawyers refuse to do a breathalyzer test too if pulled over. Common practice