Friday, June 17, 2005

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Man sentenced for skinny-dipping incident

By LEE WILLIAMS
lwilliams@TheCitizenNews.com

A towel-clad golf cart guide who led Peachtree City police on a brief pursuit after he, his girlfriend and dog were caught skinny-dipping at Battery Way Park after hours learned the hard way Wednesday that a lapse in judgment could cost you.

Michael R. Stevens, 37, the owner of Big Mike’s Adventures that offers golf cart tours and moonlit tours at Lake Peachtree, was charged with DUI, two counts of resisting an officer, public indecency, public intoxication, reckless driving, violation of park hours, driving on a golf cart on unapproved road and driving a golf cart without headlights.

Stevens didn’t get as much time as he could have, but after reaching a negotiated plea deal with the court, he will have to spend at least 24 hours in jail, minus credit for eight hours served, complete 40 hours of community service, surrender his driver’s license, go to DUI school, pay a $1,300-plus fine, submit to random drug testing, and spend 15 months on probation for his April 5 run-in with police.

Peachtree City Solicitor Keith Martin asked Municipal Court Judge Stephen Ott to accept the terms of the negotiated plea deal. Stevens’ attorney Clay Collins of Fairburn also asked the judge to accept the terms.

Martin indicated he didn’t think Stevens who was accused of fleeing authorities leaving his shorts, underwear and one brown sandal behind at the boat docks, giving police an eyeful when they caught up with the 6-foot-2, 254-pound man in his towel, will give a repeat performance.

Stevens’ attorney agreed.

“I want to let the court know that Mr. Stevens had an exceedingly bad moment,” Collins said. “He is a very good person. We all have bad moments. It was played out in a very public way. I believe he has handled this in the most responsible and reasonable way.”

Collins indicated that Stevens is a contributing member of the community and he is impressed by how Stevens owned up to the incident.

“He’s never stood taller in my eyes as he does today,” Collins said. “He’s standing in front of this court and taking full responsibility for his behavior and moving forward with his life in a very positive way.”