MONROE COUNTY, FL — In a recent case, Richard Alan Cole pleaded no contest to Felony Battery and was adjudicated guilty by Circuit Judge James Morgan.
Judge Morgan sentenced Cole to 12 months of probation with several special conditions, including completion of an anger management program, random urinalysis testing, a substance abuse evaluation with any recommended treatment, and no contact with the victim. The court also ordered Cole to pay $1,030.00 in fines, court costs, and fees, along with $1,800.00 in restitution.
The charge stemmed from an October 28, 2022 incident at a business in Key Colony Beach. According to the investigation, Cole became involved in a verbal dispute with another patron before the confrontation escalated. Witnesses reported that Cole grabbed the victim by the arm during the altercation, and the victim reported suffering pain and an injury to her arm. Key Colony Beach Police investigated the incident, and Cole was subsequently arrested.
Chief Assistant State Attorney Joseph Mansfield stated: “Disagreements do not justify violence. When someone chooses to turn a verbal confrontation into a physical assault, there are consequences under the law. Our office will continue to prosecute violent offenders and seek sentences that hold them accountable while protecting victims and our community.”
Assistant State Attorney Melissa Simmons prosecuted the case.
[livemarket market_name="KONK Life LiveMarket" limit=3 category=“” show_signup=0 show_more=0]