A Village of Hillsborough man arrested in August after leaving a hula dancing contest, has written a letter to the judge in his case.
Steven Walthall Crist, 68, was arrested at 1:54 a.m. Aug. 29 at U.S. 301 and County Road 466 after he was clocked driving 62 miles per hour in a 55 mph zone.
Crist told the arresting officer he had been in a hula dancing contest before going to the Dallas Bar on U.S. 301 in Marion County. He told the Sumter County sheriff’s deputy he had to consumed alcohol in order to get up the courage to participate in the hula dancing contest. He also showed the deputy some of his hula dancing moves.
Crist was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence. He refused to submit to a breath test. His case is still pending in Sumter County Court.
Earlier this month, Crist wrote a letter to Judge Thomas Skidmore, who is hearing his case.
He told the judge he has taken a driver education course and now understands the need to get drunk drivers off the road.
“I am 68 years old and have never been arrested and have prided myself in being a fine law abiding citizen,” according to the letter on file with the Sumter County clerk’s office.
In the letter, Crist praises the instructor in the six-hour course he recently took in Ocala.
“I went in there with a chip on my shoulder and just wanted to get through the course but I am now so glad I paid such close attention,” he said in the letter.
“I would only hope and pray that everyone who does apply for a drivers permit would take this course. We do need to get drunk drivers off the road so that the innocent people can go about their lives in a safe manner.”
Crist’s next court date is Oct. 13.