A 79-year-old Villager arrested multiple times for showing up where he was not wanted, remains behind bars at the Lake County Jail.
A stalemate is over the state attorney’s latest plea deal offer – 123 days in jail.
Richard Neil Hendricks of 1209 Maria Court in the Village of Del Mar has been behind bars since Oct. 13 after his bond was revoked the previous day by Judge Donna Miller.
After four one-day trips this year in and out of jail in Lake County and another in Sumter County on trespassing charges, Hendricks’ routine has hit a serious snag.
Hendricks has been banned from all Villages facilities, including the town squares, recreation centers, swimming pools, movie theaters and softball fields.
However, he has repeatedly showed up at facilities despite knowing that he risked arrest. He had been exploiting a loophole of his the by parking his golf cart in the street at Spanish Springs Towns Square and remaining in the cart.
But his apparent taunting and teasing of police, library personnel and recreation center staff has hit a brick wall.
In a Nov. 4 hand-written letter to Judge Miller, Hendricks protests the 123-day offer, pointing to a previous offer of 10 days in jail, which Hendricks rejected.
“I said, no, I am not guilty,” Hendricks wrote in his letter to the judge.
Hendricks closed his letter with some pleasantries for the soon-to-be retired Miller.
“Thank you for your service on the bench,” Hendricks wrote. “God bless you in your retirement.”
He could also face a steep tab when he finally wins release. Like many jails, a $50-per-day incarceration fee is often levied against inmates in Lake County.
Hendricks has a long series of arrests in Lake County dating back to 2008.
