The former principal at Leesburg High School has been sentenced as a result of a drunk driving arrest earlier this year.
Michael A. Randolph, 38, pleaded no contest on Thursday in Lake County Court to a charge of driving under the influence.
He will lose his driver’s license for six months, although the judge said Randolph can apply for a business purposes only license. He has been placed on probation for one year and must seek an alcohol evaluation and follow any recommended treatment. He was also ordered to perform 50 hours of community service, though he can “buy out” at the rate of $10 per hour. In addition, the judge agreed that Randolph may travel Dec. 26 through 30 to Washington D.C.
After his arrest, Randolph resigned as LHS principal.
Randolph was arrested early Oct. 26 by the Clermont Police Department on a second degree misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence. Randolph was driving a white pickup truck at about 2 a.m. on State Road 50 approaching Miss Florida Avenue when his truck was estimated traveling at 71 miles per hour in a 50 mph zone, according to an arrest report. He had also failed to maintain his lane of traffic.
During a traffic stop, the Indiana native was “very apologetic” and was issued a ticket for failure to use a designated lane.
It appeared Randolph had been drinking and he agreed to participate in field sobriety exercises. However, his poor performance led the officer to conclude he had been driving impaired.
An inventory of his truck prior to towing turned up open plastic containers of Crown Royal Apple and Smirnoff Vodka.
Randolph, who resides at 17235 Hickory Wind Drive in Clermont, was taken to the Clermont Police Department where he was asked to provide a breath sample, but refused to do so.
The officer noted in the report that Randolph was “very emotional, polite, apologetic.”