CLEARWATER - A man charged with DUI-manslaughter in connection with the December 2001 death of a motorcyclist has pleaded no contest to the charge. Aaron B. Nugent, 29, entered the plea in court Wednesday. Judge Jack St. Arnold offered him a maximum sentence of just over 13 years in prison, though prosecutors anticipate Nugent will ask for a lighter sentence. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 10. Nugent was charged in a Dec. 21, 2001, crash that killed Patricia Willets, 46, of Clearwater. Clearwater police said Willets was riding her motorcycle south on Myrtle Street when Nugent's northbound 1980 Buick Regal turned in front of her at Seminole Street. The motorcycle slammed into the side of the car and exploded. Police said Willets was thrown from the bike and was later pronounced dead at Morton Plant Hospital. Police said they found empty containers of alcohol at the scene and said Nugent had glassy, bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. Police also said he smelled of alcohol. Tests showed his blood-alcohol count to be about 0.15 after the crash. Florida law presumes someone is impaired at 0.08. Nugent also pleaded no contest to a charge of DUI with personal injury because a passenger in his car suffered minor injuries.
