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Woman takes plea deal

By JOHN FRANK
Published January 5, 2007

INVERNESS - A Hernando woman charged in a car wreck that led to the death of a well-known Floral City artist struck a deal with prosecutors Thursday that will keep her from getting the maximum prison sentence.

Lorie M. Norris, 42, faced 20 years behind bars on charges of vehicular homicide and reckless driving for the Sept. 19, 2004, crash that killed 86-year-old Anita Roy of Floral City.

A day after finding she was found competent to stand trial, Norris agreed to plead no contest to the charges. Norris, formerly of Floral City, will be sentenced Feb. 2.

Circuit Judge Ric Howard said Thursday he would cap the forthcoming sentence at 12 years, the minimum punishment allowed.

Norris' attorney, Paul Militello of Inverness, said Howard even seemed open to his request that she receive probation. But prosecutors and family members said they want to see at least some prison time.

Attorneys in court Thursday morning said Howard gave no explanation for his offer to cap the sentence, but they suspected Norris' mental health problems contributed to the decision.

Even though Howard found Norris competent for trial during a hearing Wednesday, he acknowledged her deteriorating mental condition. Three psychiatrists reported that Norris suffered from a substantial impairment, likely from a brain injury.

The accident report stated Norris was driving north on U.S. 41 when she pulled into the center turn lane and tried to pass Roy's stationary car, which was waiting to turn left toward a church.

Norris' car entered the southbound lane and caused the wreck, the report said. The report lists three witnesses who told a deputy that Norris was driving erratically and using the center turn lane as a passing lane.

The head-on wreck seriously injured Roy, who died a month later at the hospital. Her husband, David, suffered minor injuries.

Assistant State Attorney Bill Catto said he was prepared for the trial that would have started with jury selection Monday. All previous talk of a plea deal involved prison time, he said.

"I certainly didn't anticipate any kind of probation," David Roy said. "I fully expect some kind of jail time."

The Roys moved to Floral City from St. Petersburg about 20 years ago. Anita Roy was a painter who specialized in large, vibrant acrylic works on canvas. She won an honorable mention at the 2004 Inverness Festival of the Arts.

John Frank can be reached at jfrank@sptimes.com or 860-7312.

[Last modified January 4, 2007, 20:30:35]