A Ramshackle Cafe employee who decided to imbibe when he was supposed to be serving as a designated driver will lose his driver’s license for five years.
James Roy Ball Jr., 34, of Tavares, pleaded no contest earlier this month in Lake County Court to a charge of driving under the influence.
His license has been suspended for five years, he was sentenced to 15 days in jail and has been placed on probation for one year.
Ball, who indicated to law enforcement he worked as a server at the popular Leesburg restaurant, was at the wheel of a vehicle on Nov. 21 when he failed to obey a stop sign and made an improper turn, according to an arrest report from the Eustis Police Department. Ball’s car was pulled over at Ferran Park. The officer noted the smell of alcohol coming from Ball as he was fumbling with his paperwork. He told the officer that he was “hanging out with friends” at Big Dog’s Saloon in Mount Dora. He told the officer he drank two White Claws and two shots at the bar.
Based on the officer’s observation and Ball’s poor performance in field sobriety exercises, he was taken into custody on a charge of driving under the influence.
At that point, Ball told the officer that he was supposed to be the designated driver for the group. However, his friend told Ball that her boyfriend is a Tavares police officer and Ball would not have to worry about drinking and driving.
Ball provided breath samples that registered .199 and .198 blood alcohol content.
