‘A menace to society’: Prosecutors seek ‘substantial’ sentence for Palmetto man convicted of 8th DUI
by: Sierra Rains
Posted: Jun 10, 2026 / 09:48 PM EDT
Updated: Jun 11, 2026 / 06:12 AM EDT
MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — The State Attorney’s Office is seeking an enhanced sentence for a Palmetto man who was recently convicted of his eighth DUI offense.
A jury found Ronald Clark Willard guilty of multiple charges, including driving under the influence, following a two-day trial at the Manatee County Courthouse.
Man arrested after crashing car into St. Pete home: police
Ronald Clark Willard (Credit: Twelfth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office)
The charges stemmed from a Sept. 18, 2024, incident where Manatee County deputies received reports that Willard had committed a battery.
Court records state that Willard drove to a man’s house and punched him in the arm.
Deputies said they arrived to find Willard behind the wheel of a car. He was intoxicated and was driving at a time when his driving privileges had been permanently revoked due to his multiple prior DUI convictions.
https://www.wfla.com/news/local-news/manatee-county/a-menace-to-society-prosecutors-seek-substantial-sentence-for-palmetto-man-convicted-of-8th-dui/
