Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/166173
NO DEAL The Judge Lynn Silvertooth Judicial Center in downtown Sarasota is the setting for county criminal proceedings. Photo by Rachel Hackney AFTER THE DRIVER IN A 2012 VEHICLE CRASH THAT KILLED A SIESTA KEY RUNNER DECIDES NOT TO ACCEPT A PLEA OFFER FROM THE STATE, HIS TRIAL IS SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER By Rachel Brown Hackney Editor The man arrested on Jan. 7, 2012 for hitting and killing a Siesta Key runner while he allegedly was driving drunk turned down a plea deal this week that would have sent him to prison for 15 years, The Sarasota News Leader has learned. deal on the vehicular homicide charge and multiple counts of DUI damage to property, Assistant State Attorney Amanda M. Gambert told the News Leader in an interview. However, Gambert said she received notification the morning of Sept. 4 that Talman would Instead, Blake Talman, 24, of Bradenton is ex- be rejecting the plea deal after all. pected to go on trial in mid-November in con- She was surprised by the decision, she added. nection with the death of 53-year-old Donna "We were looking to find a resolution today," Chen of Sarasota. Gambert told the News Leader, "just because Talman was scheduled to appear in 12th Judi- we would like to see the family have some cial Circuit Court on Sept. 4 to accept the plea closure."