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Illegal Immigrant Drunk Driving In Winter Haven Faces Enhanced Felony Charges After Crash

Story by Liz Shultz - Local BN
• 4h • 2 min read

Charges Upgraded Due to Illegal Status Following Crash in Winter Haven

Roberto Sandobal-Lopez© Tampa Free Press

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - A Nicaraguan man in the country illegally was arrested by Polk County Sheriff's deputies after a hit-and-run and DUI incident on Saturday, August 16, 2025.
Roberto Sandobal-Lopez, 34, crashed his vehicle into a fenced yard and then fled the scene, only to be found by deputies nearby. His charges were upgraded by one degree due to his immigration status, as per Florida law.

According to the Sheriff's Office, the crash occurred around 7:00 p.m. on Spirit Lake Road near Coleman Road. Witnesses reported seeing a white Honda crash into a fence before the driver, the sole occupant, walked away from the vehicle. Deputies quickly located Sandobal-Lopez walking in the area.

READ: Deadly Florida U-Turn: Trucker Charged With Vehicular Homicide, Now Under ICE Detainer

Upon contact, deputies observed that he had watery, bloodshot eyes and smelled of alcohol. When questioned, he admitted to drinking six bottles of Modelo beer around 5:00 p.m. that evening. Field sobriety tests showed signs of impairment, and two breath samples recorded his blood alcohol content (BAC) at 0.13 and 0.124, both above the legal limit of 0.08.
Sandobal-Lopez was booked into the Polk County Jail on multiple charges, including DUI with property damage, DUI, leaving the scene of a crash with property damage, and driving without a valid license. Each of these charges was upgraded by one degree due to his illegal status.

Illegal Immigrant Drunk Driving In Winter Haven Faces Enhanced Felony Charges After Crash