Man Sentenced to 90 Days in Jail for DUI, Hit and Run, Attempting to Bribe GPD Officers
Wade Hyde, 59, was sentenced 90 days in jail Wednesday following a no contest plea and conviction of three misdemeanors, driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol, drug possession and leaving the scene of a crash, in addition to two felony bribery charges.
Facing a maximum sentence of 31 years in prison, Hyde took a plea deal that was accepted by Judge Denise Ferrero.
Hyde was arrested on December 27, 2024, with Gainesville Police Department Officer Gregory Meshes reporting the following:
“Upon arrival I met with Ofc. Rico who conducted the hit and run traffic crash portion of the investigation. A blue Toyota Camry with a FL tag of Y284MA was crashed in a tree at the above address. Ofc. Rico and Witness 1 stated they both witnessed [Hyde] behind the driver seat and in control of the vehicle when they arrived. [Hyde] struck two stop signs, a parked unoccupied vehicle and then struck the tree.
I spoke with [Hyde] and advised him I am conducting a DUI investigation and the traffic accident investigation was over. [Hyde] stated he understood.
[Hyde] smelled strongly of alcoholic beverages, had red blurry eyes, slurred speech, had trouble standing upright and constantly swayed from side to side. I asked [Hyde] if he had any medical problems or if he was diabetic and he stated ‘No.’
[Hyde] performed poorly on his field sobriety exercises…
While under arrest, [Hyde] asked me and Cpl. Sowards to not do our jobs and to release him if we agreed to take his $1,000.00 as bribe money. [Hyde] told us multiple times that he would give LEO $1,000.00 cash to forget this happened and to go our separate ways if we would accept the bribe. When LEO told [Hyde] ‘no,’ [Hyde] stated he would give us $2,000.00 as a final offer if we would just release him.
While searching [Hyde’s] vehicle prior to being towed, Ofc. Rico found several pipes commonly used for drug use. Some of the pipes had drug residue inside which looked and smelled like marijuana. There was not much drug left inside the pipes but the pipes were confiscated by Ofc. Rico.”
While doing the “walk and turn” field sobriety test, Hyde reportedly stepped off the line and stated, “I cannot do this.”
During the “one leg stand” field sobriety test, Meshes reported that he had to stop the exercise for Hyde’s safety because he couldn’t balance.
Hyde did not submit to a breathalyzer test.
Hyde will be released in around two months because he received 28 days of credit for time he spent in jail prior to his pretrial release, court records show.
After his release, Hyde will be placed under probation for three years.
Hyde’s probation will require him to maintain an ignition interlock device for two years, which requires drivers to submit to a breathalyzer test to start their vehicle. However, this appears to simply be a precaution by the court, as Hyde’s probation also suspends his driver’s license for five years, preventing him from legally getting behind the wheel in the first place.
Hyde will be required to abstain from drugs and alcohol, submit to random drug testing and complete an advanced DUI course.
