Four-time AMA National Champion road racer and two-time Daytona 200 winner Danny Eslick has struck a deal with prosecutors in Daytona Beach, Florida, that has reduced the charges against him, according to a report appearing today on www.news-journalonline.com, the website of the Daytona Beach News Journal daily newspaper.
According to a police report Eslick, age 29, from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, was arrested in the middle of the night Monday, March 7/Tuesday, March 8 in Daytona Beach, Florida, on the charge of Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer, a third degree felony. The police report stated that the incident started with police witnessing Eslick pushing a 51-year-old woman to the ground on a crowded sidewalk amidst the Bike Week party scene. Police tried to detain Eslick, but he shoved, punched and ran from the Daytona Beach police officer who was trying to detain him, the report said.
Read details from the arresting officer’s report here: https://www.roadracingworld.com/news/daytona-beach-police-detail-racer-danny-eslicks-running-fight-with-cops/
Eslick was released from a Volusia County jail March 8 on $1,500 bond, and on March 9 Eslick issued the following statement to be published on Roadracingworld.com: https://www.roadracingworld.com/news/racer-danny-eslick-issue-statement-apologizing-for-the-actions-that-led-to-his-arrest-in-daytona-beach-late-monday-night/
On March 10, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA, which sanctioned the 2016 Daytona 200 and issues licenses for the MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Championship), working in close consultation with Daytona International Speedway (which promotes the Daytona 200) and the American Sportbike Roadracing Association (ASRA, which organizes, officiates and runs the Daytona 200), suspended Eslick’s racing license pending the resolution of his criminal charges.
Read AMA’s statement on Eslick’s suspension here: https://www.roadracingworld.com/news/racer-danny-eslick-suspended-from-all-ama-sanctioned-activity/
According to sources close to Eslick, he retained a local lawyer and tried to have his suspension lifted so he could race in the 75th Daytona 200. But Eslick’s case could not be heard by a judge prior to the race, which took place Saturday, March 12.
Eslick was contracted to ride a Fitzgerald Glider Kits/TOBC Racing Yamaha in the Daytona 200 in an attempt to win the iconic motorcycle road race for a third straight time. Eslick’s team hired Shane Narbonne to race in Eslick’s place, and Narbonne finished fourth.
Eslick attended a hearing Monday, March 14 in a court in Florida. During that proceeding, Eslick’s charge was reduced from felony Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer to misdemeanor Battery, to which he agreed to plead No Contest, according to the Daytona Beach News Journal story.
As part of the plea deal, Eslick also agreed to undergo substance abuse evaluation and to seek treatment if deemed necessary; to consume no drugs or alcohol while on probation; to participate in urinalysis checks; and to enter a two-day anger management class.
Circuit Court Judge Frank Marriott accepted the deal but did not sentence Eslick. According to the Daytona Beach News Journal, the judge stated he could not direct how the Department of Corrections would handle Eslick’s probation considering that Eslick lives out of state.
Eslick did not respond to attempts by Roadracingworld.com to contact him on Sunday, March 13 or on Monday, March 14.
Read the Daytona Beach News Journal article here:http://www.news-journalonline.com/article/20160314…