Alleged Drunk Driver Who Crashed Into Civil War Monument On Main Street Arraigned
David Creed •
This week's Current Court Report includes arraignments and dispositions from Monday's Nantucket District Court session. It is led by the island resident who allegedly crashed into the Civil War Monument last week being arraigned.
Lucas Franca De Brito, 30, of Nantucket, was arraigned on Feb. 5th charges of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, speeding, failure to stop/yield, and leaving the scene of property damage. He had not-guilty pleas entered on his behalf and was ordered to return to court March 10th.
According to the police report, officers were on duty at 8:22 p.m. February 5th when they were dispatched to Milk Street and Main Street for a reported vehicle rollover. When they arrived, the saw a Ford Focus flipped over with parts of the vehicle all over the road.
They found De Brito on the ground next to the driver's side door. After conducting a medical evaluation, they asked De Brito what happened but he said he was unsure and could not remember the crash. Officers could smell alcohol emanating from De Brito and observed him to have glossy eyes.
One of the reporting parties met up with officers and told them De Brito had struck his car on North Liberty Street just prior to the monument crash. The reporting party said De Brito allegedly left the scene of the accident and drove up Gardner Street towards the monument without ever trying to identify himself. The individual followed De Brito up Gardner Street and found the car flipped over.
Police estimate that De Brito was traveling 60 miles per hour in a 25 mile per hour speed zone. A stone pillar from the monument was launched onto Milk Street as a result of the crash.
In other District Court news, Leisa Heintz, 63, of Nantucket, was arraigned on a Feb. 5th charge of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol. She had a not-guilty plea entered on her behalf and was ordered to return to court March 4th for a pretrial hearing.
Jose Montoya Hercules, 28, of Nantucket was arraigned on a Dec. 23rd, 2024 charge of breaking and entering for a misdemeanor. He had a not-guilty plea entered on his behalf and was ordered to return to court March 17th for a pretrial hearing.
Grant Robert Moulder, 34, of Nantucket, will have a Sept. 8th charge of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol continued without a finding for one year on the condition he complete a driver alcohol education program, forfeit his license for 45 days, and pay $600 in court fees.
Charges of negligent operation of a motor vehicle and speeding stemming from the same incident were dismissed.
Francisco Fernandez Sanchez, 31, of Nantucket was arraigned on a Feb. 7th charge of trafficking cocaine, 200 grams or more. He had a not-guilty plea entered on his behalf and was ordered to return to court March 17th for a probable cause hearing. He is being held on dangerousness in the Barnstable House of Corrections. You can read the full story on this arrest and the drug bust that took place last week by clicking here.
*All defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty under a court of law*