Cops: No liquor means no liquor

NOKOMIS — A Nokomis woman on DUI probation that prohibited drinking alcohol was arrested on multiple charges after deputies saw her patronize a liquor store.

Krista Jean Sturgis, 55, of the 200 block of Albee Road in Nokomis, was charged with DUI-fourth or subsequent offense, a third-degree felony; driving while license suspended; failure to have motor vehicle liability insurance; and refusal to submit to DUI testing.

She's in the Sarasota County Jail on bond of $16,300.

She has waived arraignment and pleaded not guilty through the Public Defender's Office.

According to a Sarasota County Sheriff's Office probable cause affidavit, on the afternoon of July 5 a deputy on routine patrol saw Sturgis pull into the parking lot of a liquor store in Nokomis.

She was believed to be driving on a suspended license and her vehicle's registration had been canceled, with a seizure order issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

Sturgis was seen exiting the store carrying bottles of alcohol, the affidavit states.

When the deputy conducted a traffic stop, Sturgis had slurred speech and was emitting an odor of alcohol, it states. Another deputy was called in for a DUI investigation.

That deputy learned Sturgis is on probation from a 2025 Charlotte County conviction for DUI with property damage or injury, with terms including a restriction on the use of alcohol throughout the probationary period, which was scheduled to end in November.

According to the affidavit, at first Sturgis denied knowing her license was suspended and where she had driven, and said she had not consumed alcohol before saying she had been drinking the night before. Then, she said she had been to "the party store," finally admitting it was the liquor store.

She also said she didn't know her driving privileges were suspended, then acknowledged it was, but only due to unpaid fines, finally admitting it was due to the DUI.

Two bottles of alcohol were visible in the back of the vehicle, the affidavit states.

Sturgis agreed to perform field sobriety exercises, which she failed, it states. At the jail, she refused to give a breath sample.

She was also cited for improper display of license tag, no proof of insurance, failure to produce her registration and failure to change her address on her driver license.

In addition to her DUI conviction in Charlotte County, she has two prior convictions in Michigan, according to the affidavit.