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Former Ocean Ridge Vice Mayor Richard Lucibella is all smiles as he leaves the courtroom with his attorney Heidi Perlet after being adjudicated guilty of a misdemeanor battery charge. During sentencing, Circuit Judge Dahlia Weiss ruled that Lucibella will be required to pay only…

Ocean Ridge's former Vice Mayor Richard Lucibella speaks with his attorneys Heidi Perlet and Marc Shiner following his week long trial. Lucibella was found not guilty of two felony charges, but was convicted of a lesser misdemeanor battery charge. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Steve…

Former Ocean Ridge Vice Mayor, Richard Lucibella, testifies in court on Jan. 31. A six-man jury began deliberations about 9:55 am on Feb. 1. Lucibella is charged with two felonies; battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest with violence. Jerry Lower/The Coastal…

By Steve Plunkett

Richard Lucibella had his day in court Jan. 31, maintaining his innocence during nearly three hours on the witness stand.

The former vice mayor of Ocean Ridge said he could not act antagonistically toward arresting officer Richard Ermeri and described Ermeri as the aggressor.

“Somebody who has just attacked you, broken your ribs, partially blinded you, knocked you out I believe — I do not believe [that’s me being] antagonistic,”…

By Steve Plunkett

The judge in Richard Lucibella’s felony trial declared Jan. 30 that prosecutors had delivered sufficient evidence against the former Ocean Ridge vice mayor for the case to continue.

“The court finds at this stage the state has presented a prima facie case,” Circuit Judge Dahlia Weiss said after defense attorney Marc Shiner asked her to dismiss both charges against Lucibella, battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest…