The trial of former Ocean Ridge Vice Mayor Richard Lucibella, accused of felony battery on a law enforcement officer and other charges, will begin now April 30, Circuit Judge Meenu Sasser ordered Feb. 20.
The case of an accused burglar who sought a speedy trial knocked Lucibella's date off the judge's calendar. Lucibella's new trial date is a year and three weeks past the original schedule, which called for the proceedings to begin April 10, 2017.
Lucibella, who also faces charges of resisting arrest with violence, another felony, and firing a weapon while under the influence of alcohol, a misdemeanor, waived his right to a speedy trial when the lawyers needed more time to question witnesses.
He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Lucibella was arrested Oct. 22, 2016, after Ocean Ridge police went to his oceanfront home answering neighbors' reports of hearing gunfire. They confiscated a .40-caliber handgun and found five spent shell casings on the backyard patio.
He and one of the officers’ supervisors, Lt. Steven Wohlfiel, were both on the patio and “obviously intoxicated,” the police said.
Lucibella resigned his vice mayor and town commissioner positions Dec. 7, 2016.
His trial was postponed first to July 2017, then October, then this April.
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