Man charged with DUI with kids in car claims to have money to 'buy his way out of anything'

CCSO

• Name: MORALES, FEDERICO OMAR
• Charge: DUI BLD ALCH .15 OR HIGHER OR WITH PERSON UNDER 18 1ST OFF
• Residence: Naples
• Age: 22
• Occupation: NA
• Case #: Not yet available

Deputies pulled over a man for driving on the wrong side of the road on Monday and found two children not wearing seat belts and a driver who smelled of alcohol, reports said.

Federico Morales, 22, of the 5000 block of Carlton Street in East Naples, was arrested by Collier County sheriff's deputies early Monday near the intersection of U.S. 41 and Commercial Boulevard in East Naples and charged with DUI with a person under 18. He was also issued three traffic citations for the seat belt/child restraint infractions and a citation for driving on the wrong side of the road.

But Morales wasn't concerned, telling deputies he has enough money "to buy his way out of anything,” reports said.

According to the arrest report, a deputy on patrol in East Naples observed Morales driving his black Cadillac SUV west in the eastbound lanes of U.S. 41 near the intersection with Commercial Boulevard. Deputies witnessed Morales stop his vehicle, turn sideways and block the eastbound lanes of U.S. 41, correct himself and pull a U-turn, the report said.

Upon initiating a traffic stop, deputies discovered a young boy, around 4-years-old, not wearing his seat belt or secured in a child seat, curled up in the front seat of the vehicle, the report said.

Deputies also discovered another boy, under 10-years-old, sitting in the backseat and not wearing his seat belt either, the report said.

The driver, Morales, was also not wearing a seat belt, smelled of alcohol and had bloodshot, watery eyes, the report said. When the deputy asked Morales why the children were not wearing seat belts, Morales said they were OK, according to the report.

Morales refused to submit to the deputy’s request to perform a field sobriety test, the report said. Morales was placed under arrest and his two children were turned over to his brother-in-law, who is also the registered owner of the Cadillac, according to the report.

While at the jail, Morales again refused to provide deputies with a breath sample, stating that it was OK that his license was suspended “because Jerry Berry will get him out of this whole DUI,” the report said. Morales also told deputies that “money is everything in this country, and that he has enough to buy his way out of anything,” the report said.