Man who crashed into McDonald’s drive-thru gets 60 days jail plus probation after plea deal

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

Ronald Lester Kiffer, Jr., 45, was sentenced yesterday to 60 days in jail, followed by two consecutive 12-month terms of probation, after a plea deal on charges of DUI with damage to property and refusing to submit to a breath test.

Kiffer was in the drive-through of the McDonald’s at 6003 W Newberry Road when he crashed into the side of the building on December 15, 2021. According to the arrest report, he showed signs of impairment after the accident such as swaying while standing, fumbling for his wallet, and being unable to find his driver’s license in his wallet. He also reportedly seemed to be unaware that he had crashed into the building.

Post Miranda, Kiffer reportedly denied that he had been drinking but performed poorly on field sobriety exercises. He refused to provide a breath sample.

A witness reportedly told the investigating officer that after Kiffer crashed into the building, he held up a cup, saying, “I’m lit.” The witness also allegedly helped Kiffer hide an open and partially-consumed bottle of alcohol in the trunk of a car.

Kiffer was previously adjudicated guilty of a first-offense DUI in 2017 with a sentence of one year probation and a 6-month suspension of his driver’s license after an accident on Newberry Road about a block away from the location where yesterday’s accident occurred.

In a plea deal that was finalized yesterday, Kiffer pled nolo contendere to both charges and was adjudicated guilty. He will serve 60 days in the Alachua County Jail with credit for 33 days served, followed by two consecutive 12-month terms of probation. In addition to serving time, he must complete a victim impact panel, continue to get treatment, be fitted for a transdermal alcohol detector, submit to random drug/alcohol screening, attend DUI school, and pay $1,000 fine plus court costs. His vehicle will be impounded for 30 days, it will be fitted with an ignition interlock device for 12 months, and his driver’s license will be suspended for 5 years.