Less than eight months after a Collier County elected official was arrested, accused of battering a woman at a Naples restaurant, the prosecutor handling the case dropped the charge, citing the victim’s unwillingness to proceed.
According to Tuesday’s nolle prosequi notice — which informs the court that the prosecution is dropping the charges, Assistant State Attorney Nick Gastesi, of Florida’s 16th Judicial Circuit, in Monroe County, indicated the “victim submitted an affidavit stating the reasons for not feeling comfortable proceeding with this case. State declines further prosecution.”
Collier County Commissioner Rick LoCastro, 58, faced one count of battery. His attorney, Donald Day, told the Naples Daily News on Wednesday that his team collected statements contradicting the version of events authorities recorded.
“We were able to get a good team of investigators and get some information from California where she lived,” Day said of the woman identified as the victim.
Day said his team found the victim appeared to fabricate statements along with two undisclosed individuals and indicated he is seeking legal action.