Judge Robert Guy
On a Monday night in which portions of Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia celebrated an unlikely Jacksonville Jaguars victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, Brunswick Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge Robert Guy was also in Duval County. However, his night concluded early the next morning with an arrest in the parking lot of the relatively well-known Southside Jacksonville gentlemen’s club on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.
Guy faces charges of DUI, a second DUI charge related to property damage, and an additional charge for refusing to submit to a blood alcohol level breath test. A Jacksonville bail bondsman put up the $3,000 to bond out Guy after his arrest.
Guy did not respond to calls from the Tribune & Georgian seeking comment on the arrest, but late Wednesday morning his office referred questions to Cartersville attorney Lester Tate, who did not respond as of press time.
The night of the incident, police responded to a call of a fender-bender at Wacko’s on Emerson Road about 2 a.m. involving a black Mercedes E300 and a white Ford F-150, where they spoke to a valet at the club, who was the original complainant.
“The complainant advised he observed a white male, later identified as Robert Guy (suspect) exit the driver’s side of the Mercedes and begin to talk with the driver of the Ford,” according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office incident report. “The complainant advised the suspect got back into the driver’s side of the vehicle and again attempt to leave the area but was unable to do so as he appeared highly intoxicated to the point where the complainant advised another patron had to guide him back into the parking space.
“The complainant advised staff of the establishment escorted him back into the gentleman’s club where the suspect offered to hand over his car keys and phone to the establishment.”
The driver of the F-150 told police the same account of the incident as the valet, adding that Guy was reticent to exchange information and instead offered him $500 for damage to the truck.
One of the officers on the scene noted Guy failed his field sobriety test, explaining on the form that he “almost fell, missed heel to toe, stepped off (the) line,” turned the wrong way on a command to turn the other direction, and couldn’t keep his balance.
Throughout the whole process, the JSO officers involved remarked on Guy’s politeness and cooperative demeanor, breath alcohol test excepted.
Guy’s arraignment is set for 9 a.m. Oct. 14, though he won’t be there as he’s already filed a waiver of appearance allowing his attorney to conduct pretrial matters without his attendance. Jacksonville defense attorney Russell McCormick is the attorney of record for Guy’s case, while Jacqueline Moyer is heading up the effort for the State Attorney’s Office.
Guy took the position as head of the state Council of Superior Court Judges in May, which he then resigned from Friday, stating in a letter, “It has been a distinct honor and privilege to serve the Council of Superior Court Judges as President and in other roles; however, today I am resigning effectively immediately as Council President.”
He also self-reported the incident to the state Judicial Qualifications Commission, which subsequently launched an investigation.