Palmetto Man Sentenced to Probation After Guilty Plea in Motorcycle Case

A Palmetto man has been sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to multiple felony and misdemeanor charges stemming from a traffic stop and attempted flight from law enforcement in Holmes Beach.

On Dec. 15, Frederick Mercurio, a judge with the 12th Circuit Court, found Matthew McClanahan, 20, guilty of several criminal offenses, including two third-degree felonies for fleeing and eluding law enforcement officers and possessing a vehicle with altered vehicle identification numbers.

McClanahan was arrested on Sept. 23 after a Holmes Beach police officer observed him operating a motorcycle without a license plate. When the officer attempted a traffic stop, McClanahan fled before eventually complying with orders to pull over.

During the stop, the officer determined that the motorcycle’s VINs had been tampered with. Investigators also found that McClanahan was on probation at the time of the incident and did not possess a valid driver’s license or motorcycle endorsement.

He was taken into custody and transported to the Manatee County Jail, where he remained under a $5,450 bond until his court appearance.

In addition to the felony charges, McClanahan faced three second-degree misdemeanor counts for driving with a canceled, revoked, or suspended license; lacking a motorcycle endorsement; and lacking valid vehicle registration. He entered a guilty plea to all charges at the Dec. 15 hearing.

Judge Mercurio credited McClanahan for time already served in county jail and sentenced him to 24 months of probation. As part of the sentence, McClanahan is required to enter an authorized Phoenix House program, complete substance abuse treatment, and submit a biological specimen to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

McClanahan will remain on probation through December 2027.

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