Marion County deputies arrested a man early Tuesday morning after finding him asleep behind the wheel of a running vehicle with an open container of alcohol.
According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred July 16 near the intersection of SW 60th Avenue and SW Highway 200 in Ocala. A deputy spotted a blue Nissan SUV parked with the engine running and a man slumped backward in the driver’s seat. Loud music was playing inside the vehicle, and the deputy was unable to wake the man by knocking on the window.
The deputy opened the unlocked driver’s door, discovered the vehicle still in drive, and shifted it into park. The driver, later identified as Ivan Lezama Mora, allegedly smelled strongly of alcohol and had bloodshot, watery eyes. An open can of Modelo beer was found in the cup holder.
Mora was evaluated by medics and spontaneously stated that he had “never drank that much before,” later telling deputies he consumed five beers in about 30 minutes. Deputies said he showed multiple signs of impairment during field sobriety tests, including balance issues, slurred alphabet recitation, and failure to properly perform walking and counting exercises.
A records check revealed Mora did not have a valid driver’s license or an international license, as he is not a U.S. citizen. He was arrested and taken to the Marion County Jail, where he provided breath samples of .188 and .177—both more than twice the legal limit.
Mora faces charges of driving under the influence, operating a motor vehicle without a valid license, and possessing an open container in a vehicle.
