Robert Rizzo, the embattled former Bell City Manager, was sentenced Wednesday for driving with a .28 blood alcohol level and crashing into his neighbor’s mailbox in Huntington Beach.
Rizzo was sentenced to complete a 9-month first-offender alcohol awareness program and 10 days of community service.
Rizzo, 56, pleaded guilty to a court offer to one misdemeanor count each for driving under the influence of alcohol and driving with a blood alcohol level of .08 percent or more with a sentencing enhancement for having a blood alcohol level of .20 percent or more, according to a release from the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.
The incident took place at 10 p.m. on March 6 while Rizzo was still Bell’s City Manager. He drove into his neighborhood through an alleyway, unintentionally passed his home and crashed into his neighbor’s mailbox while attempting to enter his driveway, police said.
Police officers at the scene reported that Rizzo displayed obvious signs of intoxication – blood shot and watery eyes, slurred speech and strong alcohol on his breath. Apparently, Rizzo’s balance was so poor that officers had to stop him from completing his filed sobriety tests for his safety.
Rizzo, along with Police Chief Randy Adams and Assistant City Manager Angela Spaccia, all stepped down from their positions with Bell in July after it was reported that Rizzo was paid $787,637 a year, Adams made $457,000 and Spaccia made $376,288.
Rizzo’s blood alcohol level was .28 percent, three times the legal limit.