Naples Mayor Teresa Heitmann's DUI probation ends early, judge rules

NAPLES, Fla. (WINK) — A judge ruled on Tuesday that Naples Mayor Teresa Heitmann can end her DUI probation early.

• RELATED: Naples Mayor Teresa Heitmann asks judge to end probation early in DUI case

The court said she's paid all the necessary fees and finished her community service work from her probation violation. The state argued that letting her off probation early would suggest probation violations don't matter.

• SEE ALSO: Naples Mayor Teresa Heitmann arrested for DUI, BAC twice over legal limit

However, the judge said Heitmann has done what she's needed to do, and that early termination was already a possibility with her initial probation conditions.

"There was a punishment for the violation of probation. Otherwise, as just confirmed by probation, she's been a model probationer. She's completed everything with no other issues, and so I think to penalize her again for the violation of probation by denying the instant motion wouldn't be fair," Judge Rob Crown of Collier County said.

Before the hearing, WINK News reporter Maddie Herron spoke with Mayor Heitmann briefly outside the courtroom. Herron asked if she would like to do an interview after court wrapped up, and she politely declined.

After the judge's ruling, Herron asked for a parting comment.

Heitmann's probation would have gone through May, but with this ruling, that is no longer the case.