Former deli owner pleads not guilty to drug charges - arraignment Feb. 4
The former operator of the Beach City Market & Grille in Bradenton
Beach has entered a plea of not guilty to three of the four felony charges
against him following his Jan. 6 arrest by Manatee County Sheriff’s
Office deputies.
According to records available
from the Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court, David Viens of 129
49th St. in Holmes Beach posted bond of $50,000 and $16,000 on Jan. 10
for the charges against him. His arraignment on the four counts is scheduled
for 9 a.m. Feb. 4 at the Manatee County Courthouse.
Viens was arrested Jan. 6 and,
based on a search of his home, he was charged with possession of marijuana
with intent to sell or distribute within 1,000 feet of a school, possession
of a Schedule II (opium derivative) controlled substance and possession
of a firearm by a convicted felon. Viens pleaded not guilty to the charges.
He was also arrested for trafficking
in marijuana on a Manatee County warrant issued Jan. 3 for an amount
of cannabis between 50 and 2,000 pounds, but has not yet entered a plea.
According to the MCSO report, that seizure was made at a rented storage
facility in Bradenton based on a Dec. 30 search warrant.
Viens was first represented by
a public defender but has now retained the services of attorney Brett
McIntosh.
According to MCSO records, Viens
was previously convicted of violation of the Federal Narcotics Act in
Vermont in 1993.
The Beach City Market & Grille
opened in April 2003, but closed just a few weeks ago
and the property is listed for sale at an $850,000 asking price.
Viens
and wife Dawn also operated the Island Kitchen in
Anna Maria several years ago before opening the Bradenton Beach market. |
