'Amish Mafia' Star Guilty of DUI In Sarasota

SARASOTA, FL -- It appears that the "Amish Mafia" hit series on Discovery has invaded Sarasota's own Amish and Mennonite community, Pinecraft.

In a two-hour special that aired Sunday night, the show featured cast member Alvin Lantz, 30, sent to Sarasota by the head of the Amish Mafia, Lebanon Levi, where Lantz was arrested and charged with driving under the influence, as shown in the episode. Lantz was found guilty in court and blew a .123 in a the Breathalyzer test, nearly two times the legal limit of .08.

If you're not familiar with the show, it is a script-based reality series, featuring people with Amish and Mennonite background who supposedly control the money and power of the Amish church. However, not all of the cast is actually from Lancaster, PA. Some are purported to be paid actors while others are extras. 

Here is the plot line around Lantz's visit to Pinecraft, according to examiner.com: 

"Alvin was sent by Levi to Sarasota, Fla. to an Amish community called Pinecraft. A man came to Levi for money because he has a sick wife. Levi gave him the money, then he went to Florida and left his sick wife at home. Alvin was sent to bring him back, and Levi wants his money back and will see to it that he takes care of his wife. Many young people go there during the winter months to party and act like anything but Amish, but many elderly go there too, rather than face the bad northern winters."

Lantz was pulled over by the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office just before 1 a.m. on Nov. 30, 2012, for doing 56 mph in a 35 mph zone on U.S. 301, according to the probable cause affidavit.

RELATED: 'Breaking Amish' Experience Leaves Bad Taste In Pinecraft

When a sheriff's deputy pursued the car, Lantz's car reached between 70 and 80 mph in a 45 mph zone, according to the affidavit.

Lantz was pulled over in the 600 block of northbound U.S. 301, and when deputies approached his car, they smelled alcohol, and after exiting the car, Lantz "inexplicably closed the fly on his pants." Lantz had apparently urinated on himself, as the Breathalyzer affidavit noted that the "driver's goin was wet."

Lantz failed the gaze test and walk and turn test in the field sobriety test, but was able to successfully complete a one-leg stand, according to the affidavit.

While at Sarasota County Jail for a Breathalyzer test, Lantz spontaneously told the deputy that "he was a television star and would be starring in an upcoming television show in [sic] the Discovery Channel called 'Amish Mafia,'" according to the affidavit.

The first episode of "Amish Mafia" didn't air until Dec. 11. Sunday's episode, where Lantz was arrested, was the start of season two as part of a two-hour special.

Lantz also told the deputy that "I knew when the lights went on that I was wrong," according to the deputy that was preparing the Breathalyzer device.

Lantz, whose last known address is listed in Litiz, Pa., blew a .123 two times on the Breathalyzer, according to the affidavit. 

Wilmer Beiler had posted the $500 bond for Lantz to get out of jail, according to the affidavit. 

Lantz had attempted to change his plea to no contest, but the judge found Lantz guilty on Feb. 19, according to court records.

Lantz was sentenced to 12 months probation and has to complete 50 hours of community service, attend and complete DUI school and a victim impact panel and has his driver's license suspended for six months, according to court records.

This isn't the first time the show has filmed in Sarasota, as Levi and Esther visited Sarasota's beaches during the first season for a vacation as part of a plot line for Esther to distract Levi from her "brother" John Schmucker to start up popular barn fights again.

Stay with Patch for more updates to Amish Mafia in Sarasota.

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