On Saturday, August 9, 2025, Hometown News reported that a former circuit court judge from St. Lucie County is set to enter a drug court diversion program as part of his plea agreement related to criminal charges from a traffic incident in April.
Brett Waronicki, 46, who resigned from his position as a judge in May, pleaded no contest to multiple charges, including DUI with a prior offense, felony possession of cocaine, and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.
The plea was entered before Seminole County Circuit Judge John Galluzzo, who participated via Zoom in a Martin County court hearing. As part of the resolution, Waronicki will serve one year of probation.
The traffic stop that led to these charges occurred on April 23, when Waronicki was driving with two passengers and was pulled over at the intersection of Northwest Jensen Beach Boulevard and Northwest Royal Oak Drive in Jensen Beach. According to the arrest affidavit, he was observed failing to maintain a single lane, striking fog lights, and encroaching into a bicycle lane multiple times.
Detectives noted that Waronicki exhibited signs of impairment, including slurred speech and bloodshot eyes, and the smell of alcohol was detected on his breath. During the investigation, officers discovered nearly 1.5 grams of cocaine in the vehicle.
The drug court diversion program aims to provide treatment rather than traditional punitive measures for individuals with substance use issues.
Source: Hometown News
