By Kevin Deutsch
John Serino, the Parkland resident, charged with vehicular homicide in the intoxicated driving crash that killed his passenger, has been re-arrested for drinking alcohol in violation of his pretrial release conditions, court records show.
Serino, 58, who was freed from jail on a $1 million bond in Oct. 2021, was subject to random drug and alcohol tests by the Broward Sheriff’s Office as part of his bond conditions. On Aug. 19, 2022, a remote alcohol detector registered a blood alcohol level of 0.266 for Serino at 9:21 a.m., according to arrest records.
Serino, of the 7500 block of NW 75th Dr. in Parkland, is now being held without bond at the Broward Main Jail while awaiting trial.
CEO of The Original Frameless Shower Doors company in Coral Springs, Serino was under the influence of drugs and alcohol while speeding down West Sunrise Boulevard in April 2021 when he crashed his gray 2019 812 Superfast Ferrari, killing passenger Victor Battaglia, a 54-year-old father of four, according to police records.
Serino tested positive for opioids and recorded a blood alcohol concentration of .108 BAC when his blood was drawn, more than five hours after the wreck, according to charging documents filed by the Sunrise Police Department.
Drivers are considered legally drunk in Florida with a BAC of .08 or higher.
Serino is charged with crimes including DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide, DUI with property damage, and reckless driving with property damage, records show.
He has pleaded not guilty.
Serino has filed court papers in Broward County alleging he was served “chemically altered” or “drugged” drinks in the $800-per person VIP section of Scarlett’s Cabaret, a strip club in Hallandale Beach, where he and Battaglia were hanging out before the crash.
Before that, the men were drinking at Blue Martini in Fort Lauderdale, according to police.
Battaglia’s family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Broward Circuit Court alleging negligence by Serino.
The representative of Battaglia’s estate, Anthony Crupi, is seeking damages in excess of $100,000 on behalf of Battaglia’s two daughters and two sons, court records show.
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