Pat Suter, 87, was set to make a public statement on Friday about why she drove away from the scene of a hit and run accident involving local attorney Richard Leshin.
That statement did not happen, and neither has the personal apology Leshin wants from Suter.
Suter's attorney, Mark DiCarlo, said that he warned his client about making a public statement, but they wanted to go ahead and make one anyway. However, before they did, they checked with well-known Houston attorney Dick Deguerin, who also told them to keep quiet.
With that second opinion, they opted not to talk.
Back on March 16, Richard Leshin was riding his bike down Ocean Drive when police said that Suter veered into the bike lane and ran Leshin over. Police said she continued driving onto the Hans and Pat Suter Wildlife Refuge for a trash cleanup.
Now, Suter's attorney and her own son have said that she admits to being behind the wheel of the car that hit Leshin, but she thought it was a trash can.
Suter turned herself in to authorities earlier this week when it was discovered that there was a warrant out for her arrest. She was charged with a third-degree felony in the case, which calls for two-10 years in prison.
Leshin has said multiple times that he wants an apology from the environmental activist. That would help him decide how he wants the case against her to proceed.
"The apology has come through me, and Ms. Suter has expressed her deep sorrow for this accident, and obviously we do expect an apology to be forthcoming from Ms. Suter personally," Attorney Mark DiCarlo said.
DiCarlo also said that 95-percent of criminal cases end with a plea deal. One has not been made in this case, even though DiCarlo said he has spoken with the District Attorney's Office.
