Naples Mayor Back in Prison for Probation Violation

A Florida mayor, who faced jail time nearly two years ago for a drunk driving incident, is reportedly back behind bars after failing a drug test while on probation.

Teresa Heitman, the mayor of Naples, was arrested Monday night for a probation violation. A drug test conducted on March 26 revealed the presence of cannabinoids, which is the active ingredient in marijuana, as indicated by police records.

The 62-year-old has been on probation following her DUI arrest in August 2024, and this latest incident involved illegal possession or use of cannabinoids.

“We are aware of the situation with Mayor Teresa Heitman,” a spokesperson for Naples mentioned in a statement. They also noted that the deputy mayor would manage duties during Heitman’s absence.

The statement assured residents and visitors that the City Council, administration, and staff remain committed to serving the community.

Heitman hasn’t publicly responded to requests for comment. She has been the mayor since 2020, having previously been arrested on August 28, 2024, for crashing her car into a neighbor’s mailbox while having a blood alcohol level exceeding twice the legal limit.

Dramatic body camera footage captured her stumbling during a field sobriety test, where, at one point, she identified herself as the mayor but then oddly asked the officer not to refer to her as such.

“No, please don’t call me mayor,” she stated in the footage, adding, “I’m Teresa Heitman now. I’m not the mayor.”

After pleading no contest to DUI, with a blood alcohol level of 0.15 or higher, Heitman was sentenced to one year of probation in February. Her probation terms specifically banned alcohol use and mandated both regular and unannounced drug testing.

Currently, Heitman is being held in a Naples prison, and she was due to appear in court on Tuesday afternoon.