Teen sentenced to 12 years for 2023 Palma Sola Causeway hit-and-run

Apr 9

April 9, 2025

Case #: 2023-006875

Connor Fleener, 18, has been sentenced to prison for intentionally running over a man on the Palma Sola Causeway.

On August 8, 2023, Bradenton police officers responded to a hit-and-run crash involving a pedestrian in the 8400 block of Manatee Ave. W. They located the victim, Juan Houston, who had suffered significant injuries.

During the investigation, detectives determined Fleener and Houston were arguing on the side of the Causeway. Fleener drove away, then turned around, accelerated, and intentionally struck Houston with his car before fleeing the scene. He abandoned his vehicle a mile from where the incident occurred and ran away. He was located and arrested later that night.

On February 5, 2025, Fleener pleaded no contest to the following charges:

First Degree Attempted Murder
Driving with No Valid Driver's License and Causing Serious Bodily Injury or Death
Leaving the Scene of a Crash with Serious Bodily Injury

Today, a Manatee County Judge sentenced Fleener to 12 years in the Department of Corrections with credit for time served in juvenile detention, followed by 15 years' probation.

Houston, now 36, continues to suffer from injuries caused by the crash.