Jurors: Suspect at fault

Man convicted as driver in biker’s death, acquitted of DUI manslaughter

A jury has settled the dispute over who was driving a pickup truck that killed a Boca Raton bicyclist.

It’s a guilty verdict for Paul Maida Jr., the 32-year-old West Boca man who had put the blame on his ex-lover Bianca Fichtel. Police had originally charged her with the crime, and excused Maida as the passenger.

After five hours of deliberation, the six jurors on Thursday agreed with prosecutors that Maida — not Fichtel — was behind the wheel on April 6, 2014 when the Ford F-150 slammed into George Morreale, 65, in a bike lane along Yamato Road.

Maida was convicted of three charges, including leaving the scene of a crash involving death, which is a felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison. But the panel acquitted him of a DUI manslaughter count.

Maida was taken into custody and will remain at Palm Beach County Jail until he is sentenced by Circuit Judge Charges Burton on Sept. 13.

Maida also was found guilty of driving while license canceled, suspended or revoked causing serious bodily injury; and false report of a crime.

Defense attorney Resnick told the jury there was no basis for the DUI manslaughter charge because police never tested his client’s blood alcohol level.

Prosecutors Amy Berkman and Laura Laurie leaned on the police officer’s observation at