Britney Spears pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of driving under the influence and avoided jail time
Kyiv • UNN
The singer, through her lawyer, pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated to avoid prison. She received one year of probation and a mandatory driving course.
Singer Britney Spears, through her lawyer on Monday, pleaded guilty to a lesser charge that will allow her to avoid prison time after California prosecutors in the US charged her with driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, UNN reports, citing AP.
Details
The 44-year-old pop star, who recently completed a rehabilitation course, did not appear in Ventura County court. However, her lawyer, Michael A. Goldstein, entered a plea on her behalf to a charge of so-called "wet reckless" (reckless driving involving alcohol). This resulted in a sentence of one day in jail, which the judge said she served during her arrest, one year of probation, a mandatory DUI education course, and state-mandated fines.
The plea offer was standard for defendants with no prior history of driving under the influence, no involvement in accidents or road injuries, and low blood alcohol levels, the District Attorney's office said. It is particularly characteristic for defendants who have demonstrated motivation to resolve their issues and seek treatment, as Spears did when she voluntarily entered a substance abuse treatment center last month.
"I don't think anyone is happy about a guilty plea, but under the circumstances, with this behind her, I think everyone is satisfied with the outcome," Goldstein said after the hearing. "We appreciate that the District Attorney recognized the positive steps Britney is taking to help herself."