Nicole Richie Sentenced To Jail, Probation
Nicole Richie pleaded guilty Friday to driving under the influence of drugs and was sentenced to about four days in jail and fined by a court commissioner who said she was lucky nobody was killed when she drove the wrong way on a freeway.
Richie, the 25-year-old daughter of pop singer Lionel Richie, was subdued and somber as she was lectured about her driving. She entered court on the arm of boyfriend Joel Madden.
Richie, who's rumored to be pregnant but has not confirmed it, wore a loose-fitting, knee-length black dress and spiked heels. She stood before the judge and softly answered "guilty" when asked how she pleaded to the misdemeanor charge. She initially pleaded not guilty in February.
"You are not to drive with any measurable amount of alcohol or drugs in your system," Lubell told her. "You are not to drive without a driver's license."
He said the state Department of Motor Vehicles would decide whether to suspend her license.
"You are very lucky that no one was hurt of killed as the result of this incident," Lubell said.
Richie was arrested early Dec. 11 after witnesses reported seeing her black Mercedes-Benz sport utility vehicle headed the wrong way on a freeway in Burbank.
The California Highway Patrol said they found her parked in the car pool lane.
Richie told authorities she had smoked marijuana and taken the prescription painkiller Vicodin, a CHP officer said at the time.
No drugs were found on her or in the car.
Lubell warned Richie of the dangers of driving under the influence and said: "The facts of this case, as the court knows it, is pretty scary. Someone could have gotten killed or injured. The court does not want anything to happen to you.
"If you continue to drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol and someone gets killed, you can be charged with murder, not manslaughter.
"I hope that never, ever happens."
He said such a murder charge would come under a specific legal provision because she now has two convictions, the first one in June 2003 when she was convicted for driving under the influence of alcohol. The 2003 conviction made her eligible for a sentence of 90 days to a year in jail.
The reality TV star's lawyer, Shawn Chapman Holly, acknowledged to the court that the plea bargain reached with the prosecution was acceptable.
Richie made no comment to reporters as she left the courthouse, surrounded by private bodyguards.
Richie's jail sentence follows that of Paris Hilton, her co-star on the reality TV show "The Simple Life."
Hilton recently was released after spending about 23 days in custody for violating probation in an alcohol-related reckless driving case.
Reports surfaced Thursday that the reality TV star will do a sit down interview with ABC anchor Diane Sawyer. It reportedly will air next week.
© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Richie, the 25-year-old daughter of pop singer Lionel Richie, was subdued and somber as she was lectured about her driving. She entered court on the arm of boyfriend Joel Madden.
Richie, who's rumored to be pregnant but has not confirmed it, wore a loose-fitting, knee-length black dress and spiked heels. She stood before the judge and softly answered "guilty" when asked how she pleaded to the misdemeanor charge. She initially pleaded not guilty in February.
She nodded when asked if she understood terms of the plea agreement (including 90 hours in jail and a fine of $2,048) worked out between her lawyers and prosecutors. Superior Court Commissioner Steven K. Lubell also gave Richie three years of probation and warned that she would go to county jail for a year if she violates it.
Photos: Nicole Richie In Court
She must complete her sentence by Sept. 28. She can serve it in either a city or a county jail.
Photos: Dressing For Court
She was ordered to enroll in a drug and alcohol program and must prove that she has completed it when she returns to court on Feb. 20, 2008.
Photos: Nicole Richie
"You are not to drive with any measurable amount of alcohol or drugs in your system," Lubell told her. "You are not to drive without a driver's license."
He said the state Department of Motor Vehicles would decide whether to suspend her license.
"You are very lucky that no one was hurt of killed as the result of this incident," Lubell said.
Richie was arrested early Dec. 11 after witnesses reported seeing her black Mercedes-Benz sport utility vehicle headed the wrong way on a freeway in Burbank.
The California Highway Patrol said they found her parked in the car pool lane.
Richie told authorities she had smoked marijuana and taken the prescription painkiller Vicodin, a CHP officer said at the time.
No drugs were found on her or in the car.
Lubell warned Richie of the dangers of driving under the influence and said: "The facts of this case, as the court knows it, is pretty scary. Someone could have gotten killed or injured. The court does not want anything to happen to you.
"If you continue to drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol and someone gets killed, you can be charged with murder, not manslaughter.
"I hope that never, ever happens."
He said such a murder charge would come under a specific legal provision because she now has two convictions, the first one in June 2003 when she was convicted for driving under the influence of alcohol. The 2003 conviction made her eligible for a sentence of 90 days to a year in jail.
The reality TV star's lawyer, Shawn Chapman Holly, acknowledged to the court that the plea bargain reached with the prosecution was acceptable.
Richie made no comment to reporters as she left the courthouse, surrounded by private bodyguards.
Richie's jail sentence follows that of Paris Hilton, her co-star on the reality TV show "The Simple Life."
Hilton recently was released after spending about 23 days in custody for violating probation in an alcohol-related reckless driving case.
Reports surfaced Thursday that the reality TV star will do a sit down interview with ABC anchor Diane Sawyer. It reportedly will air next week.
stuff. No more fooling around. Read 'em the riot act. I don't care if it's the Pope you've busted. Come down hard the FIRST time someone gets pulled over by the cops for DUI. They did it once, they'll probably do it again. Impound the car. "Oh, you need it to get to work? Too bad. Tell it to your boss. We don't care. We're holding it for a month. We're gonna charge you for that too." Jail time before or after you impound the car. Their wives will do their nut.
Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z
Huh? What?
Oh.
Another spoiled brat.
Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z
Hey, did you hear the one about George Bush's grandfather's attempt to impose a fascist dictatorship on the United States? Not if you were watching the corporate US media. Here's a link:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/document/document_20070723.shtml
The BABY won't be getting a prison record.
Do you think she is thinking of the baby?
Do you think that she will refrain from drinking while pregnant? If she is addicted, do you think that maybe because of this jail sentence that maybe she will be forced to seek help and therefore it could help the baby in the long run?
It is possible that those 4 days could mean the difference in that baby being born with disabilities from alcohol abuse.
Even if she isn't addicted it still might give her brain a little shake and give her time to "think" about what she is doing.
Posted by erasmus6 at 12:46 AM : Jul 28, 2007"
Whatever the "stressful time", the government should not be setting the bad example that it is OK to be exposing and INNOCENT baby to any stress, to do it just to get to its mother.
I'm not that concerned about the mother who skrewed up and needs to be confined until she's responsible enough to not threaten the lives of fellow citizens with her automobile.
However, we can't be so vengeful that we lose sight of what justice should represent: Not an INNOCENT baby getting prison stress and prison record.
We've waited this long for the trial, we can wait a few more months for the sake of the INNOCENT child.
If you should kill a pregnant woman, do you know that you would be charged for killing her unborn baby also? So why is the government ignoring the baby in these instances of jailing INNOCENT babies? Narrow mindedness and SPITE!
I'm skeptical of her chances of staying out of jail . . . also, the 2dui's count as priors for 10 years, so if she's caught a third time dui in that time, she's also going to get more jail time . . .
I hope for the baby's sake she cleans up her act though . . .
In no way, shape or form has justice been done in this or Paris' cases and you can be *** sure that little Lindsay's case will go the same way - the only thing that MIGHT teach these spoiled little rich girls a lesson would be SERIOUS jail time (and I don't mean in the private, special-treatment unit) and a BIG fine. When you just pat 'em on the wrist and say "Now, now, don't do it again" they are taught that throwing their name and money around protects them from the law's penalties and that they are really above the law.
Be interesting to see if the DA and judge in this case come up with a little extra money in their campaign coffers come next election that is in the form of a check from Daddy....