Prosecutors with the Ventura County District Attorney’s office filed one misdemeanor DUI count against singer Britney Spears on April 30. The charge follows her March arrest.
The filing was made four days before, when Spears, 45, was supposed to appear in court on May 4. Authorities revealed that Spears would possibly not have to serve jail time due to a particular legal deal because she did not have any previous criminal history and had entered a rehab center recently.
Officials from the District Attorney’s office revealed that Spears would probably be offered a “wet reckless” plea bargain. A wet reckless plea bargain is an expression used for reckless driving under the influence of alcohol or dr*gs.
Under standard protocol, a person who pleads guilty to a wet reckless is allegedly placed on probation for 12 months. The defendant also receives credit for any time already spent in police custody.
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Requirements for this resolution include payment of fines by law and attending a DUI educational program. The officials claimed that these are typical outcomes for defendants with a low level of alcohol consumption and no record of automobile accidents.
According to People, legal experts said Spears’ decision to check into a rehab center may influence the court’s final decision. A representative for the singer confirmed earlier this month that she voluntarily entered a treatment facility.
Former prosecutor and current partner at law firm Sweet James Bobby Taghavi stated that judges usually favor proactive accountability. It indicates that a defendant takes the whole issue very seriously when going for treatment prior to being ordered by the court.
“Judges tend to respond better to proactive accountability than last-minute ‘damage control,” Taghavi said. He added that treatment is not a guaranteed shield from jail. Still, most judges view it as a mitigating factor.
People familiar with the situation have told Spears to seek professional advice because of the recent events. The sources revealed that the pop star was very upset about the arrest and feared being imprisoned for a long period.
“Her sons were a big part of getting her to rehab. They’ve been clear with her. They just want her to be healthy,” a source said.
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The legal proceedings began after California Highway Patrol officers arrested Spears on March 4. Officials said witnesses reported her black BMW was driving wildly at a high rate of speed. Officers said Spears showed signs of impairment and failed field sobriety tests at the scene.
Spears is not required to attend her upcoming arraignment in person because the charge is a misdemeanor. Her attorney can appear on her behalf to enter a plea.
While a plea deal may prevent jail time, it may not impact her driving privileges. The Department of Motor Vehicles makes decisions about driver’s licenses separately from the criminal court system.
In most first offense cases, the DMV imposes a license suspension of about four months. Taghavi noted that while jail is technically possible, it is often not the primary focus for cases with these specific facts.
