Total DUI

Widely criticized Chicago Bears running back Cedric Benson was arrested over the weekend for DUI, despite the fact that he wasn't driving.  Of course, you don't have to be driving a car to be arrested for DUI—usually operating any kind of motorized vehicle under the influence will do the trick.

While out boating with friends in his home state of Texas, Benson's watercraft was stopped for a safety check by the Lower Colorado River Authority.  Benson's DUI arrest had an unusual level of drama for a DUI stop, due to the fact that he was reportedly attacked with pepper spray and roughed up a bit after allegedly resisting arrest.  Benson claims that others on his boat were drinking, but that he was not, and was not drunk at the time of his arrest.

Benson was charged with resisting arrest and drunken boating.  He'll get his chance to defend his DUI charge in court; there is no word on how the arrest will affect Benson's status with his employers, the Chicago Bears.

Kiefer Sutherland, who was jailed nearly two months ago for violating a DUI probation by, you guessed it, driving under the influence again, was released yesterday from the Los Angeles County jail.  Sutherland had pleaded no contest to having a blood alcohol content (BAC) above the legal limit of 0.08, which netted him 30 days in the clink, plus another 18 for the violation of probation.

However, the production of the hit TV show "24," which features Sutherland as inimitable and intimidating special agent Jack Bauer, has been halted due to the Writer's Guild of America's writer's strike.

Read the story of Kiefer Sutherland's DUI arrest at Total DUI!   Also, read an open letter to celebrities who have been arrested for DUI!

TMZ.com is reporting that former Yankee player Jim Leyritz has been arrested on suspicion of DUI and vehicular homicide.

Leyritz is reportedly in the Broward County Jail in Florida on $11,000 bond after he refused a breathalyzer test.  He was arrested after he lost control of a Ford SUV and struck another vehicle in an intersection.  The impact of the crash caused the other vehicle to roll, ejecting the female driver and killing her.

True to form, TMZ has the photo shot at Leyritz's booking—truly scary!

While you're looking, check out Total DUI's celebrity DUI arrests page!

Television and film actress Michelle Rodriguez, popular for her roles as Letty on The Fast and the Furious and Ana Lucia on TV's "Lost," has started her jail sentence for violation of probation in a hit-and-run case from June 2004.

As we reported in Total DUI's Celebrity DUI Spotlight, Rodriguez was nabbed for DUI in Hawaii in 2005 as well as speeding, and spent five days in jail after a guilty plea.  She went to jail a second time for this violation of probation, and was released immediately because of overcrowding (a none too rare occurrence in California jails).

However, there was one other stipulation for the probation violation: community service.  Rodriguez didn't do the 30 hours of community service, but claimed she did on court documents.  This fabrication didn't go over well with her judge.

Now, Rodriguez will serve 180 days, and like her fellow actor DUI offender Kiefer Sutherland, will serve jail time with no possible release.  On December 23, Sunday, two days before Christmas, Michelle Rodriguez entered jail.  177 days and counting....

The manager of the 2006 World Champion St. Louis Cardinals, 28-year veteran Tony La Russa, pleaded guilty to driving under the influence from an incident in Florida during last year's spring training, in which police found him asleep at a traffic light with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.093.

This blog earlier reported that La Russa filed a request for a trial by jury.  Rather than appear in court, La Russa filed a plea agreement to the misdemeanor charge of DUI.

In a statement he released through his lawyer, La Russa appeared penitent for his actions: "I accept full responsibility for my conduct, and assure everyone that I have learned a very valuable lesson and that this will never occur again."

As part of the plea agreement, La Russa will be put on probation for six months, pay a fine of $678.50, attend a DUI school and complete 50 hours of community service.

Ironically, La Russa passed the bar exam in Florida after he graduated from law school.  I guess that legal training gave him insight into the plea agreement process, which saved him from six months in jail.

Lea Anna Cooper suggests, on the American Chronicle website, that Kiefer Sutherland may face double jeopardy when tried for his recent DUI charges. Her claim of double jeopardy is simply a misunderstanding of DUI law.

Sutherland, star of the controversial hit show “24,” was arrested in September and charged with driving with a blood alcohol level (BAC) above 0.08 percent and driving under the influence. Cooper asserts that the two charges against Sutherland would amount to “double jeopardy.” Strangely, Cooper also reprints portions of a California criminal case that explains how she misunderstands DUI law, People v. Cosko, 152 Cal. App. 3d 54, 199 Cal. Rptr. 289 (1984).

As Cosko explains, Sutherland has been charged with two crimes; one is a “lesser included offense” of the other. In other words, the charge of driving with a BAC above 0.08 percent includes the elements of the misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence plus the element of having a BAC above 0.08 percent. Cosko points out that a prosecutor has the right to charge a defendant with a crime and lesser included offenses to assure that she gets a conviction. A court cannot, however, actually convict a defendant of both the charged offense and the lesser included offenses.

Sutherland does actually face revocation of his probation stemming from his plea to driving under the influence in 2004. He was sentenced to 60 months probation and could now face up to 18 months in jail for violating his probation. However, it is very unlikely he will see any more than the 96 hours in jail required under California law.

Kiefer Sutherland, star of the controversial hit show ‘24’, faces up to 18 months in prison after being charged with DUI and violating his probation from a 2004 DUI.

The L.A. Times reports that Sutherland was arrested for driving with a blood alcohol level (BAC) over the 0.08 percent legal limit for DUI in California. A Los Angeles City Attorney’s spokesman said prosecutors would seek to revoke Sutherland’s probation stemming from his 2004 plea to DUI.

The actor faces a year in jail if convicted on this new DUI charge plus six months for violating his probation. At the least, if convicted of DUI under California law, Sutherland would have to serve a minimum of 96 hours in jail.

Lindsay Lohan served one day in jail for her second DUI offense. Nichole Richie served 82 minutes. What an outrage. Celebrities always get off easy. But, is that really true? ABC News recently took a closer look.

ABC’s conclusion is that DUI sentences are more lenient than many think. Ian Drew, of US Weekly, suggests that the real problem with celebrities is the enabling culture in Hollywood; “they're given free drinks in order to keep going to the clubs.”

According to reporter, Linda Deutsch, officials in the legal system say celebrities are treated no differently than anyone else. L.A. County jails suffer from such overcrowding that Sheriff Lee Baca needs space for more serious offenders. Undersheriff Larry Waldie said 50 women serving sentences for charges similar to Richie’s were released on the same day. Loyola University Law School professor Laurie Stevenson said “the answer is there are too many bad girls and not enough cells.”

Stevenson warned that prosecutors may take to overcharging on crimes to enable judges to give offenders longer sentences.

The Seattle Times is reporting that Bill Murray, the star of great movies like Caddyshack, Ground Hog Day, and The Razor’s Edge, was arrested for DUI in Stockholm, Sweden. Following a golf tournament, Murray was pulled over while driving his golf cart through downtown Stockholm.

Detective-Inspector Christer Holmlund said Murray refused to take a breath test citing American legislation, so he “applied the old method – a blood test.” Murray was released and Holmlund believes he returned to the United States.

Holmlund said Murray would be charged with DUI if his BAC exceeded the legal limit. Murray signed a document admitting he was driving drunk and allowing a local police officer to plead guilty for him if his case goes to court. I hope the officer doesn’t have pay Murray’s fine.

Sweden’s BAC limit is only 0.02 percent. According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Administration, Sweden’s penalties for DUI range from fines for a first offense with a BAC between 0.02 and 0.10 percent to a possible prison sentence of 1 to 2 months for a BAC over 0.10 percent with aggravating circumstances. Unlike the United States, Sweden imposes progressive fines based on income.

21-year-old actress, Lindsay Lohan was arrested for her second DUI in three months. In May, she was arrested for a hit-and-run DUI. Now, she’s been arrested, not only on suspicion of DUI, but suspicion of cocaine possession.

According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, Lohan sent an e-mail to “Access Hollywood” host Billy Bush saying “I am innocent. . . . did not do drugs they’re not mine.”

Police answered a 911 call from the mother of Lohan’s personal assistant who claimed Lohan was chasing her in an SUV after the assistant had quit. Police found Lohan in a heated argument with the woman. She was given a Breathalyzer which registered a blood alcohol level between 0.12 and 0.13 percent, well over the legal limit for DUI. During a pre-booking search police say they found cocaine in her pocket.

Following her May arrest, Lohan immediately checked herself into rehab. She has again checked herself into rehab. Rehab is a standard tactic for those arrested for DUI, who can afford it. A defendant who has started rehab can demonstrate to a judge that she is already straightening out and should be given a lighter sentence.

However, most of us cannot afford rehab and certainly cannot take time off from work. So, people like Lindsay have an advantage when they go to court.

NFL Quarterback Steve McNair’s DUI charge for a May 9th incident have been dropped. McNair was a passenger in a pickup truck when his brother-in-law, Jamie Cartwright, was stopped for speeding. Cartwright refused to submit to a breath test and was charged with DUI. McNair was charged with DUI because he allowed a person he should have known to be drunk to drive his vehicle.

USA Today reports that Cartwright entered a plea bargain where he serve two days in jail, pay a $350 fine, and attend DUI school. As part of his plea agreement, Tennessee dropped Cartwright’s DUI charge and he pled guilty to reckless driving. Because Cartwright’s DUI was dismissed, McNair’s DUI charge was also dropped.

According to the Washington Post, McNair will likely, now, avoid NFL discipline as well.

As a follow-up: Tank Johnson, the troubled Chicago Bears player, will not be charged following his DUI arrest in Gilbert, Arizona. A blood test showed Johnson to have a blood alcohol level of 0.072 percent, slightly below Arizona’s presumptive BAC level of 0.08 percent.

Johnson had been suspended for the first eight games of the upcoming NFL season. The Bears waived him following his DUI arrest. Johnson could still have been charged with DUI, regardless of a BAC below the presumptive level. Arizona’s DUI statute states that is unlawful for someone to drive “if the person is impaired to the slightest degree.” ARS 28-1381(A)(1).

The Associated Press reported that Gilbert police spokesman Sgt. Andrew Duncan declined to elaborate on the reason for not charging Johnson in the matter.

Paris Hilton was released from jail after just three days, and went home with an electronic monitoring device.  Authorities have been tight-lipped about the reasons for the change in the terms of Hilton's sentence, but confirmed that it related to a medical condition.  Hilton, who was originally sentenced to 45 days in jail, was expected to serve only 23 days under the state's good time credit provisions.  She will serve the remainder of her sentence on house arrest, without comparable day-for-day credit.

Lest you think that Paris Hilton is getting an unfair break because of her celebrity, remember that Michelle Rodriguez served only hours of her sentence, and she didn't even have a medical condition to complain of!

For more celebrity news, visit our Celebrity DUI Spotlight or our affiliate's Celebrity Arrest Spotlight.

Missouri's Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control has reopened its investigation into the death of St. Louis Cardinal Pitcher Josh Hancock. Hancock’s parents have alleged that a restaurant continued to serve Hancock alcohol even though he was already drunk.

Officials determined Hancock was speeding and DUI when he crashed into a parked tow truck the night of his death.

USA Today reports that Paris Hilton’s mug shot is hot, especially compared with those of other celebrities. Paris posed for her prison photo after she arrived to begin her stay at the Lynwood, California elite Century Regional Detention Facility. The Simple Life ‘star’ pled guilty to DUI and was sentenced to 45 days in jail, and her life has gotten simpler. She has been assigned an unfashionable orange prison jumpsuit and a room to herself. Sorry Paris, but no cell phones allowed.

USA Today also published celebrity mug shots of James Brown, Glen Campbell, Mel Gibson, Michael Jackson, Nick Nolte, Paul Reubens (PeeWee Herman), and Nicole Richie. Paris looks awfully good by comparison.

Actress Lindsay Lohan was arrested in Beverly Hills, California and charged with DUI and possession of cocaine. After Lohan’s car struck a curb, she was taken, in another car to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Police received a 911 call about the accident and arrested Lohan at the hospital. Officers said they found, in her car, a “usable amount” of a drug they’ve tentatively identified as cocaine.

This was the 20-year old girl’s third accident in about two years. Her publicist said, last December, that Lohan was attending AA meetings. She had checked herself into a rehab center for substance abuse in January.

The father of St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Josh Hancock filed suit against a Missouri restaurant claiming the bar continued to serve him even though he was obviously intoxicated on the night he died in an accident. Many states have laws on the books allowing recovery for serving an intoxicated patron.

The owner and manager of Mike Shannon’s Restaurant are named as defendants in the lawsuit. Other named defendants include Eddie’s Towing, whose flatbed truck was allegedly parked in the highway when Hancock struck it, the tow truck driver, and the owner of the vehicle the driver was assisting. Neither Major League Baseball nor the Cardinals Baseball Club have been included in the suit.

Hancock had a blood alcohol level (BAC) nearly twice the legal limit for DUI. The lawsuit alleges Hancock was given drinks the entire time he was in the restaurant, that the tow truck was improperly in the highway, and that the driver of the automobile had negligently allowed it to stall on the highway.

Baltimore Ravens player BJ Sams was acquitted of DUI and negligent driving charges in a Baltimore, Maryland court. The judge cited a lack of evidence presented by State.

Sams, who was arrested last October, was convicted of a lane violation which carries a fine of $90 and one point on his driving record.

Judge Nancy Purpura said the State lacked evidence because Sams was not offered a Breathalyzer exam and the police officer had not fully captured Sams’ field sobriety tests on his dashboard video. She said she was not persuaded that Sams had driven while alcohol impaired.

Steve McNair, Quarterback for the NFL Baltimore Ravens, was arrested for DUI even though he wasn’t driving. McNair was arrested in Tennessee for allowing another person to operate his vehicle while intoxicated.

Jamie Cartwright, McNair’s brother-in-law was driving McNair’s pickup truck with McNair as a passenger when he was pulled over. Cartwright failed field sobriety tests and refused a breath test. He was arrested for DUI. McNair was also arrested and charged with DUI because he was the owner of the vehicle and was a passenger at the time of Cartwright’s arrest. A police spokesman said “it’s pretty much common sense that you shouldn't let any vehicle you own be operated by a person you believe to be under the influence of an intoxicant.”

McNair told his team he was trying to act responsibly. His attorney reminded reporters that his client’s DUI charge was not for driving while intoxicated, but rather “DUI owner passenger.”

Paris Hilton was sentenced to 45 days in jail for violating her probation following a DUI. Hilton had pleading no contest to reckless driving in January, in plea bargain stemming from her arrest, last September, for DUI. She was arrested after failing a field sobriety test. She had a blood alcohol level (BAC) of 0.08 percent, matching California’s legal limit for DUI.

The California judge refused Hilton’s requests for alternative sentencing options: work release, furloughs, use of an alternative jail, or electronic monitoring in lieu of jail. She will serve her time at the Lynwood California’s women’s jail.

Hilton had testified she believed she was driving legally. She said she thought her license had been suspended for 30 days and she was allowed to drive to work during the following 90 days. The judge ruled against her, saying “there's no doubt she knew her license had been suspended.”

St. Louis Cardinal’s manager Tony La Russa filed a demand for a trial by jury following his DUI arrest in Jupiter, Florida. La Russa was arrested in March after being discovered asleep at a traffic light. According to his arrest report, he had a blood alcohol level of 0.093 percent. Florida’s per-se BAC limit for DUI is 0.08 percent.

La Russa faces up to six months in jail and a $500 fine. It would be surprising if La Russa’s case actually went to trial.

Warren Moon’s lawyer confirmed that his breath test showed a blood alcohol level (BAC) below the legal limit for DUI in Washington, when he was arrested for DUI in Kirkland. Moon’s breath test results showed a BAC of 0.067 and 0.068 percent, below the per-se limit for DUI of 0.08 percent. Prosecutors may still charge Moon with DUI.

When his breath test is above the per-se limit, a driver must prove that he was NOT DUI. When a driver tests below the per-se limit, the State must prove he was DUI. Some states also have laws against drinking and driving, even when the driver is below the legal limit. Violation of these laws carries a lesser penalty.

Moon played 17 seasons in both the NFL and the Canadian Football League. He entered the Hall of Fame last august. Moon is currently a radio broadcaster for the Seattle Seahawks.

Warren Moon was arrested in Kirkland, Washington for DUI. After being stopped for speeding, he was taken to the Kirkland Police Department and later released. Moon’s vehicle was impounded. Results of field sobriety and breath tests have not been released to the public. King County prosecutors have yet to announce whether they will file DUI charges.

Moon played 17 seasons in both the NFL and the Canadian Football League. He entered the Hall of Fame last august. Moon is currently a radio broadcaster for the Seattle Seahawks.

Actor Rip Torn has asked for a trial before a judge on his DUI charge in North Salem, New York. Torn’s strategy is unusual. Most DUI defendants, going to trial, demand a jury.

The 76-year-old actor was arrested after he lost control of his sedan and struck a tractor-trailer. Torn was acquitted of DUI in 2004 after jurors decided that the prosecutor had not proven he had been drinking before a fender-bender with a taxi. Police videotape had shown Torn arguing with police officers and refusing a sobriety test, claiming he was angry, not drunk.

Torn’s screen credits include the Men in Black movies and The Larry Sanders Show.

Jaime Luis Gomez, who calls himself Taboo, a member of the hip hop group Black Eyed Peas was arrested for DUI outside of Los Angeles California. Yet another thug “musician” has been arrested and will probably receive a minimum sentence for his DUI. Gomez was arrested for suspicion of DUI after a crashing his SUV.

Police searched Gomez’s vehicle and found marijuana and prescription medicine for which he did not have a prescription. He was charged with possession of less than an ounce of marijuana, possession of a prescribed medication without a prescription, and DUI. Results of field sobriety tests and breath tests have apparently not been released.

Articles on Gomez’s arrest have focused on his celebrity, rather than his arrest. More information would be available if you or I were arrested.

St Louis Cardinals Manager Tony La Russa was arrested for DUI in Jupiter Florida when he was found sleeping at a green light. This is just the latest celebrity DUI. Police report that La Russa had been stopped for two green lights and vehicles were going around him to get through the intersection. He was found with his head on the wheel and his foot on the brake and did not immediately respond when a Jupiter police officer knocked on his windshield.

The 62-year old La Russa had blood alcohol level (BAC) of 0.93 percent, just above Florida’s legal limit for DUI. I have to believe that nearing the end of baseball spring training had as much to do with La Russa falling asleep as his moderate BAC.

As detailed here yesterday, University of Arizona guard Daniel Dillon was arrested last weekend in Tucson on suspicion of drunk driving. Wildcats’ Head Coach Lute Olsen suspended Dillon on Wednesday for at least Arizona’s first-round NCAA tournament game against Purdue on Friday. Dillon had made the trip to New Orleans with the team before learning of his suspension. The school did not announce how long the suspension will last.

Dillon, a junior guard from Melbourne, Australia, issued a statement released by the Arizona athletic department. He apologized to the community for his actions and said that he supported Olsen’s decision. Dillon added that he will continue to be supportive of the team in any way he could.

Dillon, a defensive specialist on the team, was averaging just 1.9 points and 11 minutes per game. His DUI arrest is the second for an Arizona Men’s Basketball player in the last two seasons. Former Wildcat forward and current New Jersey Net Hassan Adams was arrested on similar charges during the 2005-06 season and later acquitted.

Tucson police revealed yesterday that University of Arizona reserve guard Daniel Dillon was arrested on suspicion of DUI last weekend. Police reports said that Dillon was pulled over early Sunday morning by an officer who noticed a speeding car. The report added that the officer conducted a DUI investigation in which Dillon denied having anything to drink. After undergoing field sobriety tests, Dillon was cited and arrested on suspicion of speeding, DUI and DUI with a blood alcohol content above the state’s legal limit of 0.08 percent. The report did not reveal what Dillon’s BAC was.

Dillon, a junior guard from Melbourne, Australia, will turn 21 on March 19^th. Arizona Men’s Basketball Coach Lute Olsen was reviewing the situation with authorities and did not offer any comment. Arizona athletic department spokesman Tom Duddleston said that Dillon did practice with the team Tuesday and was expected to travel to New Orleans for its first round game Friday against Purdue in the NCAA Tournament. Dillon has averaged 1.9 points and 11 minutes in 29 games for the Wildcats this season.

Seattle Seahawks tight end Jerramy Stevens was accused of DUI and possession of marijuana in downtown Scottsdale early Tuesday morning. An Associated Press story details that a police officer noticed Stevens’ car traveling erratically and then made the stop around 2:15 a.m. Stevens allegedly told the officer that he had “four or five margaritas” at a downtown Scottsdale bar, and a police report indicated that the suspect looked impaired and had slurred speech. Police also said they found a “leafy green substance” believed to be marijuana in Stevens’ pocket.

The report also said that Stevens dropped his wallet and cell phone when getting out of his vehicle and then stuttered around. After a second officer arrived and began to administer field sobriety tests, Stevens nearly fell down during the “walk-and-turn-test.” Stevens then declined any further testing, including a breathalyzer and blood sample. Police obtained a warrant around 5 a.m. and were able to get the blood test. However, the results have not yet been released. Stevens was booked and posted bail. His initial court appearance is set for April 2^nd.

Stevens, a five-year NFL veteran and former University of Washington standout, has been in trouble in the past. He was jailed for two days after pleading guilty to reckless driving in June 2003 as part of a plea deal for a suspected drunken driving offense. While in college, Stevens spent another five days in jail when he violated his probation after driving into a nursing home in a 2000 hit-and-run case.

Stevens, an unrestricted free agent, was a first-round selection by the Seahawks in 2002. During Seattle’s run to Super Bowl XL in 2005, Stevens had his best season, catching 45 catches for 554 yards. Last year, he caught 22 passes for 231 yards and four touchdowns.

Nicole Richie’s lawyer appeared on her behalf and entered a plea of not guilty in Richie’s California DUI case. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for April 2.   She was arrested in December after a 911 caller reported seeing her car heading the wrong way on a freeway in Burbank California. Richie volunteered that she had smoked marijuana and taken the prescription painkiller Vicodin. She was arrested after failing a field sobriety test.

Richie is facing her second DUI conviction. She has a prior DUI conviction in June 2003. California law specifies that if convicted of DUI twice within 10 years, a person can be sentenced to between 90 days and a year in jail, fined between $390 and $1,000, and have driving privileges suspended.

US Airways CEO Doug Parker will spend one day in jail and pay a $1,646.25 fine after pleading guilty to DUI in Arizona. Parker was arrested in Scottsdale Arizona in January after being pulled over for driving 20 mph over the speed limit. Shortly before his arrest, his company’s $9.8 billion bid for Delta Air Lines had been rejected.

Parker had a blood alcohol level (BAC) of 0.096 percent, just over Arizona’s legal limit for DUI. Earlier today, National Public Radio, in a display of its weakened news reporting, stated that Parker’s BAC would not be considered intoxicated in many states. Every state follows the per-se BAC limit mandated by the federal government for DUI of 0.08 percent.

University of Illinois sophomore shooting guard Jamar Smith was charged with DUI and leaving the scene of accident earlier today for his role in a crash last week which he allegedly believed killed teammate and freshman Illini center Brian Carlwell. Champaign County State’s Attorney Julia Rietz said Smith had a BAC level of .176, more than twice the legal limit under Illinois DUI law, following last Monday night’s crash.

Smith was driving a 1996 Lexus with Carlwell in his passenger seat on February 12^th when he crashed into a tree in heavy snow. Smith then drove the car back to his apartment complex a mile away and was seen leaving the smashed vehicle with Carlwell still inside. Concerned onlookers noticed the smashed vehicle with Carwell inside and called 9-1-1. Carlwell was taken to an Urbana hospital, where he spent four days with a serious concussion. Smith was later taken to the hospital by unidentified coaches and University of Illinois police, treated for a minor concussion and released early the next morning.  

According to Rietz’s description of University police reports, Smith and Carlwell were drinking tequila and beer at the apartment complex on the night of the incident before leaving around 11 p.m. Rietz said that it appears Smith though Carlwell had died in the accident and was extremely distraught. Smith’s Illinois DUI attorney, Mark Lipton, had no comment on Tuesday. Illinois basketball coach Bruce Weber did not release a statement as well.

Smith’s charges could carry some very serious DUI penalties if convicted. Rietz said that aggravated driving under the influence is a Class 4 felony carrying a sentence of up to 12 years in prison, while leaving the scene is a Class 3 felony with a possible sentence of up to five years in prison. She did add that a person convicted of either felony could be placed on probation.

Smith left the basketball team last week for the remainder of the season. Weber said that Carlwell, who sat on the Illinois bench during Sunday’s win against Northwestern at Assembly Hall, may return in the postseason. The Jamar Smith DUI is not the first time that an Illinois basketball player has been arrested on suspicion of drunk driving this season. Senior guard Rich McBride was arrested for an Illinois DUI in September and later charged. McBride has not yet entered a plea in his case, which is scheduled for a hearing on March 1^st. Weber suspended McBride six games for the arrest.  

Actor Ray Liotta was arrested on suspicion of DUI in Pacific Palisades California. Liotta, the star of the movie Goodfellas, was arrested after crashing his SUV into two parked cars. He was taken into custody Sunday morning and booked on a misdemeanor DUI charge. No blood alcohol content (BAC) was released by the police. No one was injured and he was alone in the vehicle. Liotta was ordered to appear in court next month.

Most recently, Liotta is starring with Tim Allen and John Travolta in the buddy comedy “Wild Hogs,” set for release March 2.

After zipping through the Chicago Bears’ defense earlier this month during the Indianapolis Colts 29-17 victory in Super Bowl XLI, running back Dominic Rhodes was arrested on suspicion of Indianapolis DUI early this morning after state police caught him speeding.

Rhodes was allegedly driving 81 mph in a 55 mph zone on Interstate 65 in Indianapolis around 3 a.m. this morning, according to Indiana State Police spokesman Sgt. Dave Bursten, who described the incident in an abc11tv.com story as a “normal run of the mill drunk driving arrest.” Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Lt. Doug Scheffel told television station RTV6 that Rhodes was taken to the downtown adult processing center early this morning.

Colts officials could not be reached for comment on Rhodes’ arrest on suspicion of Indiana DUI. Prior to his DUI arrest, Rhodes helped fuel the Colts to a Super Bowl XLI victory just a little more than two weeks ago when he rushed for 113 yards and a touchdown while coming off the bench. A backup to Edgerrin James and Joseph Addai while with the Colts, Rhodes’ Super Bowl XLI performance was his first 100-yard game since 2001 and only the sixth of his six-year career. Rhodes is currently a free agent. 

Nicole Richie recently told Paris Hilton she was scared to death about going to jail for a California DUI arrest from last December. Richie had confessed to officers that she was taking the pain killer Vicodin and had smoked marijuana. The former heroin addict has a previous DUI conviction from 2002. If she is convicted of a repeat DUI offense, she could face a mandatory jail sentence of five days.

Paris Hilton recently pled guilty to reckless driving in a plea bargain for her own DUI. Hilton’s lawyer is also representing Richie.

Paris Hilton resolved her DUI case by pleading no-contest to reckless driving in Los Angeles California. Hilton’s lawyers slipped into court and entered a plea on her behalf to the reduced charge of alcohol-related reckless driving. She was sentenced to 36 months probation, ordered to undergo alcohol education, and pay $1,500 in fines.

Hilton was arrested in September 2006 and charged with DUI. Her blood alcohol content (BAC) was 0.08 percent, matching the legal BAC limit for DUI in California. Hilton claimed to have had one margarita at a charity event, after working but not eating all day.

A no-contest plea is not an admission of guilt but is equivalent to a guilty plea for determining sentencing. Allowing a driver, charged with DUI, to plead to a lesser charge is standard practice for most DUI offenders who have a BAC at or near the legal limit for DUI.

Blogs, local newspapers, and people in line at grocery stores across the country are repeating the same words--or versions of them.  "How can she deny it?"  It's a question that arises every time a high-profile actress or musician or sports figure gets arrested for DUI and then enters a not guilty plea.  It's a question that's often asked with a lot of passion and indignance.  But it's also a question that betrays a serious misunderstanding about the workings of our criminal justice system.

When a person is charged with a crime, that person is required to "enter a plea".  Although there are some minor variations and alternatives in some states, the basic options are "guilty" and "not guilty".  Remember, the defendant has to make that call early in the process, sometimes even before he or she has consulted an attorney.  In some states, if the defendant hasn't had the opportunity to consult with an attorney, the judge automatically enters a not guilty plea for him.

That's because when a guilty plea is entered, it puts an end to some very important options.  It relieves the state of the obligation to present evidence and prove its case.  It also removes any incentive for the state to negotiate for a more favorable sentence.

Many defendants who enter initial not guilty pleas ultimately plead guilty, after consulting with an attorney and working out a plea agreement with the prosecuting attorney.  But entering a guilty plea right off the bat would foreclose that process.  If a defendant pleads not guilty, she can later change her plea to guilty, but it's very difficult and sometimes impossible to change a guilty plea to not guilty. 

So what does an initial not guilty plea mean in a criminal case?  Here are just a few possibilities:

• I didn't do it
• I did it, but I don't think you can prove it, so I'm going to go to trial
• I don't even know whether or not what I did meets the statutory elements of the crime (in short, I don't know whether or not I'm guilty under the law)
• I'd like time to talk to an attorney about my options before I make a decision
  
• My attorney needs time to talk to investigate the evidence against me and advise me on how to proceed
• My attorney needs time to talk with the prosecuting attorney and try to arrange a plea agreement

Paris Hilton’s lawyer appeared for her and entered a plea of not guilty to DUI in a Los Angeles California court. She was arrested for DUI just after midnight in September 2006. Hilton was allegedly driving erratically and was pulled over for field sobriety tests. Her BAC was measured to be 0.08 percent, matching California’s BAC limit for per-se DUI.

Hilton claims she had only one margarita after not eating all day. She likely will receive a plea deal on her DUI charge.

Chiefs defensive end, Jared Allen, will spend 48 hours in jail after a municipal judge revoked an agreement for Allen to participate in a DUI diversion program and found him guilty of DUI. Allen was stopped for DUI in Overland Park Kansas in May 2006. He was granted diversion in July, but was arrested for DUI, again, in September. Because he violated the terms of the program, the judge revoked his diversion agreement. Allen pled to DUI and the judge sentenced him to 48 hours in jail, a $500 fine, and a 90 day suspended sentence.

Allen must still face a judge in February for the September DUI arrest.

Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson was released from jail without bond on a felony drug possession charge following his December 29th arrest for suspicion of DUI in Scottsdale, Arizona.

After leaving a nightclub in the early morning hours of the 29th, Tyson was pulled over by police when his BMW blew a stop sign and nearly hit a sheriff's vehicle. An arresting officer found cocaine in the car and two bags of the drug on Tyson, who showed signs of impairment and failed field sobriety tests.

Tyson was arrested and booked at Maricopa County Arizona Sheriff’s jail, where no alcohol was found in his system. The Mike Tyson DUI charge was not filed pending toxicology tests. Tyson did admit to using cocaine on the day of his arrest. A January 16th preliminary hearing has been scheduled for the Tyson felony drug charge.

To follow the latest developments in the Tyson case and other celebrity DUI arrests, visit our Celebrity  DUI Spotlight.

2006 has been described as the year of the celebrity DUI and justifiably so as many high-profile figures were arrested on drunk driving charges. Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie, Mel Gibson, Tracy Morgan, Gus Van Sant, Haley Joel Osment and Michelle Rodriguez were just some major players from the big and small screen to be arrested for DUI in 2006.

The political and sports worlds were also fair game for DUI arrests in 2006 as U.S. Representative Patrick Kennedy (D-Rhode Island) and a slew of NFL players, including Chris Henry,  Steve Foley and Odell Thurman, faced drunk driving charges. And former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson helped punched out 2006 with his Arizona DUI early this morning.

Check out this complete list of celebrity DUI arrests in 2006.

While few details have been released, news reports indicate that former world champion boxer Mike Tyson was arrested in Scottsdale Arizona for DUI and drug possession. He was stopped by Scottsdale police after his car almost struck a sheriff’s vehicle after leaving a nightclub. Tyson showed signs of impairment and failed field sobriety tests. Police found cocaine on his body and in the car.

Tyson was booked at the Maricopa County Arizona Sheriff’s jail and is expected to have an initial appearance on the DUI and drug possession charges, Friday.

Tyson shot to fame in 1986 when he became the youngest heavyweight champion in history at age 20. He has had several episodes with the law over the years, including serving prison time for rape. Tyson became an outcast in the boxing community in 1997 when he bit Evander Holyfield's ear during a fight.

Tyson has been to the Maricopa County jail before, but as a guest talking to juvenile offenders about the dangers of drugs and alcohol.

For more celebrity DUI news, visit our Celebrity DUI Spotlight.

The director of “Good Will Hunting,” “Drugstore Cowboy,” “My Own Private Idaho” and many other films has been recently arrested on DUI charges in Portland, Oregon.

Gus Van Sant was stopped at a stoplight early Thursday morning when Portland police noticed him driving his 2006 Porsche Cayenne without headlights on. According to Sgt. Brian Schmautz, officers quickly detected “glassy eyes, slurred speech and the smell of alcohol,” and pulled over the famed director.

The 54-year-old Van Sant failed field sobriety tests and blew a .19 breathalyzer, which is more than two times the legal 0.08 blood alcohol content limit in Oregon DUI law. A January 17^th court date has been set for the misdemeanor Gus Van Sant DUI charge.

Van Sant was nominated for an Academy Award for 1997’s “Good Will Hunting,” starring Matt Damon, Robin Williams and Ben Affleck. Other notable actors in Van Sant films include Heather Graham, Vince Vaughn, Matt Dillon, Sean Connery, William H. Macy, Julianne Moore, Anne Heche, Keanu Reeves and Viggo Mortensen.

Nicole Richie, daughter of singer Lionel Richie, was arrested for DUI in the early hours of this morning.  Richie's SUV was reportedly traveling in the wrong direction on a Burbank freeway.  Law enforcement officers reportedly stated that Nicole had admitted to taking Vicodin and smoking marijuana. 

A preliminary BAC screening indicated that Nicole Richie was not under the influence of alcohol at the time of her arrest.  This isn't Richie's first scrape with the law relating to substance abuse issues:  In 2003 she pled guilty to heroin possession.

For more celebrity DUI news, visit out Celebrity DUI Spotlight.