Britney Spears Takes Plea Deal, Avoids Jail After DUI Charge: ‘Significant Steps to Implement Positive Change’
The pop star received probation after pleading guilty to a lesser reckless driving count on Monday (May 4).
Black News 
Britney Spears has been sentenced to probation after taking a plea deal for her March DUI arrest in Ventura County, California.
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The pop star received the year-long probation sentence on Monday (May 4) after pleading guilty through her attorney to a misdemeanor charge known colloquially as a “wet reckless.” This is downgraded from the more severe count driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol in her criminal complaint last week.
Defendants are typically offered this sort of plea deal in cases of low blood alcohol levels or other mitigating factors following a DUI arrest. According to the Associated Press, a prosecutor stated during Monday’s hearing in Ventura that Spears had taken “full responsibility” for the incident. She’ll now serve a year of probation, during which she’ll have to participate in a DUI education program and continue regular therapy and psychiatry. Spears herself did not appear in court.
Spears’ attorney, Michael Goldstein, said in a statement following the plea hearing that the singer “has accepted responsibility for her conduct.”
“She has taken significant steps to implement positive change which is clearly reflected in the Ventura County District Attorney’s decision to reduce the charge in this case and dismiss the DUI,” added Goldstein. “Britney appreciates this discretion and is also grateful for the outpouring of support she has received.”
Spears was arrested the evening of March 4 after the California Highway Patrol found her driving “erratically at a high rate of speed on southbound US-101.” At the time, her reps said, “This was an unfortunate incident that is completely inexcusable. Britney is going to take the right steps and comply with the law and hopefully this can be the first step in long overdue change that needs to occur in Britney’s life.”
The following month, Spears checked herself voluntarily into a treatment facility. She was formerly charged by the Ventura County DA’s Office this past Thursday (April 30).
