American pop star Britney Spears pleaded guilty through her lawyer on Monday to a lesser charge that will help her avoid jail time after California prosecutors accused her of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
The 44-year-old singer did not appear in Ventura County court. Instead, her attorney, Michael A. Goldstein, entered a plea to what is commonly referred to as a “wet reckless.”
The agreement typically results in a year of probation, mandatory DUI education classes, and state-imposed fines.
According to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, the deal is a standard option for first-time DUI defendants who were not involved in a crash or injury and recorded a relatively low blood alcohol level.
It is also frequently offered to individuals who demonstrate willingness to seek help, including Spears, who voluntarily entered a substance abuse treatment facility in April.
During Monday’s hearing, Spears was placed on summary probation, an informal arrangement that does not require regular meetings with a probation officer.
She also temporarily gave up her Fourth Amendment protections against search and seizure during traffic stops, meaning she must comply with sobriety tests and vehicle searches if stopped.
However, at the request of her attorney, the judge ruled that this condition would not extend to her home.
District Attorney Erik Nasarenko said after the hearing that Spears had accepted responsibility for her actions, while stressing the seriousness of the offence and the need for compliance with court conditions such as continued treatment, weekly therapy sessions, and monthly psychiatric visits.
“We do not want Miss Spears to reoffend,” Nasarenko said.
She was formally charged on Thursday with one misdemeanor DUI count, which did not require her to appear in court for arraignment.
However, her legal team had not confirmed whether she would attend the hearing, which attracted unusually heavy media presence in Ventura, a coastal city of about 110,000 people roughly 70 miles (113 kilometers) northwest of downtown Los Angeles.
Spears owns a residence in Ventura County near the area where she was arrested on March 4.
At the time, a representative described her conduct as inexcusable and said the incident could serve as a turning point in her life. She and her team have not made public comments since the charges were filed.
Authorities said she was stopped after driving her black BMW erratically and at high speed on U.S. Highway 101. California Highway Patrol officers said she showed signs of impairment, failed field sobriety tests, and was taken into custody and booked into jail.
In the criminal complaint, officials stated that alcohol and drugs were detected in her system, though they did not specify the substances involved or disclose her blood alcohol concentration.
