Posted on 12/05/2007 10:11:53 PM PST by trumandogz
LOS ANGELES - Kiefer Sutherland was sentenced Wednesday to 48 days in jail for racking up a second drunken-driving arrest in three years and immediately reported to a city lockup. The star of the Fox TV drama "24" was being processed at the Glendale city jail, said Officer John Balian.
Sutherland, 40, who pleaded no contest in October to driving with a blood-alcohol level above the legal limit of .08, appeared in court with his attorney and politely answered the judge's questions, said Assistant City Attorney Dan Jeffries.
His request to serve his time at the Glendale city jail was granted and he was ordered to complete the sentence by March 30, Jeffries said.
"Kiefer made the decision to surrender to custody immediately," his attorney, Blair Berk, told The Associated Press.
He could have waited as late as Feb. 12.
The actor was already on probation for a 2004 drunken-driving arrest when he was stopped by police as he left a Hollywood industry party at the trendy Area nightclub on Sept. 25. Authorities said he failed a field sobriety test after being pulled over for making an illegal U-turn.
Sutherland had also pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor DUI charge in 2004. He was sentenced in that case to five years' probation, 50 hours of community service and ordered to attend an alcohol treatment program. Authorities said he fulfilled the community service and alcohol treatment obligations.
He was also convicted of alcohol-related reckless driving in 1993, according to the city attorney's office.
"I'm very disappointed in myself for the poor judgment I exhibited recently, and I'm deeply sorry for the disappointment and distress this has caused my family, friends and co-workers," Sutherland said in a statement issued after he entered his plea in the latest case.
Sutherland, who plays dashing federal counterterrorism agent Jack Bauer on "24," won an Emmy for best actor last year.
Under the terms of his plea, he also must serve five years of probation, pay a $510 fine, enroll in an 18-month alcohol-education class and attend weekly alcohol-therapy sessions for six months, Jeffries said.
He could have been sentenced to as much as a year and a half in jail if convicted.
Sutherland will serve his sentence at Glendale city jail, but under a county jail inmate program because of overcrowding, Jeffries said. He must serve all 48 days.
The Glendale jail is a minimum security facility with 48 cells, each of them measuring 10 feet by 8 feet. They come equipped with two beds, a toilet, washbasin and water fountain, but Sutherland won't be sharing his cell with anyone.
"Anyone here for a long period of time will get their own cell," Balian said.
The actor is classified as an "inmate worker" and will be required to perform duties in the laundry room and help prepare food for inmates in the kitchen area.
"He'll be working here for 48 days," Balian said.
Sutherland will also have access to an outdoor area and be allowed two visitors per day.
“Jack Bauer guest stars in Prison Break”
Looks like he didn’t get the Paris Hilton lockup rules.
It would be interesting to compare his actual time served with others convicted of the same offense. I would bet he is serving more time.
Might as well serve the time before the writers’ strike is settled.
1. The following takes place between 12:00 am and 12:00 am. (I’m in jail).
2. Set up a perimeter.
3. I want real time updates.
4. I will ask you one last time: WHERE IS THE FABRIC SOFTENER?
5. Drive. I’ll know if you deviate.
6. Upload the schematic to my PDA.
7. Hurry, Chloe!
8. Call the President.
9. Accept my resignation.
10. DAMMIT!
My wife and I went to our local little bar in LA (Kane’s on Melrose) for an after work drink one day, and Kiefer was the only other patron at the bar. Seemed like a nice guy, but didn’t talk much.
savage.
Much of that compensation is spent on therapy.
Imagine, if you will .. being Jack Baur ... take-charge, get the job done defender of America ... and after a few weeks of 'being' Jack, you take a break and listen to talk radio or something.
I'd be a friggin' drunk too!
Good luck Kiefer ... keep it together.
Nothing new it seems. My wife's dad was a shrink to the stars back in the day. He did shock therapy on many very well known actresses at his hospital.
6:00 AM: Call the President and complain that Rice Krispies have been served for breakfast for 36 straight days.
Kiefer Sutherland was sentenced Wednesday to 48 days in jail for racking up a second drunken-driving arrest in three years and immediately reported to a city lockup.
I am glad that he is getting it out of the way. He can get back to 24 if the strike is over. He was thinking of the viewers when making this decision IMHO.
Good thing the show wasn't called "365" or he'd be looking at two years in the slammer.
He will be out in under 24 hours...
A close family member had 2 DUIs within 3 years. Both times he was pulled over, no accidents or injury. After his second, he was sentenced to 30 days in jail and served 17 of them before being released. The loss of his well-paying job was a far greater punishment than the jail sentence.
At least he will be off the road for 48 days.
That is a price you or I would have to pay but not the Hollywood elite.
True. lol.
I hope for him... that he ‘hit bottom’.
Indeed he did. Sadly, the job he lost was a high-paying driving job. Even though he has since earned back his CDL (commercial driver's license) he has found it very difficult to get another driving job. One look at his driving record and most employers politely show him the door. Company insurance simply prohibit them from hiring a driver with two DUI convictions. It is the price he has to pay.
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