Posted on 11/25/2004 5:39:50 AM PST by bd476
By Marcus Errico
"Former Wild Wild West star Robert Conrad will pay a price for his wild, wild ride."
"The aging action hero has been sentenced to six months of house arrest, five year's probation and alcohol counseling for a 2003 DUI accident.
Conrad, 69, was piloting his Jaguar through California's Sierra foothills near his rural home in Calaveras County, 100 miles southeast of Sacramento, when he lost control of his car, swerved across the double-yellow line of Highway 4 and slammed head on into a Subaru. The car's driver, Kevin Burnett, was hospitalized with a broken wrist and leg.
Police said Conrad had a blood-alcohol level of 0.22 percent--nearly three times the state's 0.08 limit--at the time of the March 2003 crash.
Burnett did not attend the sentencing Tuesday at the San Andreas, California, courthouse, but he was definitely on Conrad's mind afterward.
"The only thing I'm happy about is that the young man who was a part of this has had a complete recovery," Conrad told reporters.
The actor originally pleaded not guilty to two felony drunken-driving counts, but changed his plea to no contest last month after working out a deal with prosecutors to avoid prison time.
In addition to the house arrest, probation and counseling, the county judge ordered Conrad to fork over about $4,000 in fines and restitution and forbade the actor from visiting bars while on probation.
Conrad's license has been revoked for a year. He also must install devices in all his cars that will prevent the vehicle from starting..."(End excerpt.)
(Excerpt) Read more at story.news.yahoo.com ...
Ping.
The situation took a turn for the worse when Mr. Conrad ripped the battery from the crumpled Subaru, thrust it upon his shoulder, and dared the accident victim or police to knock it off.
Think of what would have happened had the young man been killed!
He would have carried the guilt of a senseless death the rest of his life (not to mention probably serving jail time)
LOL. Yet his humble behavior in court translated into the very light sentence of house arrest. If it had been anyone else...
"The Wild Wild West" is still one of my favorite shows. I didn't see it when it first aired - saw it only in the re-runs.
ROFLMAO! (I'm dyin' here!)
No one ever thinks it will happen to them.
In fact about the only thing a drinker like Conrad is thinking about is the drink itself.
If Conrad had been on coke or marijuana, want to bet that jail time would have been imposed? Different standards for alcohol. I'm not saying that all drug-related felons should be walking the streets. The judge in this case had the common sense to address the problem (victim was paid in civil case, fines imposed, alcohol rehab, and steps taking to prevent future drunk driving). Makes more sense than having the California taxpayer foot $50K a year to house Conrad in jail space that doesn't exist plus accommodate his medical needs for partial paralysis. Mandatory minimums prevent such discretion in other substance abuse crimes.
This remark strikes me as only common decency, but common decency seems to be very uncommon, especially in Hollywood, so give him some credit.
Did Dr. Loveless tamper with the engine in any way?
Seriously, I'm glad it wasn't worse than it was.
What can I say....I'm probably not aging well either...
Some drunk driving accidents result not only in jail time but mandatory A.A. enrollment.
Not sure what the statistics are for illegal drug induced motor vehicle accidents.
Should accidents, injuries or other harm caused by illegal drug use become the minimum criteria for arrest and sentence? It sure would empty out many prisons.
castro is one of my favorite actors. when i see him in photos with dan rather, i laugh. (/s)
actors can be dangerous.
Huh? Please don't shoot the messenger.
Robert Conrad gets lots of credit for being able to breathe, walk and talk after he happily consumed enough ethyl alcohol to register three times the legal blood alcohol limit.
Conrad gets even more credit while in same inebriated state, he was able to guide the ignition key straight into the ignition of his Jaguar, and then drive his Jaguar awhile before he plowed it straight into another car driven by a young man who suffered injuries requiring hospitalization.
A Hollywood stunt man couldn't top all that and live to make a "decent remark."
Conrad's remark was decent but his actions weren't.
Robert Conrad does not live anywhere near Hollywood.
Wow, his baby blue eyes tell the long story, don't they.
Fame = power
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