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Conrad's license has been revoked for a year.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 ...
Yes. And money.
Apart from the Energizer commercials and some mostly forgettable TV movies...
Looks like the author forgot the very good Centennial, the mini-series version of Michener's book of the same title and one of my all-time favorite television events. Shame on him. Conrad was great in the role of the crazy French trapper, Pasquinel.
I hated that show.
He's from Chicago and is really a stand up 'regular' guy. He lived in the area of 33rd & Archer Ave (Bridgeport) and worked for a time in the 1950's on docks of Consolidated Freightways, CF , when they were a tiny trucking company. An Uncle of mine was a driver for CF (employee #54) knew him.
Conrad is also a BIG supporter of the Boy Scouts and would come back to Chicago for fund raising dinners and luncheons. I met him at a luncheon at the Conrad Hilton in the early 1980's and again, he's a regular guy. Oh, he might be on the 'small' side, but his shoulders are big, I wouldn't try to knock anything off them, that's for sure.
I'm not excusing him for what he did, but he's not a 'Hollyweirdo'.
$4,000 in fines and restitution
I do not have much sympathy for Mr. Conrad other than for his addiction to alcohol. It would be great if he were able to see his problem and then ask for help. That's his only hope.
Otherwise Robert Conrad should not be allowed to drive again. His next victim might not be as lucky.
I don't recall that one. He sure was a talented actor.
When I read the headline, I was hoping it was Kent Conrad, Dem Dakota-Doofus Senator. Nuts.
Too bad I couldn't add the music theme to "Wild Wild West" onto the thread.
Perfect, Atomicpossum! Excellent timing! Now all we need is the theme music.
The problem is that Conrad can just throw money at the system and he basically walks. It is not fair nor is it prudent since he could go out and do it again.
Robert Conrad's drinking is a problem which money can't fix.
Black sheep Squadron bump...
Black sheep Squadron bump...
The venom is flowing this morning of Thanksgiving.
Conrad has always been known as a stand up guy. He certainly made a serious drunken mistake but his life has been pretty close to the vest. He is a well known conservative and supports conservative causes.
I don't think the state wants to put any 69 year old in jail. The punishment fits the crime.
I work with a lot of guys who drink too much too often and they are as conservative as they come. Alcohol abuses anyone who gives it a chance.
He should have been sentenced to ride the Dodge-ems with Billy Joel, Richard Dreyfus, Kelsey Grammer, Halley Berry...
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