Tonya Harding to serve 10 days in jail

katu.com ^ | 8-08-02 | Steven DuBois

[Salvation]

August 8, 2002

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Tonya Harding to serve 10 days in jail

CAMAS, WASH. - By STEVEN DU BOIS
Associated Press Writer

Tonya Harding was sentenced to 10 days in jail Thursday for drinking alcohol while on probation.

In court, the former Olympic figure skater said her arrest for drunken driving forced her to re-examine her life and was the best thing that could have happened to her.

"I'm grateful to the judge for giving me this opportunity; I finally found out what my problem is: It's alcohol," Harding said after the brief hearing.

"I'm glad it happened so no one gets hurt, I don't get hurt and I'm making something right in my life for a change."

Harding is scheduled to start her sentence Aug. 20. Her lawyer, Steven Thayer, asked Judge Darvin Zimmerman to let Harding do her time in isolation. He presented a letter from a doctor saying Harding suffers from panic attacks.

The judge took no action on the matter. It's unclear if the detention center in Vancouver, Wash., is equipped to shield celebrities from other prisoners.

In April, Harding was behind the wheel of her truck when it veered off the road and crashed into a ditch. Harding failed a field sobriety test and her blood-alcohol level was measured at 0.16 - twice the legal limit in Washington.

The accident happened when Harding had less than a month to go on her two-year probation for hitting a boyfriend with a hubcap. As part of her probation, she was not allowed to consume alcohol.

She acknowledged violating that condition when she pleaded guilty Monday to drunken driving and was ordered to enter a treatment program for alcoholics.

Zimmerman could have sentenced Harding to more than 5½ months in jail. Instead, he gave her 30 days, with 20 of them suspended if she completes 12 hours of classes for troubled young adults.

"I hope you're sincere and things work out better for you," the judge said.

After the hearing, Camas Assistant City Attorney Shawn MacPherson said he was "satisfied that justice was done."

Harding's attorney said the sentence was fair and wouldn't hinder the progress his client is making in treatment.

"She's gone 10 days, not 10 months," he said.

The two-time U.S. champion was convicted in 1994 of hindering prosecution in a plot to injure rival Nancy Kerrigan during the U.S. championships in Detroit. Harding also was banned for life by the U.S. Figure Skating Association.

(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[Eagle Eye]

Tonya Harding was sentenced to 10 days in jail Thursday for drinking alcohol while on probation.

Guess she's not gonna skate on this one.

[RabidBartender]

"Tonya Harding was sentenced to 10 days in jail Thursday for drinking alcohol while on probation."

Women's Prison Video????

[Eagle Eye]

Cell-cam? 24-7?

[archy]

Zimmerman could have sentenced Harding to more than 5½ months in jail. Instead, he gave her 30 days, with 20 of them suspended if she completes 12 hours of classes for troubled young adults.

YOUNG?

Born in 1970, which in dog years, makes her...dead. But she's done a lot of work with young athletes and helped kids with backgrounds as rough as hers get into skating. I'll certainly cut her no more slack than I figure she's earned, but in this case, she may well have actually done so, which may make that move appropriate.

[aShepard]

She's done some bulkin' up since I last saw her.

Woman, back away from that KFC

[connectthedots]

Zimmerman is an idiot and Harding's attorney is 'well connected' with the courts. The Clark County Courts are corrupt beyond description, but they will be cleaned up in very short order.

[Salvation]

It will eventually be very, very big news.

Huh? Big news from Oregon? Ha!

Other than the state fuzzballs not letting logging go on in the state, and KrazyKatz, what could it be? Unless you are talking about Kitzhopper - shouldn't have been governor.

Now you really have my curiosity up! No fair!

[Salvation]

(Note: Is it possible to put a "barf-alert" on ones own reply?)

LOL! I loved it!

[Salvation]

Woman, back away from that KFC----------with beer!

[Salvation]

Do you have a link to the previous post?

[connectthedots]

Huh? Big news from Oregon? Ha!

State of Washington. Check my FReeper home page for a bit more information. A criminal investigation has been referred to the FBI.

[savedbygrace]

Born in 1970, which in dog years, makes her...dead.

If one year for a dog is equal to seven years for a person, then a dog-minute is about eight seconds.

So, the next time you tell your dog to "wait a minute," and she gets up and moves away in about eight seconds, you'll know why.

[angcat]

and cut that teenage hair. she would make a great partner for bubba bill........for some reason i though of him when i saw her..............

[CyberCowboy777]

Give me a ping on that....

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

Do you understand that she is a felon? She plotted to eliminate her Olympic competition through a violent injury, lied through her teeth to the feds, drives drunk thus endangering anyone on the road, rips off landlords, beats up boyfriends with frying pans, and makes porn movies.

This woman should not be allowed near kids.

[eddie willers]

And I will vouch that, yes indeed, trouble with alcohol can cause all the ill behavior you cited.

I, like the judge, hope she is sincere and stays sober.

[headsonpikes]

"Women's Prison Video????"

There's gotta be a role for J-Lo...;^)

[Palladin]

I hope Tanya gets into AA, and gets a real good mentor. She is still young, and her life can be salvaged. She has done a lot of good with the young skaters. Good Luck, Tanya!

Meanwhile, Commie Bill Moyers gets his DUI reduced to "driving erratically"--no time served. No redeeming value for this over-the-hill punk.

[lexington minuteman 1775]

Hey, maybe she can play on the jail baseball team.She has a history with a bat? Speaking of bats I think she has a few loose in her belfrey.She needs to go to a place like the Betty Ford clinic and learn how to live sober if she really meant what she said to the judge.IMHO.