Nicole Richie Prison Sentence

Saturday, July 28, 2007

Nicole Richie pleaded guilty Friday to driving under the influence of drugs and was sentenced to serve four days in the City or County jail - her choice - she also got credit for the fifth day for time already served.

Richie was also fined $2048, and was ordered to take a 21 day alcohol education course. She was also put on three years probation. She must serve her four days before September 28.

While in court Nicole was subdued and somber. She stood before the judge and softly answered “guilty” when asked how she pleaded to the charge.

Richie was arrested on December 11, 2006, after being spotted driving the wrong way on an L.A. freeway. When the police stopped her she failed the field sobriety test and admitted to police that she had smoked marijuana and took Vicodin earlier that evening. She was on her way home from her boyfriend, Joel Madden’s house.She was previously convicted of a DUI in June of 2003. California law states that if someone is caught again with another DUI they get a minimum of three years in jail, but the sentence is reduced to only four days if the person accepts a three-year probation term.

Glendale Superior Court Commissioner Steven Lubell told Richie that if she violated the terms and conditions of her sentence, “You are going to go to County jail for up to one year. You need to understand that.”

The commissioner issued Richie the stern warning, and then added that if she drove drunk again and she actually killed someone she could be charged with murder , not manslaughter. It was also confirmed by TMZ that the pregnant Nicole Richie is due to give birth to her first child in January.