24's Jack Bauer Faces DUI and Probation Violation

By Jeralyn, Section Crime in the News
Posted on Sat Sep 29, 2007 at 11:43:23 AM EST
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"24" star Kiefer Sutherland could use a little Jack Bauer intervention right now. He was arrested Sept. 25 for DUI. The complaint is here (pdf) and alleges he was driving under the influence of alcohol and an unspecified drug.

Rocky Delgadillo, the City Attorney that went after Paris Hilton, is also seeking to revoke Kiefer's 2004 probation for a prior DUI.

We have charged Mr. Sutherland with a second DUI offense within 10 years, which we believe also constitutes a violation of the terms of his probation from his 2004 conviction," said Nick Velasquez, a spokesman for the City Attorney's Office.

"Since he is still on probation from this 2004 DUI, we have also requested that the court revoke his probation and set a probation-violation hearing."

Looking at the complaint, Kiefer was charged on October 29, 2004, pleaded guilty 4 days later on November 2, 2004, and was put on 5 years probation.

I'm wondering why he pleaded guilty so fast in 2004 -- and isn't 5 years probation for a DUI a bit excessive? Kiefer finished his alcohol treatment and 50 hours of community service in 2005.

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24's Jack Bauer Faces DUI and Probation Violation | 6 comments (6 topical)

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limos, anyone? (none / 0) (#1)
by Bob In Pacifica on Sat Sep 29, 2007 at 01:51:55 PM EST

I've been wondering lately that people of such wealth and fame are getting all these DUIs. They should all have limos, no?

Or how about a designated driver? Or how about a Hollywood emergency limo service to pluck up drunken celebs and with an extra driver to retrieve their Lamborghinis. Seems like it would be a great idea for a service.

: It ain't just the rich and famous.... (none / 0) (#6)
by kdog on Mon Oct 01, 2007 at 12:48:54 PM EST

racking up DUI's at a high rate...it's all walks of life. When Joe Blow gets pinched it ain't news.
Maybe the rise in DUI's has to do with more cops on the roads and lower BAC limits...and not a change in people's habits. Listening to the stories of my parents generation...when you got pulled over after knocking back a few back in the day, the cop told ya to go get a cup of coffee. Now you get a cell.

ummmmmmmmmmmmm..................... (none / 0) (#2)
by cpinva on Sat Sep 29, 2007 at 05:59:58 PM EST

I'm wondering why he pleaded guilty so fast in 2004

possibly because he was? just a guess mind you. this may have been a way to avoid jail time. he got probation and community service instead. who knows what his blood alcohol level was, that may have played a part in it.

bob, you may be on to something there. the studios used to have exactly that, back in the days of contract players. they had a vested financial interest in keeping their stars out of the newspapers for stuff like this.

however, with the death of the contract player system, the studios no longer have that direct interest, and a drunk celeb is far less likely to have the presence of mind to do it for themselves.

maybe an alert button, on a bracelet or something, that only needs to be pushed, with gps, to locate the celeb?

In the old days a police reporter had to check (none / 0) (#3)
by JSN on Sat Sep 29, 2007 at 07:38:27 PM EST

the police blotter and the jail roster for it to get into the newspaper. If the press agent moved fast they had a chance to keep it from being published. Today many police blotters and jail rosters are posted on the web.

I guess they make bad examples (as if we needed more bad examples) but they don't get the same treatment others get from the CJ system because they are celebrities. This law blog is an example the only time we hear about a DUI arrest is if some bigwig is arrested and most of what we hear about is how they get special treatment.

If this particular person is jailed on a probation violation he will be taking up space that is needed for someone who is likely to be a more serious threat to public safety. We would be all better off if he were put to work cleaning alleys or pulling weeds.


: agreed, (none / 0) (#4)
by cpinva on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 07:15:05 AM EST

We would be all better off if he were put to work cleaning alleys or pulling weeds.
as long as someone else drives him to and from.

5 years is long in some places (none / 0) (#5)
by txpublicdefender on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 10:24:16 AM EST

I think 5 years is a long probation for a DUI, but that's coming from Texas, where the maximum length of probation (at sentencing, at least) for a misdemeanor is 2 years. In Washington, where I practice now, I think it is pretty standard to get 5 years probation for a first DUI.