Saturday, May 18, 2013

Latest local news, weather and high school sports from the Midlands

Barkley pleads guilty in Scottsdale to DUI charges
Posted: 02.24.2009 at 11:22 AM
0

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Charles Barkley will serve time in jail after pleading guilty to charges of driving drunk.

According to Scottsdale court records, the 45-year-old former NBA star pleaded guilty Monday to two misdemeanor charges related to the same drunken driving arrest.

Barkley, who works as a TV analyst, is set to begin a five-day jail sentence on March 21. The Hall of Famer must pay more than $2,000 in fines and attend an alcohol treatment program. Under Arizona law, he'll also be forced to install an ignition interlock device on his vehicles.

His attorney wasn't immediately available for comment.

Barkley was stopped by police Dec. 31 shortly after leaving a Scottsdale nightclub. He was arrested after failing a field sobriety test. He had a blood-alcohol level of .149 percent, nearly twice the legal limit of .08 percent in Arizona when he was pulled over.

After a six-week leave of absence, Barkley resumed his studio analyst role for TNT last week.

"This is just my bad, no excuses," Barkley said in an interview with TNT colleague Ernie Johnson posted on NBA.com before he returned to work.

"I think that a DUI is unacceptable," he added. "That can't happen and I've got to challenge other people, not just celebrities or jocks. You have to really think before getting behind the wheel after you've been drinking."

Barkley conceded at the time he could face jail time.

"I think it's going to be good for me, to be honest. I need to make sure drinking is not a problem for me," he said. "I just want some professionals to talk to me about it."

If they tell him to stop drinking, "then I'll have to stop drinking," he said.

Asked if he could do that, he replied, "I feel I can do anything that I put my mind to."

Popular Stories
Thumbnail
Magazine lists Sumter as one of the best small cities in US
Thursday, May 16, 2013  |  4 comments
Thumbnail
Medical Examiner's testimony challenges Brett Parker's self-defense claim
Katie McKee  |  Yesterday at 2:15 PM  |  1 comment
Thumbnail
South Carolina's Candice Glover crowned American Idol
WACH Fox News Center  |  Yesterday at 3:55 PM  |  2 comments
Follow Midlands Connect
Get news and weather notifications on your phone by downloading the iPhone or Android app below
Sign up to get alerts and updates for breaking news, severe weather, and deals:
submit
ADVERTISEMENT
Special Features
Mission Midlands
A program from the Oliver Gospel Mission
MOJO Gallery
View and share your pictures from around the Midlands
MoneyWACH
Financial tips & tricks from Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union
ADVERTISEMENT