Plea Deal Reached in Reality Star's Ambien DUI Case

Former Bravo reality fitness star Jackie Warner recently saw all charges dismissed relating to her February DUI charge, with the help of her DUI attorney. This included 2 counts of DUI, one count of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of hit and run. TMZ compared Warner's plea deal to a 'slap on the wrist' and they were the first ones to break the story in February. Warner starred in three seasons of 'Work Out' which followed her through her professional and personal life.

Warner was arrested and charged with DUI after hitting a telephone pole in her vehicle and fleeing the scene. At one point, she backed into a police cruiser and a police officer was forced to 'jump out of harm's way.' No one was injured during the incident. She was apprehended shortly after and had a confrontation with police, who provided her with a towel to wrap around her lower half as she was escorted into a cruiser. At one point, Warner entered a 7 Eleven to buy an ice cream sandwich, while wearing no bottoms. Once taken in, her bail was set at $60,000. Despite registering a .11 BAC, Warner maintained that she had been "sleep driving" after taking Ambien at her home earlier in the day. To her knowledge, she had only had one drink at an earlier luncheon. It was later learned that Warner found several empty beer cans in her home after she was released. She has no recollection of drinking them, however, her lawyer was equipped with ample evidence that she had taken prescribed Ambien. “We have letters and reports from Jackie's doctors which prove a long history of insomnia and which strongly support our contention that Jackie was driving unconscious after taking Ambien, which had been prescribed to her.”

With the advice of her attorney, Warner pled no contest to the offense known as 'wet reckless,' a far lesser charge than DUI. The incident with the ice cream proved helpful in her case, as it showed she was not in a right frame of mind during the incident and was not fully aware of what she was doing. She also pointed out that she would not have left her house in no pants had she been in her right mind.

As part of her plea deal, Warner will be on informal probation for 2 years, pay a fine and attend a 12-hour alcohol education course. Her case illustrates alternative sentencing options at work, which can be the saving grace of many first-time DUI offenders who never dreamed they would wind up with such a charge.

Although a Nolo Plea for DUI in Georgia is rare, you have options.  If you have been charged with driving under the influence in Georgia, alternative sentencing options may be available for you depending on the circumstances of your case. Allow a skilled DUI attorney to review your charges and uphold your rights in court. Do not hesitate to contact Georgia DUI Attorney Richard Lawson for a free consultation.