Celebrity Justice
Sambora Cops DUI Plea

Posted Apr 22nd 2008 5:03PM by TMZ Staff

Richie SamboraTMZ has learned Richie Sambora just plea bargained his DUI case. He pled no contest to driving with a blood alcohol level of .08 or higher. The driving under the influence charge was dismissed. And, prosecutors did NOT file child endangerment charges.

Sambora was popped for DUI last month. His 10-year-old daughter Ava was in the car at the time. We're told Sambora had a .13 blood alcohol level. Although the brass at the Laguna Beach Police Dept. recommended that prosecutors file child endangerment charges, we're told the rank and file cops felt the evidence didn't support the charge. Prosecutors agreed.

It's an interesting behind-the-scenes plea. Sambora got one of the most effective criminal defense lawyers in America on his side -- Blair Berk, who has repped scores of celebs, from Mel Gibson to Lindsay Lohan. The stars aligned in his favor, because prosecutor Dennis Conway is considered pretty fair and therefore didn't file child endangerment to get some PR. And Judge Craig Robison didn't do the whole "I'm so frickin' tough with celebrities" act.

Sambora will pay a $390 fine plus penalties -- total damage is around $1,600. He'll be placed on three years informal probation and must attend an alcohol education course. He cannot drink or do drugs during his probation.

Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Music


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1. 1ST COMMENT!!!

Posted at 5:06PM on Apr 22nd 2008 by ADAN

2. Just slip the judge and prosecutor some money under the table and all your troubles disappear!

Posted at 5:10PM on Apr 22nd 2008 by Dallas

3. Get me za names of zees lawyers ya!!!

Posted at 5:11PM on Apr 22nd 2008 by Von A-Hole

4. Money can get you out of anything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted at 5:11PM on Apr 22nd 2008 by Rob

5. Richie might want to take a que from Foxy Brown and HIT his knees! One lucky sob................

Posted at 5:11PM on Apr 22nd 2008 by Dallas

6. Luck Bastid!

If it were ME... I'd get jail time, a LARGER fine, lose my drivers license, (which would jeopardize my job), probation, and the alcohol education course.

Posted at 5:15PM on Apr 22nd 2008 by my2cent

7. I guess the authorities are waiting for him to kill someone before they make an effort to serve justice. OK everyone - it's perfectly all right to drive drunk with your kid in the car. Print this article and wave it at the cops.

Posted at 5:19PM on Apr 22nd 2008 by Lucy Phoenix

8. Lucy ~ That is exactly what they are saying and they say it on a daily basis in LA!

Posted at 5:25PM on Apr 22nd 2008 by Dallas

9. wow very lucky
hope he learns his lesson the first time
richie get the help you need use this conviction to clear all
dont do this ever again coz u will get jail time next time
xx

Posted at 5:27PM on Apr 22nd 2008 by jovi girl

10. TMZ will never get over its pissing war with the judge in the Hilton case, and it is abusing its public influence trying to discredit the judge for self-serving reasons. So petty.

That judge in the Hilton case called it like it is. That judge was the lone voice of sanity in this celebrity-controlled above-the-law world. To hear TMZ tell it, celebs are getting ripped by the criminal justice system. Yeah, right. Celebs get away with murder and everything else on down.

Clearly in the Sambora case a deal was made that he'd plead no contest to DUI in exchange for no child endangerment charges. Everybody wins something and loses something, and the controversy is resolved.

Posted at 5:29PM on Apr 22nd 2008 by Hilton judge was right on

11. Richie:

Your fans are happy for you! Having the $$$ and a great lawyer benefited you!
Congratulations! However, if you break probation during the next three yrears for booze or drugs
I hope they nail your butt! GET IT TOGETHER GOOFBALL, GROW UP!
YOU ARE LIVING ON A PRAYER!

Posted at 5:36PM on Apr 22nd 2008 by hank

12. IN ORDER TO WIN WE NEED TO SURRENDER.

Posted at 5:40PM on Apr 22nd 2008 by DC

13. He isn't getting off as easily as you think. He's on three years of probation which means he cannot drink AT ALL for the next 3 years, nor have any new criminal law violations whatsoever. If he does, the judge can impose any part of up to all of his 1 year suspended sentence.

That's what got Paris actual jail time - violating her probation (repeatedly).

Now think about it, who among you could go without a drink for 3 years being normal dweebs? Now imagine trying to do it with this guy's lifestyle. Wait and see if he can do it.

Posted at 5:52PM on Apr 22nd 2008 by Celia

14. He didn't kill his child or anyone else. He got lucky and he better get sober quick.

Posted at 6:02PM on Apr 22nd 2008 by Kelli

15. This is his wake up call. Probation officers do suprise visits to your house. Call ya up and say Come in right now!! & BLOW!! I know >> been there done that. But..... It made me sober11 now 12 years! no applause please!

Posted at 6:18PM on Apr 22nd 2008 by Nuke em & we Own Em

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