Newport Beach

Dennis Rodman Pleads Guilty to Driving Drunk in Newport Beach

He was placed on three years of probation after pleading guilty to two misdemeanor counts of drunken driving.

Basketball Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman pleaded guilty Monday to driving drunk in Newport Beach and was placed on three years of probation.

Prosecutors alleged his blood-alcohol level was .21, nearly three times the legal limit of .08. Rodman pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts of drunken driving.

Rodman, 56, who sometimes resides in the Newport Beach area, was also ordered to undergo a nine-month first-offender alcohol program.

"The court made the right call," said Rodman's attorney, Paul S. Meyer. "In issuing the sentence, the court recognized Dennis' intensive inpatient rehabilitation and his commitment to treatment. Dennis has accepted responsibility for his sobriety and has made great progress."

Rodman was arrested Jan. 13, just days after he provided proof of his completion of community service to resolve a hit-and-run accident he caused in July of 2016.

He was arrested for DUI after initially being stopped at 11:11 p.m. in the 4500 block of West Coast Highway for a vehicle violation, said Lt. Rachel Johnson of the Newport Beach Police Department. She said the five-time NBA champion was cooperative with the officers.

After Rodman's arrest, Meyer said that his client had enrolled in a residential program and had committed to "long-term outpatient treatment."

In his prior case, Rodman completed 30 hours of community service, which was part of a plea deal he struck with Orange County prosecutors in February of last year.

Rodman was trying to enter the Santa Ana (5) Freeway in Santa Ana when his Land Rover collided with another car on an exit ramp near Main Street about 12:30 a.m. on July 20, 2016.

Rodman admitted making a false statement to police about his whereabouts at the time of the wrong-way collision. Rodman's community service included visits to nursing homes and interacting with a National Junior Basketball chapter in Huntington Beach.

Copyright CNS - City News Service
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