Kiefer Sutherland may double his favorite number, 24, as DA asks for 48 days
By Loren Lankford
HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 10/9/07 – After being pulled over in Los Angeles last month for driving under the influence, a Los Angeles judge has recommended that Kiefer Sutherland be sentenced to 30 days of jail time for his fourth alcohol-related conviction.
The Los Angeles city attorney’s office added an additional recommendation of 18 days for violating his 2004 probation for the same offense.
“I’m very disappointed in myself for the poor judgment I exhibited recently,” Sutherland said in a statement, “and I’m deeply sorry for the disappointment and distress this has caused my family, friends and co-workers on `24′ and at 20th Century Fox.”
The Emmy-winning actor is scheduled to be sentenced December 21st, meaning that Sutherland could be in jail for both Christmas and New Years. The remaining 30 days have to be served by July 1, 2008.
If sentenced, Sutherland will most likely serve his 48 days in jail starting in December, when his hit TV show “24” takes a break from filming.
Sutherland’s attorney, Blair Berk, entered the plea agreement for the actor, who was not present in court. In addition to the 48 days in jail, Sutherland will attend alcohol-therapy sessions for six months and an 18 month alcohol-education class. He will also be on probation for five years and must pay fines while also facing a driving suspension.
As part of his plea agreement, production on “24” will not be interrupted by his time in jail. Additionally, Sutherland will serve all of his jail time and will not be given the chance to leave early (like Nicole Richie and Paris Hilton). He will also not have the option to do electronic monitoring instead.
The LA Times is reporting that Sutherland could land in jail for up to a year if the newly appointed judge (who took over Tuesday), Stuart M. Rice, doesn’t accept the plea.