(Ventura) American singer Britney Spears avoided jail by pleading guilty to reckless driving, following her arrest for driving under the influence two months ago, her lawyer announced on Monday.
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The 44-year-old artist, absent from the hearing, was sentenced to “12 months of probation,” explained Michael Goldstein, as part of an agreement reducing the charges against her.
She will also continue her detox program, regularly consult a mental health professional, pay a fine, and attend a 30-hour course mandated for drunk drivers.
The singer was arrested for driving while intoxicated on the evening of March 4, near her California home. After a few hours in a cell, she was released in the early morning.
She then voluntarily began a detox program.
“She has taken significant steps to make a positive change, which is clearly reflected in the decision of the Ventura County prosecutor,” emphasized Mr. Goldstein on Monday after leaving the court.
“Britney appreciates this leniency and is also grateful for the massive support she has received,” he added.
In their recent complaint against the interpreter of “Baby One More Time” and “Toxic,” the prosecution did not specify her blood alcohol level or the type of drug she had in her system.
However, the prosecutor’s office announced its intention to offer a guilty plea agreement, a standard procedure in non-accident cases involving low alcohol levels.
“Our goal is not only holding individuals accountable but also promoting long-term behavior change through treatment and rehabilitation,” explained County Prosecutor Erik Nasarenko on Monday.
“The court has imposed these conditions,” he emphasized in a statement. “Now it is up to Ms. Spears to comply with them.”
This case has reignited concerns among Britney Spears’ fans, who dominated the music scene in the 2000s.
The singer has had a tumultuous life, which she delved into in her autobiography, “The Woman in Me,” published in October 2023.
“I liked to drink, but I never lost control,” she wrote, also admitting to taking Adderall, a medication prescribed for attention disorders belonging to the amphetamine family.
She reflects on her poor childhood spent in the shadow of an alcoholic father, her romantic escapades with Justin Timberlake, and the paparazzi harassment.
After a tumultuous 2007, the singer was placed under the conservatorship of her father, Jamie Spears, who controlled her money and private life, while she continued to perform concerts in Las Vegas.
Pushed by her fans under the slogan “Free Britney,” the pop star eventually rebelled, leading to the dissolution of the conservatorship in 2021.
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