Pop star Britney Spears has pleaded guilty to a reduced charge in her driving under the influence case, avoiding jail time, Ventura County prosecutors confirmed.
The 44-year-old entertainer, who recently completed a stay at a rehabilitation facility, did not appear in court. Her attorney, Michael A. Goldstein, entered the plea on her behalf to a “wet reckless” charge—a lesser offense that carries less severe penalties.
Under the plea agreement, Spears received one day in jail, which the judge considered served at the time of her booking. She was also sentenced to one year of probation, a mandatory DUI education program and state-mandated fines.
District Attorney Erik Nasarenko said the standard plea offer was appropriate given Spears’ lack of prior DUI history, no accident or injury resulting from the incident and her voluntary participation in substance abuse treatment. “We do not want Miss Spears to reoffend,” Nasarenko said after the hearing.
The plea requires Spears to continue receiving substance abuse treatment, attend weekly therapy sessions and meet monthly with a psychiatrist. She also agreed to temporary conditions regarding Fourth Amendment rights if pulled over, though the judge ruled these would not extend to her residence.
“I do not think anybody’s happy about pleading guilty to anything, but under the circumstances, to get this behind her, I think everybody is pleased with the result,” Goldstein said. “We appreciate the district attorney recognizing the positive steps that Britney is taking to help herself.”
Spears was arrested on March 4 after California Highway Patrol officers observed her driving erratically on U.S. 101. She failed field sobriety tests and was taken into custody. Authorities reported finding alcohol and drugs in her system, though specific details were not disclosed.
The singer rose to fame in the late 1990s and 2000s with hits including “Toxic,” “Gimme More” and “… Baby One More Time.” Her career was overshadowed by intense media scrutiny in the early 2000s as she dealt with mental health challenges while being pursued by paparazzi.
In 2008, Spears was placed under a court-ordered conservatorship that controlled her personal and financial affairs for more than a decade. It ended in 2021. She has since released a bestselling memoir, “The Woman in Me.”