Real Housewife Karen Huger is Finally Sentenced for Her DUI Case
The Real Housewives of Potomac star Karen Huger has been sentenced to two years with one year suspended by the Montgomery County Circuit Court. Let’s break down the charges and what her punishment means.
The RHOP Star’s Off-Screen Legal Drama
Huger, also known on the Bravo reality TV series as “The Grand Dame,” was arrested last year after she crashed her Maserati, reportedly after crossing a median and hitting road signs and a tree. Police body camera footage shows 61-year-old Huger slurring and repeatedly asking officers, “Do you know who I am?” and stating, “I’m lit.”
According to Bravo, Huger was initially charged with violating the following Maryland laws:
- Driving under the influence (DUI)
- Driving while impaired (DWI)
- Negligent driving
- Reckless driving
- Driving with a suspended registration
- Failure to report a change of address
Karen Huger’s DUI was a major topic among castmates during the most recent season of The Real Housewives of Potomac, despite Huger’s efforts to remain quiet about her ongoing legal issues on the show.
Huger’s Guilty Verdict and DUI Sentencing
Huger’s case went to trial last year, and she was found guilty of all charges other than reckless driving. Shortly after, Huger fired her attorneys, hired a new legal team, and got the judge to push her original January 29 sentencing to February 26. She also entered a private recovery program in Florida. The rehab stint caused her to miss the RHOP reunion taping. Huger’s new attorneys, David Martella and Barry Helfand, requested rehabilitative sentencing in anticipation of her sentencing in an effort to help Huger avoid jail time.
Negligent Driving
Huger was also convicted of negligent driving. Proving this means showing the defendant:
- Drove carelessly or irresponsibly
- Endangered property or someone’s life
Driving while intoxicated can also be proof of negligent driving. The punishment for this offense is a maximum fine of $1,000.
Suspended Registration
Driving with a suspended registration is considered an infraction. This means it’s a noncriminal offense with no jail time. Possible consequences include paying a fine, having your vehicle impounded, losing points on your driver’s license, or having your registration put indefinitely on hold.
Driving Under the Influence
To prove a defendant guilty of driving under the influence, prosecutors must show the defendant:
- Was driving the vehicle
- Had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08% or higher
A DUI violation in Maryland is considered a per se offense meaning "by itself" or "in itself." If a driver's BAC is at or above 0.08%, then they are automatically breaking the law and no other evidence is needed to show the driver was impaired or driving unsafely. However, Huger refused to take a breathalyzer test, so police were unable to determine her exact BAC. This means prosecutors had to establish her BAC level was above the legal limit by presenting other evidence like:
- Police testimony about field sobriety tests
- Witness statements from people who saw the driver
- Videos or other recordings
- Information about the driver's appearance
During Huger’s two-day trial, the police officers who responded to the scene of her accident testified about the crash and her alleged intoxication. Other witnesses included an emergency first responder who said she kept swaying and refusing treatment, and an individual who witnessed the car crash and said her vehicle smelled like alcohol. Other evidence included the bodycam footage and information about the reality star’s past DUIs. Huger was previously found guilty of one DWI and one DUI.
In Maryland, the penalty for a first DUI offense is imprisonment for up to one year and a fine of up to $1,200. For a second DUI, imprisonment may be a maximum of two years, and the fine could be as much as $2,400. Refusing to take a breathalyzer is also punishable with a license suspension.
Huger was sentenced to two years with one year suspended, so she will only be incarcerated for 12 months. Once she completes her time behind bars, she will likely be on probation for up to five years. Now that her sentencing is over, we have to wonder if and when Huger will rejoin the Real Housewives and reclaim her spot as an original cast member with Gizelle Bryant and Ashley Darby.
Related Resources
- Real Housewives Star Leah McSweeney Alleges Bravo Pushed Her Into Relapse (FindLaw’s Legally Weird)
- Does Jen Shah Need a Power of Attorney in Jail? (FindLaw’s Legally Weird)
- DUI Charges (FindLaw’s Learn About the Law)
