VENTURA COUNTY, California — Pop singer Britney Spears pleaded guilty on Monday to reckless driving involving alcohol under a plea agreement in Ventura County, California, resolving a driving under the influence case and allowing her to avoid jail time, according to court officials and her attorney.
Authorities arrested Spears in March after she drove erratically on a freeway in Ventura County near Los Angeles. Prosecutors initially charged her with driving under the influence.
Under the plea agreement, Spears admitted to reckless driving involving alcohol, drugs, or both. A Ventura County court sentenced her to 12 months of probation.
Her attorney, Michael Goldstein, said Spears agreed to the deal to resolve the case and move forward. He said she would comply with the court’s conditions, including participation in a substance abuse program and meetings with mental health professionals.
The court also ordered Spears to maintain a valid prescription for any medication in her possession.
Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko said the reduced charge reflected standard practice in cases involving no prior DUI convictions, no reported injuries or collisions, and low blood alcohol levels. He said Spears’ cooperation and agreement to treatment were factors in the resolution.
Prosecutors did not disclose details about the substances involved, and her attorney declined to comment further.
Spears’ representatives said after her arrest that she voluntarily entered a rehabilitation facility. Her attorney said she remained in Los Angeles following the court proceedings.
Spears rose to global fame in the late 1990s with songs including “…Baby One More Time” and “Toxic.” She later faced public and legal challenges, including a conservatorship that controlled her personal and financial affairs until a Los Angeles court terminated it in 2021.
In her 2023 memoir The Woman in Me, Spears wrote about her past use of prescription medication but denied having a drug or alcohol addiction. schemes.
