Mischa Barton has accepted a plea deal in her December 2007 DUI case, Access Hollywood has learned.
As previously reported on AccessHollywood.com, the actress was arrested on suspicion of DUI last year and charged with four criminal counts, including driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, one misdemeanor count of driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.08% or higher, one count of being an unlicensed driver and one count of possession of marijuana (28.5 grams or less).
In Thursday’s deal, signed off on by a judge in Los Angeles Superior Court, Barton will be on probation for 36 months. In addition, she will have to attend three months of alcohol education classes and pay a fine.
The marijuana charge against the former “OC” actress was dropped and her driving without a license charge was reduced to an infraction.
Barton was not present at the hearing.
Outside of court, the actress’ lawyer, Anthony V. Salerno, said that while she does not currently posses a driver’s license, she will be getting one, but will not drive until she receives one.
Salerno also released a statement following the hearing to Access.
“Today I appeared in the Beverly Hills Court on behalf of my client, Mischa Barton. I entered a ‘no contest’ plea to driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 or above, and an infraction of driving without a California driver’s license,” the statement read.
“Ms. Barton will be on informal (unsupervised) probation for 36 months, will attend a standard DUI educational class, and pay a fine.
“Ms. Barton understands the seriousness of this situation and assumes full responsibility for her actions. She and I are grateful to the Court and the District Attorney’s Office for the prompt and respectful resolution of the case,” the statement concluded.”
The court case this week appears to not have affected Mischa’s spirits. The actress was spotted in a brown fedora type hat, hanging with a friend at LA’s Rainbow Room on Sunset Boulevard Monday night. She also spent the early part of the week, shopping. On Wednesday, she was photographed strolling the beach in Malibu.
Barton was arrested on December 26, 2007.
According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, deputies pulled over a vehicle, driven by Barton, after they saw her car “straddling two lanes of traffic.” Barton also reportedly did not signal when making a turn.
Barton was detained and authorities said during that period they determined she was an unlicensed driver. The LA Sheriff’s Department also said during their detention of the star, Barton appeared to have driven while under the influence of alcohol.
She was arrested and booked at the West Hollywood Sheriff’s station without incident.
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