Credit: Michael Simon/startraksphoto
Shannon Beador was able to evade jail time in her DUI and hit-and-run case during a court hearing on Thursday — despite the district attorney trying to convince the judge she should serve at least 30 days behind bars.
As the Real Housewives of Orange County star, 59, prepared to head to Las Vegas for this weekend’s three-day BravoCon fan convention, she was dealt three years of informal probation, as well as a series of fines and fees, and an order that requires her to do 40 hours community service and attend a nine-month alcohol program.
In court documents obtained by TMZ on November 2, it was noted that the Orange County D.A., Todd Spitzer, attempted to convince the judge to hand Shannon a stricter punishment for her crimes, including 30 days in jail, but to no avail.
As he pointed out that Shannon had a BAC of 0.24% BAC — three times the legal limit — after she crashed into a house in Newport Beach with her dog, a golden retriever named Archie, in the car, Shannon was nowhere in sight. Instead, she opted to skip the hearing, instead being represented by her attorney, who previously released a statement on her behalf.
“I spent quite a bit of time with Shannon yesterday. She is extremely apologetic and remorseful. We will be awaiting the official information on this case as it becomes available, and Shannon is prepared to accept full responsibility for her actions,” the attorney told TMZ on September 18.
During the hearing, Shannon’s lawyer entered a plea of no contest to one count of DUI and another count of driving with a blood alcohol content of .08% or more. In turn, the judge dismissed a count of hit-and-run with property damage.
As RHOC fans may recall, Shannon’s accident left her with a broken wrist and cuts and bruising around her left eye. It also resulted in property damage to the home she hit, which she has since paid for.
Weeks after the shocking arrest, Shannon took to her Instagram page with a video and message for her fans and followers.
“I know it’s been a while since I posted and there’s been a lot of talk about everything that’s happened recently. But unfortunately, right now, I’m not in the position to comment,” Shannon shared on October 17. “There will be a time when I can [address the arrest] and intend to be open, honest, and authentic. Right now, I’m focusing on getting healthy, getting back to myself, and walking Archie.”
