Britney Spears, the American singer, avoided prison by pleading guilty to reckless driving after her arrest for driving under the influence two months ago, her lawyer announced on Monday.
The 44-year-old artist, absent from the hearing, was given a suspended sentence of 12 months with probation as part of an agreement reducing the charges against her.
She is also required to continue her detox program, regularly consult a mental health professional, pay a fine, and complete a 30-hour training imposed on intoxicated drivers.
Following her arrest for driving intoxicated on the night of March 4 near her California home, the singer spent a few hours in a cell before being released in the early morning.
She then voluntarily started a detox program.
“Britney has taken significant steps to make a positive change, which is clearly reflected in the district attorney of Ventura’s decision,” said Michael Goldstein after the trial.
“Britney appreciates this leniency and is grateful for the massive support she has received,” he added.
In the complaint filed last week to charge the interpreter of hits like “Baby One More Time” and “Toxic,” the prosecutor did not specify her blood alcohol level or the type of drug in her system.
However, the prosecutor’s office announced its intention to offer a guilty plea agreement, a standard procedure in non-accident cases involving low blood alcohol levels.
“Our goal is not only to hold individuals accountable but also to promote long-term behavioral change through treatment and rehabilitation,” said Ventura County Prosecutor Erik Nasarenko on Monday.
“The court has put these conditions in place,” he emphasized in a statement. “It is now up to Mrs. Spears to adhere to them.”
This case has reignited concerns among fans about Britney Spears, who dominated the music scene in the 2000s.
The singer has had a tumultuous life, which she revisited in her autobiography, “La Femme en moi,” published in October 2023.
“I loved to drink, but I never lost control,” she wrote, also admitting to taking Adderall, a medication prescribed for attention disorders and belongs to the amphetamine family.
She reflects on her poor childhood spent in the shadow of an alcoholic father, her romantic troubles with Justin Timberlake, and the harassment by paparazzi.
After a turbulent 2007, the singer was placed under the conservatorship of her father Jamie Spears, who controlled her money and private life, while she was performing in concerts in Las Vegas.
Brought together by her fans under the slogan “Free Britney,” the pop star eventually rebelled, leading to the dissolution of her conservatorship in 2021.
