BALTIMORE – Michael Phelps, who was arrested in Baltimore on a DUI charge on Sept. 30, plead guilty to DUI charges today in Baltimore court.
As expected, Phelps drew a one-year-suspended sentence along with 18 months of supervised probation after his plea.
Phelps’ supervised probation was modified to allow him to travel outside of the state and country as needed. Additionally, Phelps has joined Alcoholic’s Anonymous.
Phelps’ longtime friend, former Baltimore Raven Ray Lewis, was in attendance to support Phelps throughout the quick court visit.
Phelps, who was originally scheduled to make the appearance a month ago, faced charges of DUI, speeding and crossing double yellow lines after being stopped by Baltimore police in the Fort McHenry Tunnel after an eight-hour run at the casino.
Phelps was initially stopped for crossing the double yellow lines and for driving 39 miles per hour over the posted 45-mph speed limit. Phelps then failed field sobriety tests, and had a blood-alcohol level of .14, well over the state’s legal limit of .08.
Following this news breaking in October, Phelps announced that he would enter rehab, while USA Swimming elected to suspend him for six months. Additionally, USA Swimming and Phelps mutually agreed that Phelps should withdraw from the 2015 World Championship team.
This isn’t the first time Phelps has had trouble with substance abuse. In 2004, Phelps was arrested for DUI as a 19-year-old. Then, in 2009, a photo of him smoking from a marijuana pipe emerged. The marijuana picture led to a three-month suspension from USA Swimming.
Phelps has already completed his stint in rehab, and is back in the water training with his longtime coach Bob Bowman preparing for the end of his USA Swimming suspension. He’s looking at meets in France and the Mesa Grand Prix as some of his next likely swims.
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Ah…. must be nice, to be a part of the privileged.
I suppose Ray Lewis is the kind of “friend” you need when you are facing criminal charges
Of course he would get suspended sentence.. He is Michael Phelps, a celebrity… Even with his past infractions.. If it was some ordinary black guy, however.. Well…..
His sentence is the same as any others in similar circumstances here in Maryland- the court considers such things as ten years between charges, completion of in-patient treatment, strong family support and a job. It has nothing to do with race, nor does it have to do with his fame.