Crime & Safety
Dennis Rodman Pleads Guilty To Newport Beach DUI
Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman pleaded guilty to driving drunk in Newport Beach in January.

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — Famed basketball star Dennis Rodamn entered a guilty plea to driving drunk in Newport Beach in January, and the Hall of Famer was placed on three years of probation Monday. Rodman, 56, who sometimes resides in the Newport Beach area, was also ordered to undergo a nine-month first-offender alcohol program.
A 90-day jail sentence was "stayed," meaning it will not be imposed if he clears the three years of informal probation without violating the terms of the probation.
"The court made the right call," said Rodman's attorney, Paul S. Meyer. "In issuing the sentence, the court recognized Dennis' intensive inpatient rehabilitation and his commitment to treatment. Dennis has accepted responsibility for his sobriety and has made great progress."
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Rodman, who pleaded guilty to a pair of misdemeanor DUI counts, has already served 30 days in "intensive treatment" in a residential drug-and- alcohol rehabilitation program, Meyer said.
Rodman was arrested Jan. 13, just days after he provided proof of his completion of community service to resolve a hit-and-run accident he caused in July of 2016. His blood-alcohol level was .21, nearly three times the legal limit of .08, according to prosecutors.
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Police was arrested for DUI after initially being stopped at 11:11 p.m. in the 4500 block of West Coast Highway for a vehicle violation, said Lt. Rachel Johnson of the Newport Beach Police Department. She said the five-time NBA champion was cooperative with the officers.
In his prior case, Rodman completed 30 hours of community service, which was part of a plea deal he struck with Orange County prosecutors in February of last year.
Rodman was trying to enter the Santa Ana (5) Freeway in Santa Ana when his Land Rover collided with another car on an exit ramp near Main Street about 12:30 a.m. July 20, 2016.
Rodman admitted making a false statement to police about his whereabouts at the time of the wrong-way collision. Rodman's community service included visits to nursing homes and interacting with a National Junior Basketball chapter in Huntington Beach.
Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images Sport/ Getty Images
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