‘Lost’ star chooses jail over service
HONOLULU (AP) – Lost actress Michelle Rodriguez pleaded guilty Tuesday to a single count of driving under the influence, choosing to pay a $500 fine and spend five days in jail, rather than do 240 hours of community service.
Rodriguez, who portrays police officer Ana Lucia, and cast member Cynthia Watros were both charged with drunken driving after they were pulled over Dec. 1 in separate cars within 15 minutes of each other. On Tuesday, a judge gave Rodriguez the option of jail time or community service. She surrendered to authorities at Kaneohe District Court later in the day.
Choosing jail over community service was a “personal choice,” said her lawyer, Steve Barta.
“I would suspect that because she has a hard time even going out for a meal without being intruded upon for an autograph or photograph, it’s really difficult for her to do community service,” he said.
Watros, who plays Libby on the ABC castaway drama, pleaded guilty to drunken driving in January and was fined $312, ordered to have an alcohol assessment and 14 hours of counselling. She also had her licence suspended for 90 days.
Both Rodriguez and Watros were spotted weaving on a road in Kailua, on the island Oahu, where Lost is filmed. Both failed field sobriety tests.
Rodriguez recorded a blood-alcohol level of 0.17, more than twice the legal limit of .08. Watros had a blood-alcohol level of 0.10.
Soon after, Rodriguez spent two weeks in a rehab clinic, her lawyer said.
“She did recognize there was an issue to be dealt with. She on her own took care of it,” he said.
In 2004, Rodriguez pleaded no-contest in Los Angeles to three traffic violations, including drunken driving. She completed a three-month alcohol program and is serving a three-year probation term.
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