Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps pleads guilty to drink driving
The world's most decorated Olympian, swimmer Michael Phelps entered a guilty plea to drink driving charges on Friday in a Baltimore court
Olympic gold medal swimmer Michael Phelps pleaded guilty to drink driving on Friday, almost three months after he was arrested after leaving a Baltimore casino.
Phelps, 29, was arrested on September 30. His white Land Rover was doing 84 miles per hour in a 45 mph zone in Baltimore’s Fort McHenry Tunnel. Documents show he was stopped for speeding and crossing the double yellow line while driving in the tunnel. Police say Phelps registered a .14 per cent on a blood-alcohol test. The legal limit is .08 per cent in Maryland.
He was sentenced to a year in prison, but the prison sentence is suspended. He must remain on probation for 18 months.
Phelps arrived at the courthouse in a green Mercedes with his attorney and sat with his mother and sisters in the courtroom, wearing a suit and tie. His attorney said Phelps began a treatment program immediately after his arrest, including 45 days of inpatient treatment. A letter from his doctor there was glowing, saying he was forthright and cooperative.
Phelps also is attending Alcoholics Anonymous and is continuing with therapy in Maryland.
“I now have the tools to move past this. What I did was wrong, and I made a bad mistake. I’m looking forward to having a much brighter future than I had in the past,” Phelps told the judge.