Barkley's DUI sentence reduced to 3 days in jail

Scottsdale, AZ

Former NBA great Charles Barkley will serve only three days in jail for DUI after a judge reduced his original 10-day sentence.

Scottsdale city spokesman Mike Phillips said on Friday that a judge reviewed the case and decided that seven days should be suspended if the TNT basketball analyst completes an alcohol treatment program.

The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office says Barkley is scheduled to report to jail on Saturday morning.

The 45-year-old Barkley pleaded guilty last month to two misdemeanor DUI charges.

He was stopped by police Dec. 31 shortly after leaving a Scottsdale nightclub and was arrested after failing a field sobriety test.

Barkley's attorney could not immediately be reached for comment Friday.

 Subscribe to Celebrity DWI News

Barkley pleads guilty to DUI charges, faces jail time

Scottsdale, AZ

Former Phoenix Suns player Charles Barkley was sentenced Monday to 10 days in jail after pleading guilty to a DUI charge, stemming from his arrest on New Year's Eve.

Barkley was sentenced in a Scottsdale court to 10 days in jail, five of which will be suspended if Barkley completes a court-approved alcohol program.

Barkley was also sentenced to pay more than $2,000 in fines.

Barkley was stopped by a Gilbert police officer on Dec. 31 in Old Town Scottsdale with a blood-alcohol content of 0.149, which is nearly twice the legal limit of 0.08 under Arizona State law.

 Subscribe to Celebrity DWI News

Charles Barkley calls his drunken-driving 'unacceptable'

New York, NY

Charles Barkley called his drunken-driving arrest "unacceptable" as he prepared to return to his television gig after a six-week leave of absence.

Barkley had a blood-alcohol level of .149 percent, nearly twice the legal limit of .08 percent in Arizona, after the 45-year-old former NBA star was arrested Dec. 31 in Scottsdale.

He will resume his studio analyst role for TNT on Thursday.

"This is just my bad, no excuses," Barkley said in an interview with TNT colleague Ernie Johnson posted on NBA.com Wednesday.

"I think that a DUI is unacceptable," he added. "That can't happen and I've got to challenge other people, not just celebrities or jocks. You have to really think before getting behind the wheel after you've been drinking."

Barkley conceded he may face jail time. He indicated that the case will be resolved by plea agreement and expected to undergo alcohol counseling.

"I think it's going to be good for me, to be honest. I need to make sure drinking is not a problem for me," he said. "I just want some professionals to talk to me about it."

If they tell him to stop drinking, "then I'll have to stop drinking," he said.

Asked if he could do that, he replied, "I feel I can do anything that I put my mind to."

Barkley apologized to his family, employer and the league, saying he had embarrassed them. He thanked a long list of friends — including Hall of Famers Larry Bird and Moses Malone — for checking in on him.

He vowed he would start using a driver when he goes out in public and would not get behind the wheel after any drinking.

"I let so many people down," he said. "It just (stinks) watching the shows and not being there. I screwed this up."

 Subscribe to Celebrity DWI News

Charles Barkley makes "oral" statments to police after DWI arrest

Scottsdale, AZ

The question I posed in my previous post clearly is answered in this post: I am interest to know to what profession the cop was referring when he said, "[Barkley] was very nice and professional." Does the cop mean Barkley acting like a professional basketball player or a professional drunk driver?

Following his arrest earlier today for drunk driving, Charles Barkley told Arizona cops that he ran a stop sign because he was in a hurry to pick up a girl who had "given him a 'blow job' one week earlier," which the former NBA star described as "the best one he had ever had in his life." According to a Gilbert Police Department report, a copy of which you'll find here, police asked Barkley where he was going at the time of the 1:26 AM traffic stop in Scottsdale. "You want the truth? I was gonna drive around the corner and get a blow job," answered Barkley, who is pictured in the below mug shot. A cooperative Barkley also joked with a civilian police employee that, "I'll tattoo your name on my ass" if it would get him out of the DUI charge. Barkley, 45, was busted after failing field sobriety tests, and had blood drawn so investigators could establish his alcohol content. Barkley was cited for a misdemeanor charge and released at the scene, thus avoiding a trip to the Maricopa County jail. Barkley, now a basketball commentator on TNT, was elected to the NBA Hall of Fame in 2006. His 16-year career included an MVP award and a spot on the 1992 U.S. Olympic basketball squad, the so-called Dream Team that captured the gold medal.

 Subscribe to Celebrity DWI News

Charles Barkley arrested for DWI on New Year's Eve

Scottsdale, AZ

Sir Charles isn't looking too good in the mugshot. I am interest to know to what profession the cop was referring when he said, "[Barkley] was very nice and professional." Does the cop mean Barkley acting like a professional basketball player or a professional drunk driver?

Charles Barkley was arrested early Wednesday in Arizona on charges of driving while impaired.

Police say they noticed Barkley, 45, running a stop sign in the Old Town section of Scottsdale at about 1:30 a.m. Officers pulled Barkley over, took him to a nearby mobile command post, and administered a blood test after declining to submit to a breath test, according to Gilbert, Ariz., police Lt. Eric Shuhandler.

Barkley was issued a citation for driving while impaired and released pending the results, which normally takes about a week, Shuhandler said.

"He was very nice and professional," Shuhandler said, adding the entire arrest process took place without incident, and Barkley was civil and cooperative throughout.

For a first offense, someone found guilty of the charge Barkley faces might expect between one to 10 days in jail, the suspension of driving privileges for 90 days, and a fine of $1,000 or more, Shuhandler said.

Barkley, who gained notoriety for a quick temper and blunt language during his years as an NBA player, represented the United States in the 1992 and 1996 Olympics. In October, he announced that he would be a candidate for governor of his home state of Alabama in 2014.

 Subscribe to Celebrity DWI News