Husband of US House speaker pleads guilty to driving impaired

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - Paul Pelosi, the husband of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, pleaded guilty Tuesday to a misdemeanor count of driving under the influence of alcohol and causing injury, and was sentenced to five days in prison.

A second charge -- Driving With .08% Blood Alcohol Level or Higher Causing Injury in the interests of justice -- was dismissed by Judge Joseph Solga, the Napa Valley District Attorney said in a statement.

The charges stem from a car crash May 28 in Napa Valley, California in which Pelosi was involved.

Solga accepted Pelosi's plea agreement, which includes a three-year probation period, a $1,723 fine, agreement to submit to testing if requested by a police or probation officers and agreement to not operate a car unless it is equipped with a functioning blood alcohol ignition device

Pelosi will pay the other driver in the crash, Jesus Lopez, nearly $5,000 to recover medical bills and lost wages. The California Department of Motor Vehicles can further choose to suspend Pelosi's driver's license for one year.

Solga is giving Pelosi credit for time served for four of his five-day prison term with the final day to be covered by an eight-hour work program, according to multiple media reports.

Pelosi was not present in court and had his attorneys represent him during the hearing, which is allowed under state law.