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Kiefer Sutherland has been sentenced to 48 days in jail for racking up a second drunken driving arrest in three years and immediately reported to a lockup today.
The star of the television drama 24 arrived at the city jail and was being processed, said Glendale police Officer John Balian.
Sutherland, who pleaded no contest in October to driving with a blood-alcohol level above the legal limit of .08, had appeared in court with his attorney earlier today and politely answered the judge's questions, said Assistant City Attorney Dan Jeffries.
The actor's request to serve his time at the Glendale city jail was granted and he was ordered to complete the sentence by March 30, Jeffries said.
"Kiefer made the decision to surrender to custody immediately," his attorney, Blair Berk, told The Associated Press.
The actor was already on probation for a 2004 drunken driving arrest when he was stopped by police shortly after midnight on Sept. 25 as he left a Hollywood industry party at the trendy Area nightclub. Authorities said he failed a field sobriety test after being pulled over for making an illegal U-turn.
He pleaded no contest in October to DUI and driving with a blood-alcohol level of .08 while still on probation for a previous arrest.
Sutherland had also pleaded no contest to a misdemeanour DUI charge in 2004. He was sentenced in that case to five years probation, 50 hours of community service and ordered to attend an alcohol treatment program. Authorities said he fulfilled the community service and alcohol treatment obligations.
The 40-year-old star of 24 was also convicted of alcohol-related reckless driving in 1993, according to the city attorney's office.
"I'm very disappointed in myself for the poor judgment I exhibited recently, and I'm deeply sorry for the disappointment and distress this has caused my family, friends and co-workers," Sutherland said in a statement issued after he entered his plea in the latest case.
The actor, who plays dashing federal counterterrorism agent Jack Bauer on 24, won last year's best actor Emmy.
Under the terms of his plea, Sutherland agreed to serve 30 days for driving with a blood-alcohol level above the legal limit of .08 per cent, as well as 18 days for violating his probation in the previous case. He was originally scheduled to begin serving his sentence on Dec. 21.
- AP
