Tiger Woods pleads guilty to reckless driving

Famed golfer Tiger Woods appeared before a judge Friday to formalize a plea deal involving his May DUI charge in Palm Beach County.

Appearing before Palm Beach County Court Judge Sandra Bosso-Pardo, Woods stood next to his attorney, Douglas Duncan, as he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of reckless driving as part of a diversion program he’s entering to resolve his case.

The DUI plea deal for Woods includes one year of probation, DUI school, a 10-day immobilization of his car and 50 hours of community service at 10 hours per week.

Woods answered the judge's questions with brief yes and no replies. He agreed he was entering the plea of his own free will.

The hearing was at the North County Government Center in front of Palm Beach County Court Judge Sandra Bosso-Pardo. The facility is about a 13-mile drive from Woods’ listed address on Jupiter Island in Martin County.

Woods, 41, was arrested after police found him inside his running car with a blinker on.

Woods' arraignment originally was scheduled for Aug. 9 but was moved to Wednesday, and then delayed again to today.

Court papers showed Woods must be present at today’s hearing.

After an August hearing Woods didn’t attend, Mike Edmondson, with the 15th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office, said Woods would be entered into a first-time DUI offender program. The 15th Circuit serves Palm Beach County.

On May 29, Woods was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail at 7:18 a.m. following his arrest and he was later released on his own recognizance, records showed.

His arrest occurred around 3 a.m. during a traffic stop off Military Trail, just south of Indian Creek Parkway.

Woods had no alcohol in his system, according to tests conducted after his arrest. He told authorities he’d taken Xanax and other prescribed medications.

In April, Woods underwent fusion surgery on his back. He announced July 3 he’d completed an in-patient treatment program to help manage his medications and a sleep disorder.

In addition to being cited for DUI, according to court documents, Woods was cited for improper parking and reckless driving. His black four-door 2015 Mercedes had stopped on the roadway in the right-hand lane and right shoulder, a traffic citation noted.

Palm Beach County’s first-time DUI offender program, which began in 2013, requires defendants to plead guilty at arraignment to reckless driving, and then the DUI charge is dropped.

People participating in the first-time DUI offender program will have adjudication withheld after successfully completing requirements, including a year of probation, DUI school and victim impact panels. Other terms include a ban on alcohol and drug possession and consumption.

Source: AFP