Karen Huger, an original cast member of “The Real Housewives of Potomac,” was sentenced to two years in prison on Wednesday for driving under the influence of alcohol and other driving violations, capping a twisting tale that put her sobriety and recovery at the center of the reality television show.
One year of the sentence was suspended, meaning Ms. Huger will most likely serve one year in prison. She was also fined $2,900.
Under the terms of her sentencing, Ms. Huger will not be allowed to drive for a year after her release and will receive five years of supervised probation with interlock — a miniature breathalyzer device that prevents the engine from starting unless the person behind the wheel is sober enough to drive.
Ms. Huger was found guilty by a jury in December of driving under the influence of alcohol, driving while impaired by alcohol, negligent driving, failure to control speed to avoid a collision, and failure to notify the authorities of an address change. She was acquitted of reckless driving.
She was arrested in March 2024 in Potomac, Md., an affluent community more than 10 miles northwest of Washington, after driving onto the center median, striking a pedestrian sign and then crashing into a grassy area on the side of the road.
Body camera footage of the arrest showed Ms. Huger refusing to produce her driver’s license and repeatedly asking a police officer, “Do you know who I am?” Ms. Huger, whose speech was slurred, also said she had consumed a couple of beers and was run off the road by another driver.
The reality star’s arrest and subsequent court appearances became a central story line in the most recent season of “The Real Housewives of Potomac.” Cameras followed Ms. Huger as she met with lawyers and made her first court appearance, but she did not discuss the details of the case on camera.
Alcohol is regularly consumed at social events and small gatherings on the show, but Ms. Huger, who is known informally as the Grande Dame of Potomac, was not filmed drinking this season. However, she entered a treatment facility in January for “taking antidepressants and drinking,” according to a short video message that was played for her castmates.
Ms. Huger had three previous alcohol-related offenses. Most recently, she was convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol in Maryland in 2011.
Ryan Tresdale, Ms. Huger’s manager, said in a statement in January that his client had made the “important decision to enter a private recovery program,” causing her to miss the Season 9 reunion.
“She was fully supported in this choice,” he said. “We stand behind Karen as she embarks on this meaningful journey and are proud of her for taking such a significant step forward in her personal growth.”
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