Kiefer Sutherland jailed for drink driving

Actor Kiefer Sutherland was sentenced to 48 days in a US jail after being arrested for drunken driving for the second time in three years.

The star of the television drama '24' arrived at a Los Angeles prison and was being processed last night, 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 lawyer earlier yesterday 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, said.

Sutherland was already on probation for a 2004 drunken driving arrest when he was stopped by police shortly after midnight as he left a Hollywood industry party at the trendy Area nightclub on September 25.

Authorities said he failed a field sobriety test after being pulled over for making an illegal U-turn.

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 programme.

Authorities said he fulfilled the community service and alcohol treatment obligations.

The 40-year-old 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.

Sutherland, who plays dashing federal counterterrorism agent Jack Bauer in 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 and 18 days for violating his probation in the previous case.

He must also serve 60 months probation, pay a $510 (€349) fine, enrol in an 18-month alcohol-education class and attend weekly alcohol-therapy sessions for six months, Jeffries said.

He could have been sentenced to as much as 18 months in jail if convicted.

Sutherland will serve his sentence at Glendale city jail, but under a county jail inmate programme because of overcrowding at county jail facilities, Jeffries said.

“If he does time in a county jail, he may be released early because of overcrowding,” Jeffries said. “The Glendale jail can accommodate people. At least he’ll serve the full sentence, and he can know what it is.”

The Glendale jail is a minimum security facility with 48 cells, each of them measuring 10 feet by 8 feet (3 metres by 2 1/2 metres).

They come equipped with two beds, a toilet, washbasin and water fountain, but Sutherland will not be sharing his cell with anyone.

“Anyone here for a long period of time will get their own cell,” Balian said.

The actor is classified as an “inmate worker” and will be required to perform duties in the laundry room and help prepare food for inmates in kitchen area.

“He’ll be working here for 48 days,” Balian said.

Sutherland will also have access to an outdoor area and be allowed two visitors per day.