Olympic swimming sensation Michael Phelps, who won
six gold medals at the Athens Games in August, was sentenced to 18 months
probation after pleading
guilty to driving while impaired.
The 19-year-old American had probation before judgment granted by judge
Lloyd O. Whitehead, which means his record can be expunged if he meets the
terms of his probation.
Charges of driving under the influence, underage drinking and failure
to stop at a stop sign were dropped.
According to his sentencing, Phelps was fined 250 dollars in addition
to having to pay 55 dollars in court costs.
He must report to a probation officer once a month, attend a meeting
sponsored by Mothers Against Drunk Driving and give three speeches to
school students about the dangers of alcohol by June 1.
He also was ordered to abstain
from alcohol and illegal drugs during his probation
period.
Phelps, two years younger than Maryland's legal age for drinking
alcohol, was stopped by police on November 4 after he ran a stop sign. He
was arrested after a series of field sobriety tests.
Phelps fell one gold medal short of matching Mark Spitz's Olymic record
of seven in Athens, but came away from the Games with eight medals in
total, including two bronze.
He missed out
on a one million-dollar bonus that would have come from matching Spitz,
but that Speedo sponsor deal included another chance at the jackpot at the 2008 Beijing
Olympics.
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-12-30 15:06
