Shannon Beador’s attorney claims overzealous OC prosecutors treated her “differently” in her DUI case because she’s a famous reality star.
The Real Housewives of Orange County star and her attorney are coming out swinging against Orange County prosecutors following her sentencing for her DUI and hit-and-run crash earlier this month.
The Orange County District Attorney demanded a 30-day jail sentence for Shannon Beador following her drunk driving incident in Newport Beach, California, in September.
Now, Shannon Beador’s defense attorney, Michael L. Fell, called the sentencing request “astounding” and “highly unusual.”
“Shannon Beador is being treated differently from any other individual facing the same charges. The undersigned is aware that the Court has been a judicial officer for over 35 years and feels confident that it has never rendered such a sentence down to any first-time DUI offender,” Fell alleged in a November 2 court briefing, per Radar Online.
“It is further surprising that on a general misdemeanor case that did not involve drugs and/or weapons that, the prosecutor would ask the court to offer informal probation with a term and condition of search and seizure,” Fell shared while slamming the drastic “search and seizure” clause in Shannon Beador’s probation agreement that would allow police to “conduct at-will warrantless inspections of her home and property.”
As AllAboutTRH previously reported, Shannon Beador was arrested for DUI and a hit-and-run on Saturday, September 16, in Newport Beach, California, after she drove her car into a residential property and “clipped the house.” Shannon then abandoned her vehicle and bolted from the crash scene with her dog, Archie.
However, Fell insists that Shannon only left the crash scene to run home and retrieve her cell phone in order to call for help. Fell notes that Shannon voluntarily returned to the scene to explain what had happened to law enforcement officers. Upon her arrest, Shannon had a blood alcohol content of .08 percent or more.
Fell also noted that prosecutors failed to report that Shannon Beador cut a check to the homeowners, who declined to prosecute, for the damage to their property.
“What was included in the Prosecutor’s Brief, for some reason, is that Ms. Beador is a public figure and is featured on a nationally televised show,” Fell wrote in the court document. “One wonders why this information was relevant to include in their brief, but demonstrates the fact that Ms. Beador is not being treated the same as every other individual face the same charges.”
On November 2, the 59-year-old was sentenced to 36 months of informal probation. She also agreed to pay various fines and fees, complete 40 hours of community service, and participate in a 9-month alcohol program.
RHOC will return for season 18 in 2024.
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