Ex-Miss USA Fakih Takes Plea Deal For DUI
HIGHLAND PARK (WWJ/AP) - Former Michigan beauty queen Rima Fakih has reached a plea deal in her drunken driving case.
Fakih pleaded no contest Wednesday to driving while visibly impaired. A trial had been planned before 30th District Court Judge Brigette Officer in Highland Park, an enclave of Detroit.
A no contest plea isn't an admission of guilt but is treated as such for sentencing.
"I'm very happy I can put this behind me," Fakih told reporters outside the courthouse. "...I feel like it was fair on both ends and now I am just going to move on and make sure that, you know, I learn from my lesson."
She faces a maximum of 93 days behind bars when sentenced May 9.
Two years ago, Fakih became the first Arab-American to be crowned Miss USA.
The 26-year-old was stopped Dec. 3. Police say they found an open bottle of champagne behind the driver's seat. Fakih was accused of driving 60 mph in a Jaguar and weaving through traffic without using a signal.
Fakih has said she wasn't drinking that night, but two police breathalyzer tests put her blood alcohol content at more than twice the legal limit.
Fakih's family moved to New York from Lebanon in 1993 and 10 years later to Dearborn.
She is scheduled for sentencing on May 19.
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