Sambora pleads guilty in DUI

Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of DUI Tuesday and will serve three years of informal probation during which he may have no drugs or alcohol, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s office.

Sambora, 48, a Laguna Beach resident, had faced two misdemeanor counts for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol and driving with a blood alcohol level of .08% or more on March 28 in Laguna Beach.

Sambora will also take three months of first offender alcohol awareness classes and pay standard court restitution fees, district attorney spokeswoman Susan Kang Schroeder stated in a press release.

Sambora was not present in court for the hearing and was represented by his attorney.

Sambora was accused of veering over the white painted lines and straddling two lanes in his Hummer H2 while driving southbound on South Coast Highway. He had a blood alcohol level of .13%, the district attorney alleged.

Two minors and an adult female were in the vehicle with the defendant. The minors were released to the custody of the adult passenger.

Laguna Beach police had sought child endangerment charges after the arrest, but the district attorney declined to pursue those charges because of a lack of evidence.