Britney Spears was seen being chauffeured through Los Angeles on Saturday, just days after being charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. The 44-year-old pop star kept a low profile, shielding her eyes with oversized sunglasses as she sat in the front passenger seat of a black SUV. Her expression appeared solemn or stoic, mirroring that of her driver, following reports that she has voluntarily entered substance abuse treatment.
She had previously left the treatment facility on Wednesday evening after a three-week stay. This sighting comes only two days after she was charged with a misdemeanor DUI, nearly two months after her arrest on March 4 for allegedly driving erratically on a highway in Ventura, California.
On Thursday, April 30, the Ventura County District Attorney's Office announced it had filed one misdemeanor count of driving under the influence of alcohol and at least one drug. In a statement shared with the Daily Mail, the office confirmed that Spears is scheduled to be arraigned in Ventura County Superior Court on Monday, May 4. An arraignment is the first formal court appearance in a criminal case, during which the defendant is informed of the charges and their rights and enters a plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest.
Earlier this week, Spears took a short break from rehab to prepare for the upcoming arraignment. A source told the Daily Mail on Wednesday, "Britney is doing very well, she feels great and is optimistic about her future. She will continue to work on herself with counseling to be the best person she can be and really thrive in life." The source added that she is spending most of her time with her sons, Jayden James, 19, and Sean Preston, 20, whose father is her ex-husband Kevin Federline.
Spears checked into a Southern California clinic in early April, shortly after the Daily Mail reported that she was sober and attending AA meetings near her home in Thousand Oaks. An insider then revealed, "Britney has been very open and honest in her AA meetings. She has said she loves pouring her heart out as she knows that is the best way to heal and feel better." The insider also noted that she has been "super careful" and only indulges in fancy coffee drinks because she wants to be there for her kids.
Her sons previously lived in Hawaii, and she is reportedly very happy to have them close again. "It is healing her heart, she loves her sons," the source added. A spokesman for Spears told the Daily Mail in early March that she was keen to seek help and get her life back on track, calling the incident "unfortunate" and "completely inexcusable." The statement expressed hope that this could be a first step toward a long-overdue change in her life.
The District Attorney's Office confirmed that Spears will face the same protocols as anyone else. For defendants without a prior DUI history, a low blood alcohol level, and no crash or injury, prosecutors typically offer a plea to "wet reckless," which is reckless driving involving alcohol or drugs. Under that offer, a defendant is placed on probation for 12 months, receives credit for time served, must complete a DUI class, and pay state-mandated fines and fees. This offer will be extended to Spears on Monday.
