Nicole Richie could be on her way to jail if she's found guilty of driving under the influence following her arrest on Monday because she already has a previous DUI conviction. California law states that a repeat offence carries the mandatory sentence of five consecutive days in county jail.
The socialite admitted to highway patrol officers she had taken Vicodin and smoked pot before driving the wrong way on a freeway, and that confession could put her behind bars.
Tmz.com has uncovered 4-year-old court documents which reveal reality star pleaded no contest to driving under the influence in 2002. Richie was given three years probation for her 2002 DUI conviction and had her license suspended for one year. Six months later, Richie was arrested for possession of heroin and for driving with a suspended license.
If convicted this time, 'The Simple Life' star would again have her driver's license suspended for one year and be ordered to attend an alcohol education program for 18 months, even if the second conviction is not alcohol-related.
Friends insist Richie only takes Vicodin to relieve menstrual pain. A source told Us Weekly magazine: "She knows she made a mistake, but overall she's in a better place. She has come a long way from her heroin days."
The friend also claimed that Nicole actually weighs 95 pounds, not 85 pounds as stated in the police report: "She's so proud of her weight gain. She doesn't know where the cops came up with 85 pounds and it's annoying to her."
