Karen Huger.Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock for The Astras
Karen Huger has been sentenced.
The “Real Housewives of Potomac” star was sentenced to two years in prison with one year suspended during her Wednesday court appearance, per Washington, DC’s local Fox 5 News.
Huger, 61, will spend 12 months behind bars and serve five years’ probation.
Karen Huger at DirecTV’s Christmas at Kathy’s.Getty Images
She has 30 days to appeal the judge’s decision, and 90 days to ask the judge to reconsider the verdict.
According to a People source, while being taken into custody, Huger told her husband Ray Huger, “You will be alright” and “God’s got you.”
Last March, Huger was arrested after she crashed her Maserati into a tree near her house. She claimed she was coming home from dinner with a friend and they were discussing a serious topic before she crashed.
Huger further alleged that she was crying while driving and was emotional as a vehicle headed toward her, causing her to swerve and lose control.
After the accident, body cam footage showed the Bravolebrity visibly intoxicated while talking to police.
Huger called herself Thomas Jefferson’s concubine in video after DUI arrest.Montgomery County Police Department
She was slurring her words and speaking about the “Housewives” and Andy Cohen to the arresting officer.
Huger was charged with a DUI, DWI and six traffic violations related to negligent and reckless driving, speeding, driving with a suspended registration and failure to notify the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration of her change of address.
She was found guilty in December of five of the six charges. In January, Huger was absent from the Season 9 “Real Housewives of Potomac” reunion taping.
Huger after her arrest.Montgomery County Police Department
County Circuit Judge Terrence McGann stated that Huger already had enough chances during her sentencing.
“Karen Huger is no stranger to driving drunk on our public roads,” he began. “One would have thought that Ms. Huger would have learned her lesson in 2007.”
The entrepreneur had three previous arrests and served no jail time.
Karen HugerMark Von Holden/Shutterstock for DIRECTV's Christmas at Kathy's
“Karen Huger certainly had the hang of working the system and all prior warning had gone in one ear and out the other,” McGann continued. “Can we believe she has only driven while intoxicated four times in the last 17 years?
“What’s the guarantee she is done driving while drunk?” he added. “Unfortunately, there is no guarantee.”
Before her sentence was handed down, Huger asked the judge for leniency.
Huger on Instagram.karenhuger/Instagram
“I needed to take a hard look at myself,” she said. “There was a sense of entitlement that I could keep on consuming alcohol: ‘I have been successful. Why should I give up this indulgence?’ “
But Huger also noted she was thankful that she only hit a tree. “Thank God I didn’t hit a person,” she said.
The day after the crash, Huger released a statement to TMZ regarding the incident.
“Thank you all for your prayers and well wishes during this very frightening experience. I am still in shock from last nights incident, but grateful to be alive today. With the passing of my Beloved Mother, Grief comes and goes in waves, and with Mothers Day approaching it has felt more like a tsunami,” she said at the time.
“Last night I met a girlfriend for dinner, we talked and brought up some very emotionally sensitive topics,” she continued. “I was crying on my way home and saw a car heading right for me. I swerved to avoid the head-on collision, hit the divider and then a tree. I’m hurt, bruised up a bit, but so grateful I am alive!”
