Appearing in Summit County Justice Court Tuesday, former TV news anchor Hope Woodside pled Guilty to two DUI charges, related to separate incidents that occurred within a day of each other last spring.
Receiving concurrent sentences, Woodside was given two days in the Summit County Jail, which will be followed by a month of home confinement and 12 months of probation.
Woodside, who was a longtime anchor for Fox 13 News, was a Jeremy Ranch resident at the time of the arrests, and now lives in Arizona.
Justice Court Judge Shauna Kerr and Deputy County Prosecutor Ivy Telles both noted the 57-year-old defendant has undertaken required substance-abuse treatment. Her attorney, Greg Skordas, told KPCW in a e-mail that the court recognizes the extraordinary steps she has taken to remedy her problem.
Last March 29th, after county sheriff’s dispatch received a complaint about Woodside, an officer observed her driving on the shoulder of the road and making a turn without signaling. The officer determined she was under the influence and placed her under arrest.
Woodside was released on bail. A day later, the 30th, an officer reported that Woodside was driving a vehicle that ran off the road on an off-ramp from Interstate-80. She said a swerving vehicle caused her to run into a snowbank, but the officer observed signs of intoxication.
In court Tuesday, Woodside pled Guilty to the DUI charges, which are Class B Misdemeanors. Four lesser charges, such as Open Container and Failure to Operate in a Single Lane, were dropped.
For both offenses, Woodside was sentenced to jail time, but that was either suspended or she was given credit for time already served. Ultimately, she was given two days in the County Jail. Woodside was directed to report to the lock-up Tuesday afternoon.
Afterward, she is required to serve home confinement for a month, with an ankle monitor. During her 12 months probation, she is required to check in with a Summit County officer, drive with an ignition interlock and have zero drug and alcohol use.
She was also assessed fines for each offense. But the court determined that could be covered by the bail amount she put forward.
Woodside expressed thanks to Judge Kerr for her ruling and her handling of the case.
The judge and attorney Skordas said that Woodside had shown a willingness to deal with her problem.
“(Skordas) She’s taken some extraordinary steps in the last seven months—done far more than what 99 percent of the people you see. I appreciate you taking that into account. (Judge Kerr) Yes, certainly you have made great progress. And I appreciate it. The community appreciates it. And it should be a model for others. Well done.”
Summit County Justice Court Judge Shauna Kerr.