People News
Nicole Richie's not guilty plea
Feb 21, 2007, 12:50 GMT
02/29/2004 - Nicole Richie - before she was anorexic © Scott Alan / Photorazzi
Nicole Richie entered a plea of not guilty for her charge of Driving Under the Influence (DUI) yesterday (20.02.07).
'The Simple Life' star is due in court on April 2 to face the charge.
Due to a prior DUI conviction in June 2003, she faces mandatory jail time of 90 days up to a year if convicted.
Nicole, 25, was arrested on December 11 for driving on the wrong side of a California highway.
The charge states she was driving under the influence of "an alcoholic beverage or a drug".
Nicole, the adopted daughter of singer Lionel Richie, told police at the time of arrest that she had taken the strong painkiller Vicodin and smoked marijuana.
Earlier this month, Nicole met friend Paris Hilton at Los Angeles' Mr. Chow restaurant and confessed her fears.
A source said: "She was really freaking out. Paris kept telling Nicole not to worry, that everything was going to be fine."
Nicole's lawyer, Howard Weitzman, recently represented Paris in a DUI case and agreed a plea bargain for her to a lesser charge of reckless driving.
(C) BANG Media International
