State Sen. Roy Ashburn sentenced to two days in jail for DUI

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

State Sen. Roy Ashburn (R-Bakersfield) was sentenced Wednesday to two days in jail and three years probation after pleading no contest to charges of driving under the influence of alcohol.

Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Russell Hom gave Ashburn one day of jail credit for his time behind bars after he was arrested by California Highway Patrol officers who saw his state car being driven erratically near the state Capitol on March 3. Ashburn was not present in court Wednesday during the sentencing on two misdemeanor charges, which will not affect his state job.

In addition to serving the second custody day on a Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department work detail, Ashburn will pay a fines, fees and assessments totaling $2,000, must attend a class for drunk driving offenders and will have his license suspended for 30 days after a Department of Motor Vehicles hearing, according to Deputy Dist. Atty. Robert Clancey.

‘We take DUI seriously because of the public safety concerns,’ Clancey said. ‘He received no less or no greater punishment than anybody else who comes through the system.’

Media speculation swirled after Ashburn’s arrest amid reports he was arrested leaving a gay night club. Although that was never confirmed, Ashburn did confirm that he was gay in the wake of the arrest.

-- Patrick McGreevy