San Diego : David Copley Pleads Guilty to Drunk Driving

David C. Copley, president of the Copley Press, has been sentenced to two days in jail after pleading guilty to his second drunk driving-related offense in the last four years, according to San Diego Municipal Court records.

The 38-year-old Copley was arrested by San Diego police Dec. 6, and court records show his blood alcohol content was listed at .22, well over the legal limit at the time of .10. The legal limit was lowered Jan. 1 to .08.

According to court records, he pleaded guilty in April and was sentenced to two days in jail, a $939 fine and five years’ probation. He also was required to perform 40 hours of community service work.

It was unclear Friday whether Copley has served the two-day jail sentence. Copley could not be reached for comment Friday. His attorney, Jack Phillips, refused to discuss the case.

Earlier, Copley pleaded guilty in August, 1986, after being arrested for drunk driving in March of that year. At that time, he was given three years probation and a $775 fine.

Copley became president of the La Jolla-based company in 1988, and is the son of Helen K. Copley, chairman and chief executive officer. The company publishes more than a dozen newspapers, including the San Diego Union and the Tribune.