Pop icon Britney Spears is now facing formal charges of driving under the influence, nearly two months after her arrest. The 44-year-old singer, whose legal troubles have been closely followed, was taken into custody on March 4. Recently obtained documents from the Ventura County prosecutor’s office reveal that Spears is being charged with one count of misdemeanor DUI.

Currently undergoing rehabilitation, Spears is scheduled for an arraignment in Ventura County Superior Court on Monday morning. However, given the nature of the misdemeanor charge, it’s uncertain whether Spears will appear in person. Typically, individuals charged with misdemeanors are not required to be present in court, allowing their attorney to represent them instead.

This development adds another chapter to Spears’ ongoing legal saga, with her personal struggles and legal battles frequently capturing public attention.

According to the Ventura County District Attorney’s office, Spears – who is currently in rehab – is set to be arraigned at Ventura County Superior Court on Monday morning.

However, it remains uncertain of Spears will be appearing in court herself, as it is a misdemeanor charge, the celebrity is not required to attend and her attorney could make the appearance for her. 

According to the Ventura County District Attorney’s office, Spears will be offered a ‘wet reckless’ which allows the person charged to plead guilty to reckless driving involving alcohol and/or drugs. 

Britney Spears has officially been charged with DUI nearly two months after being arrested  as she will be facing criminal charges

At the time, The Daily Mail revealed the pop star (pictured behind the wheel in Thousand Oaks back in February) was taken into custody by California Highway Patrol at around 9.30pm on Wednesday night, March 4 in Ventura County after several 911 calls

The plea bargain is reserved for defendants with no prior history of DUI, people with a low blood alcohol level, when there is no injury or crash, and when the subject shows ‘self-motivation to address underlying issues through rehabilitation or a drug and alcohol program.’

At the time of arrest, The Daily Mail revealed the pop star was taken into custody by California Highway Patrol at around 9.30pm on Wednesday night, March 4 in Ventura County after several 911 calls.

The singer, who was recently seen driving and behaving erratically was released the following morning, according to Ventura County Sheriff records.

Representatives for Spears released a statement in response to the arrest to Daily Mail in March which read: ‘This was an unfortunate incident that is completely inexcusable. Britney is going to take the right steps and comply with the law and hopefully this can be the first step in long overdue change that needs to occur in Britney’s life. Hopefully, she can get the help and support she needs during this difficult time.

‘Her boys are going to be spending time with her. Her loved ones are going to come up with an overdue needed plan to set her up for success for well being.’

Her car was towed and impounded by Roy’s Towing in Thousand Oaks, California.

The Baby One More Time hitmaker seemingly expressed immediate remorse as sources said she was ‘crying a lot’ while being processed at the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office according to TMZ at the time.

When a person gets a DUI in California, their driver’s license is automatically suspended. 

According to the Ventura County District Attorney’s office, Spears – who is currently in rehab – is set to be arraigned at Ventura County Superior Court on Monday morning (seen at the MTV Video Music Awards in August 2016)

There is also potential jail time, a hefty fine of over $1,000 and mandatory DUI education programs.

A first offense typically involves three to five years of probation, a six-month license suspension and about six months of DUI school.

Lou Shapiro, who has handled DUI cases in Ventura County, California, told the Daily Mail that the DA’s statement was ‘unusual’ in outlining details not typically released prior to a defendant appearing before a judge.

’That tells me that this could be something they’ve already worked out with the attorney behind the scenes and what will happen next could be just a formality,’ Shapiro said.

The legal analyst said that the ‘wet reckless’ deal is a likely indicator Spears’ ‘blood alcohol level was below a 0.08’ in the March 4 incident.

‘She could’ve had some combination of alcohol and drugs in her system, but it wasn’t more than the 0.08 legal limit,’ Shapiro told the Daily Mail. ‘So, if she didn’t cause an accident or hurt anyone, then a wet reckless would be a fair resolution in Ventura County.’

Shapiro added that the ‘wet reckless’ aspect makes additional legal sense since Spears checked into rehab following the arrest.

It was probable that the legal team for the …Baby One More Time singer and prosecutors have been in contact regarding a potential resolution of the case, Shapiro told the Daily Mail.

At the time of arrest, The Daily Mail revealed the pop star was taken into custody by California Highway Patrol at around 9.30pm on Wednesday night, March 4 in Ventura County after several 911 calls. Pictured 2019 in LA 

The Gimme More artist, pictured in 2018, has sought treatment in rehab since the DUI 

That, in turn, would make the administrative aspect of the situation easier on the musical artist as she focuses on her rehab.

‘If they did, she could just have a waiver of rights form to take the deal, and she can even do that at her own home and have it notarized,’ Shapiro said. ‘The attorney could then bring all the paperwork signed and notarized already to the hearing on Monday so the case could be over that first day.’

Shapiro said it is likely that prosecutors publicly released the statement to be transparent amid the significant media attention focused on the A-list singer’s most recent brush with the law.

‘They are telling the public, “Look, we’re offering her this and she can take it or not,”‘ Shapiro said

He continued: ‘They wouldn’t want a situation where people will feel like she is getting better treatment because she is a celebrity. They are saying, “No, this is standard offer that we can make to anyone under these set of facts.”‘

On February 12, Spears was spotted behind the wheel of her Mercedes SUV taking a spin around Los Angeles, appearing to break the law as she held her cell phone to her face. (Talking on the phone is illegal in California under the ‘No Touch’ law, under Vehicle Code 23123.5). She was not charged in connection with the incident. 

Shapiro said it is likely that prosecutors publicly released the statement to be transparent amid the significant media attention focused on the A-list singer’s most recent brush with the law 

It was, however, not an isolated incident for Spears, who, in recent months, was filmed swerving into the wrong lane on a highway after a night out. At the time, sources feared she was ‘spiraling’ amid the release of her ex-husband Federline’s memoir. The two were married from 2004 to 2007.

Her history with the police also included being cited for a hit-and-run (misdemeanor) after hitting a parked car in 2007. This was dismissed after Spears paid an undisclosed sum to the owner, it was reported at the time. 

She was also cited for driving without a valid California license in 2008, which was later dismissed by a judge. 

In 2023, law enforcement visited Spears’s home regarding a video involving knives, but no charges were filed.

Spears has had very public personal struggles for nearly two decades: In 2007, the star famously suffered a harrowing breakdown after exhibiting worrying behavior in the months leading up to her infamous psychiatric hold.

The then 25-year-old popstar had fans concerned after she shaved her head and attacked a paparazzi’s car with a green umbrella – before checking into a rehab facility.

The Toxic singer suffered another setback after a disastrous performance at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards, where her performance of Gimme More was heavily criticized by both fans and critics alike.

Then, in January 2008, she was put under lockdown at a facility after refusing to hand her young son over to ex-husband Federline. 

Law enforcement officials in North Texas recently spotlighted a daring overnight rescue where officers employed quick thinking and an unconventional tool to save a mother and her children trapped in swiftly moving floodwaters.

Dramatic body camera footage, shared by the White Settlement Police Department, reveals the tense moments as officers worked tirelessly to prevent the woman from being swept away, while ensuring her children were brought to safety.

This harrowing event took place around 11:12 p.m. on April 25, amidst severe storms and flash flooding that had officers stationed throughout the city.

According to the department, Sgt. John Banner noticed a vehicle caught in the torrent, its front end wedged in a channel that led to a creek.

An officer is seen reaching into a marooned vehicle as floodwaters surge around it during the high-stakes rescue. (White Settlement Police Department)

As Banner arrived, he found three small children outside the vehicle near the rising water and quickly moved them into his patrol SUV.

Their mother, however, remained stranded near the driver’s side door, unable to make it to higher ground as the current surged around her.

“I got you! Y’all get in the car!” an officer can be heard shouting in the bodycam video, as the woman cries out, “Help me! Help me!”

Bodycam footage shows an officer standing in fast-moving floodwaters while attempting to reach a stranded driver. (White Settlement Police Department)

With water pushing against the vehicle and the woman struggling to keep her footing, officers quickly formed a plan to prevent her from being swept away.

“Don’t lose your footing… I need assistance!” one officer shouts over the rushing water.

Realizing they needed a way to secure her, the department noted that Officer Christopher Wiseman ran to his patrol vehicle and grabbed a pair of jumper cables.

“Well, this will have to work,” he said.

Officers instructed the woman to place the cables under her arms and around her chest, creating a makeshift harness while they held the other end, ready to pull her to safety if she slipped.

At one point, as conditions worsened, an officer can be heard saying, “Don’t let me fall in, man,” underscoring the danger facing both the victim and first responders.

As they held their position, officers radioed for fire crews, noting the woman was tiring.

“Her legs are getting tired,” one officer said. “I need a ladder.”

A vehicle sits partially submerged in floodwaters as a police officer responds to a late-night rescue in White Settlement, Texas. (White Settlement Police Department)

Firefighters with the White Settlement Fire Department soon arrived and attached a line to the stranded vehicle, slowly pulling it out of the rushing water and back onto the roadway.

The woman and her children were evaluated at the scene and were not injured.

Officials praised the coordinated response between officers, dispatchers and fire crews.

“I am grateful for the proactive response of Sergeant John Banner, his team of officers, our WEST COMM Dispatch Center, partner agencies and Fire Department during this dangerous situation,” Police Chief Christopher Cook said. “Law enforcement officers put the highest priority on the preservation of life, and this was evident based upon getting creative and using a pair of jumper cables to serve as an additional safety tool.”

Flooded road conditions are seen as emergency crews respond to multiple storm-related calls across the area. (White Settlement Police Department)

City Manager Jeffrey J. James also commended the effort.

“What I saw during this rescue was brave police officers doing what they could to save lives,” James said. “I am equally proud of our entire public safety team who pulled together to provide the highest level of service to this family.”

Police said the mother remained calm during the ordeal and had earlier directed her children to move to higher ground — a decision officials say likely helped prevent injuries.

Following the incident, officials said each patrol vehicle will now be equipped with a water rescue throw bag to improve response in future emergencies.

Officials said the rescue was just one of several weather-related emergencies crews responded to that night.

A person stands beside a car partially submerged in floodwaters during severe storms in North Texas. (White Settlement Police Department)

“Our public safety teams were busy with the weather,” the department said. “From one water rescue of a family stuck in a car to multiple crashes and flooded vehicles along roadways with high water, your WSPD team worked hard with the fire department to ensure everyone made it to safety.”

Authorities also plan to reunite the family with the first responders involved in the rescue.

Officials say the incident serves as a reminder of how quickly flash flooding can become dangerous and how critical quick decisions can be in saving lives.

In a series of audacious heists, a group of thieves executed a swift and precise operation, likened to the efficiency of a racetrack pit crew, to steal over 250 car parts and vehicles across the Bronx and other areas of New York City, prosecutors revealed on Thursday.

The Bronx District Attorney’s Office has charged at least 16 individuals, aged between 18 and 36, with a staggering 971 criminal counts. These charges stem from a crime spree that spanned from August 2024 to June 2025, during which they allegedly stole and sold auto parts valued at over $1 million.

According to prosecutors, surveillance footage captured 14 of the suspects, operating in masked teams of three, as they repeatedly exited a stolen vehicle armed with car jacks and milk crates.

These individuals, purportedly linked to the notorious Trinitarios street gang, allegedly employed power tools to swiftly remove tires, rims, and catalytic converters from targeted vehicles, often within minutes, under the cover of darkness between midnight and 5 a.m.

“These defendants allegedly operated with the speed of a racetrack pit crew in the dead of night, pilfering cars, tires, rims, and catalytic converters worth more than $1 million on the black market,” stated District Attorney Darcel Clark in an official announcement.

“All across the Bronx, people heading to work or school in the morning found their cars propped on crates, or an empty parking space, leaving them stranded and financially strained.”

Overall, 11 cars, 172 tires and rims and 69 catalytic converters were heisted from nearly every corner of the Bronx — and also slices of Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens, according to Clark.

The stolen cars were then used when the alleged perps dismantled other cars. A grand total of 252 cars were caught up in the massive theft ring.

Two of the defendants were alleged buyers of the stolen catalytic converters, which then were peddled on the black market, according to the district attorney’s office.

One of the buyers had $116,000 in cash stashed in a suitcase when authorities raided his home, prosecutors claimed.  

Overall, $1.2 million worth of stolen property was involved in the heists.

“The theft ring was as brazen as it was effective,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a Thursday press conference.

Tisch said the department was logging more than 200 complaints tied to stolen car parts each month.

“And it wasn’t random,” she said, noting mostly Hondas and Toyotas were targeted.

“It was methodical.”

Alleged members of the ring have criminal histories tied to the Big Apple with most also having connections to the Dominican Republic, according to NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny, who did not reveal their immigration statuses.

The accused thieves were facing a slew of charges for criminal possession of stolen property, grand larceny, auto stripping, criminal mischief and unauthorized use of a vehicle.

So far, eight alleged robbers have been arraigned – while another eight are either still on the lam or awaiting arraignment, the district attorney’s office said.

Most who have appeared in court were granted supervised release.

“This was a large, well organized, gang affiliated crew of people who made it their job literally every night to go out and steal cars and car parts,” Tisch said.

“My hope and expectation is that there will be consequences for this type of behavior in the criminal justice system because frankly, if there are not, we have all just wasted a hell of a lot of time.”