The former NBA star Mario Elie was arrested earlier this month in Sacramento, California on suspicion of DUI. Associated Press reported that a California Highway Patrol officer pulled over Mario Elie for a broken taillight, but that the officer made an arrest after he saw that the driver was showing signs of impairment and noticed that Mario Elie's car smelled of alcohol.
A breath test showed that Mario Elie had a blood-alcohol level above the legal limit of .08 percent. This evidence led to California authorities to book the basketball player in Sacramento County Jail, but the man was released from jail after posting bail. Mario Elie later apologized for his actions in a statement. He said, "I'm very sorry, embarrassed and disappointed for the position in which I put myself and team. Rest assured, it won't happen again as I take full responsibility for my actions."
Mario Elie played on a number of teams in the NBA over the course of his career, including the Phoenix Suns, San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers, and the Golden State Warriors. Now at age 47, he is currently the assistant coach for the Sacramento Kings.
A misdemeanor DUI conviction in California carries much more lenient penalties than a DUI conviction in the state of Arizona. First-time DUI offenders in California typically get off with just probation and fines up to $1,000. However, a first-time DUI conviction in Arizona results with mandatory jail time, fines up to $2,500, and mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device. See a Phoenix DUI attorney to learn about the defenses to drunk driving in Arizona.
Related Resources:
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Arizona DUI Law (FindLaw)
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Find a Phoenix DUI Attorney (FindLaw)
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Arizona Supreme Court Ruling Makes it Easier to be Convicted of a DUI (FindLaw's KnowledgeBase)
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