Former pageant winner from Michigan due for drunk driving trial

A former Miss USA from Michigan is scheduled to go on trial in March for drunk driving. Rima Fakih, who grew up in Dearborn, Michigan, was crowned at the Miss USA Pageant in 2010, becoming the first Arab-American to hold that title.

She was arrested in December in Highland Park, Michigan, as readers of this blog may remember. According to police, Fakih was clocked at 60 mph driving through a 30 mph zone, and was allegedly weaving in and out of traffic. Officers say they found an open bottle of champagne in her 2011 Jaguar.

Fakih said that she had not been drinking. However, according to police records, she was subjected to two breath tests measured her blood alcohol level at 0.20 and 0.19, respectively. As a result, she was charged with three misdemeanors: careless driving, having an open container of alcohol and drunk driving. The 26-year-old ex-beauty queen may yet enter into a plea bargain, but her attorney said that he will prepare for a trial. Fakih declined to comment herself. The prosecuting attorney declined to say if he will pursue a plea bargain or take the case to trial.

For people who are charged with drunk driving and related crimes in Michigan, penalties can be quite severe, including the imposition of heavy fines, jail time and/or the loss of driving privileges. The assistance of a criminal defense attorney with experience in drunk driving defense could mean the difference between experiencing these penalties or having a case dismissed, or having charges reduced.

Source: The Washington Post, "Former Miss USA appears in Michigan courtroom on drunken driving charge," Jan. 18, 2012