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Michael Phelps Avoids Jail Time In DUI Case With "Close Friend" Ray Lewis On Hand

With promises to "continue treatment for alcohol abuse and to help others avoid his mistakes, MICHAEL PHELPS pleaded guilty to driving under the influence in Baltimore District Court on Friday and came away with a one-year suspended sentence and 18 months of supervised probation," according to Childs Walker of the Baltimore SUN. Phelps "avoided jail time despite the fact his Sept. 30 arrest for drunken driving was his second." He said, "The last three months of my life have been some of the hardest times I’ve ever gone through." Walker noted Phelps on Friday was "surrounded by family members and friends," including ESPN analyst and former NFLer RAY LEWIS. Phelps' attorney, STEVEN ALLEN, said, "Mr. Lewis and Mr. Phelps are very close friends." District Court judge NATHAN BRAVERMAN "praised Phelps’ rapid embrace of treatment and said he’s optimistic the swimmer will not repeat the same mistake." Braverman: "Clearly, you don’t need a lecture from this court." Walker noted Phelps "will remain suspended from competition by USA Swimming until early April and won’t be eligible to compete in FINA World Championships in August" (Baltimore SUN, 12/20). Phelps said that he "completed a 45-day rehab program at an Arizona treatment center following his arrest, continues aftercare in Baltimore, and will participate in Alcoholics Anonymous" (REUTERS, 12/19). USA TODAY's Christine Brennan wrote of Lewis accompanying Phelps on Friday, "Who in the world is advising Michael Phelps? Does he not run these ideas by his management firm, Octagon? Or does he keep these flawed decisions to himself?" Phelps is "lucky to not be banned for life" by USA Swimming or the USOC, and "lucky to have the very real possibility" of representing the U.S. at the '16 Rio Games (USATODAY.com, 12/19).

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