The California Highway Patrol turned its investigation into the Simple Life star’s DUI arrest over to the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office Wednesday to determine whether Richie should be charged in the case. CHP officials would not disclose their recommendations in the case, but the fact that the D.A. is reviewing the case, as opposed to the city attorney’s office, suggests that the CHP is recommending Richie face a felony charge. A spokesperson for the D.A.’s office did not comment beyond acknowledging that the case had been received and was under review. There was no immediate word from Richie’s camp. Because Richie was previously convicted of drunken driving in 2002, a second conviction would mean a mandatory five-day jail sentence, as well as the loss of her license for one year, under California law. A tentative hearing in the matter has been scheduled for Feb. 7, assuming charges are in fact filed against her. Even if she faces charges, it’s unlikely to affect filming on the fifth installment of The Simple Life in Malibu; Richie and Paris Hilton are slated to resume filming this March. (The Simple Life airs on E! Entertainment Television; E! Online and E! Entertainment are divisions of E! Networks.) This time around, the duo reportedly will toil as counselors at such institutions as a fat camp, a beauty pageant camp and a couples camp, among others. Production on the series was halted in October while Richie sought treatment to determine why she was having difficulty gaining weight.
E!
What a busy day for the LA DA’s office…
What I love most about the write up of this story is how E! is happy to mention that this will not affect the filming of Simple Life 5 and also do a plug for what is coming up this season.
