Published: November 02, 2009 11:35 am      

Gillispie pleads guilty to DUI charge in Ky.

LAWRENCEBURG, Ky — Former Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie pleaded guilty Monday to driving under the influence of alcohol.

Gillispie was given the maximum penalty for a first-time offense in Anderson County, which included a fine of a little more than $1,000, a 30-day suspension of his license and orders to complete an Alcohol Drivers Education Program.

During the brief hearing, Gillispie gave one-word answers to questions from the judge about whether he understood his rights and the plea agreement. Afterward, Gillispie and his attorney traveled to an undisclosed location to fill out paperwork.

Gillispie was fired this year after a rocky two-year tenure with the Wildcats. He was arrested Aug. 27 in Lawrenceburg and charged with DUI after refusing sobriety tests during a traffic stop in which officers said they smelled alcohol on his breath.

Gillispie, who wore a dark suit and yellow tie to the hearing, apologized for his actions through a statement issued by his attorney, William Patrick.

"I made a mistake and admitted my mistake today to Judge (Linda) Armstrong. I accept the penalty she has imposed," he said in the statement. "I want to apologize to the people of Kentucky, my family and friends, and I want to thank all of those who have reached out to me over the past several months with kind words of encouragement and support."

Anderson County Attorney Bobbi Jo Lewis declined to comment at the hearing, but sent out a statement in which she called the penalty "fair and equitable."

"Mr. Gillispie has been treated the same as any other person who appears before the Anderson District Court charged as he was — no better and no worse," Lewis said.



Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.