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.
Local Sports
Gillispie pleads guilty to DUI charge in Ky.
- Local Sports
-
-
Fairview’s Day scores 49 in win
Basketball is a game of runs, and players get on rolls, but rarely does a scorer’s streak endure for 32 minutes.
-
Gambill, bench key for Kittens
West Carter coach Tex English cringed as Ashland’s Kaylyn Gambill saw a third straight 3-pointer find nothing but net.
-
MARK MAYNARD: From the mind of Maynard
Some random notes from the desktop:
-
SLIDESHOW: Giants beat Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI
The New York Giants won their fourth Super Bowl and eighth NFL championship Sunday in Indianapolis, scoring in the final minute to defeat New England 21-17.
-
Indy hosts world's biggest football party
A wild and record-setting Super Bowl week was capped Sunday with the New York Giants winning their fourth title game. But the host city of Indianapolis was a winner as well.
-
Dishing the Weekly Dime: Do Rowan's girls have 16th's top player?
How is it possible for a three-time region champion in four seasons to fly under the radar?
Answer: If they didn’t win last season. -
Oh, Man-ning!
Eli Manning and the Giants one-upped Tom Brady and the Patriots again, coming back with a last-minute touchdown to beat New England 21-17 Sunday night for New York's fourth Super Bowl title.
-
Young Panthers prove their worth
They have more sophomores than seniors, more speed than size, and more losses than wins.
So, why does Fleming County’s basketball coach believe his Panthers can be “pretty scary come tournament time?” -
Inside play keys Lady Lions past East Carter
While East Carter bombed away from three-point land in the first half, Boyd County banged away on the inside in the second, preferring to get its three-point plays the old-fashioned way in a 57-48 win on Saturday night at East Carter High School.
-
Putting Pats in the past
Tom Brady’s already had his day ... three times, to be exact. Can he do it again, or is his day officially done?
- More Local Sports Headlines
-
Fairview’s Day scores 49 in win








