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Steve Wilkos avoids jail, could have drunk driving charge wiped from record
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Talk show host and ex-Chicago cop Steve Wilkos learned he will avoid jail and could have his January drunk driving charge dropped if he completes an alcohol education program.

According to the Stamford Advocate, Wilkos, 53, briefly appeared in a Stamford, Connecticut, court Monday. It was during that appearance that Judge Gary White ordered Wilkos to complete the diversionary program and scheduled a court date for next year. He should’ve finished his court-ordered program in that time, the newspaper wrote.

As CrimeOnline previously reported, Wilkos was arrested in late January after crashing and flipping his Lexus SUV in Darien during a drunken episode. He reportedly hit several trees and a pole as he lost control of his car.

READ More: Steve Wilkos, busted for DUI, flips car and smashes into poles and tree: Police

The Advocate reported that the car landed on the passenger side and the windshield had to be removed to extract Wilkos from the vehicle. A responding officer noted that he could smell alcohol on the former cop.

Wilkos was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries. It was there that medical staff determined the television host’s blood alcohol level was .29—more than three times the legal limit, according to TMZ.

Wilkos wasn’t immediately arrested after the West Avenue wreck; he reportedly turned himself a few days later after a warrant was issued for his arrest.

“This experience reinforces my commitment to get the professional help that I need and I have recently completed an intensive, medically supervised program,” Wilkos previously told TMZ, adding that he was battling depression at the time of January’s incident.

The program will last 15 weeks. Wilkos’ attorney Eugene Riccio reportedly said the television host is working to deal with the underlying issues that led to his arrest.

Riccio said in court, “My client has dealt with this issue very seriously and has made great progress in addressing the situation.”

 

[Feature Photo: Steve Wilkos/Darien Police Department]