Notah Begay will serve a
week in jail for his second drunken driving offense.
The PGA Tour golfer pleaded
guilty today to aggravated drunken driving, his second drunken driving offense
in five years. He was sentenced by Judge Cecelia Niemczyk to 364 days in jail,
with all but seven days suspended.
Begay, 27, also must pay
a $1,000 fine and not drink alcohol for a year. He will be on probation for one
year and must perform 48 hours of community service.
He was arrested Jan. 19
after his vehicle struck a car in the parking lot of an Albuquerque bar.
"I made a big mistake and
I want to be held responsible," Begay told the judge after pleading guilty and
admitting his blood-alcohol level was at least .16, twice the legal limit for
intoxication in New Mexico.
Begay was accompanied to
court by his parents and his lawyer, Paul Bardacke. The only American Indian
on the PGA Tour, Begay won two tournaments and more than $1 million as a rookie
in 1999.
A day after his arrest,
Begay said it was his second DWI incident. He was convicted of driving while
intoxicated in Scottsdale, Ariz., in November 1995. The two offenses increased
his jail term for the latest incident to a minimum of seven days.
New Mexico authorities
were unaware of the Arizona case and Begay's admission drew praise from the judge
and prosecutors at today's hearing.
"You are taking responsibility
for more than you were originally charged with," Niemczyk told Begay. "I think
that will send a great message."
"You don't have criminal
defendants that volunteer information that they have committed an offense in
other jurisdictions that will expose them to more (jail) time here in New Mexico,"
said Pete Dinelli, an assistant district attorney. "That speaks volumes for his
character."
Begay plans to return to
the tour this week at the Phoenix Open, which begins Thursday.
Nike, with whom Begay has
an endorsement contract, also has said it stands behind him.
Begay said his arrest in
Scottsdale occurred soon after he was graduated from Stanford University and
moved to that city. He said he was on his way home after an evening with friends
and was pulled over for speeding. Police found open containers of alcohol in
the vehicle.
