Karen Huger Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for DUI Charge

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Karen Huger, the 61-year-old star of the Real Housewives of Potomac, was sentenced to two years in prison with one year suspended for her drunk driving charge. The sentence was handed down by a Montgomery County Circuit Court judge on Wednesday, February 26. Huger will also have to serve five years of probation and pay $2,900 in fines. The judge took into account Huger's previous four offenses when deciding her sentence, stating that she was "filled to the gills with alcohol" at the time of the incident. Huger's defense attorney urged the judge to "have some compassion" and argued that "nobody lives a charmed life."

Huger was arrested in March 2024 after a single-vehicle crash into a street sign, three miles from her house. Body cam footage later released from the scene showed a visibly intoxicated Huger stumbling and slurring her words while speaking with police. She was officially charged with a DUI and DWI, negligently driving a vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner endangering property, life, and person, as well as recklessly driving a vehicle in wanton and willful disregard for the safety of persons and property. Other charges include failure to control vehicle speed on the highway to avoid a collision, driving a vehicle in excess of reasonable and prudent speed on the highway, driving a vehicle on the highway with suspended registration, and failure to notify administration of change of address within 30 days.

In December, a jury found Huger guilty on all charges except reckless driving. Huger's then-attorney, A. Scott Bolden, stated that they were disappointed in the jury's verdict but respected their decision and appreciated their time hearing the case. Huger entered into a private recovery program in Florida in January to "get to the bottom" of "taking antidepressants and drinking." The visit meant that she couldn't attend the taping of the RHOP season 9 reunion, and had to have her sentencing pushed back while she also replaced her legal team. Huger did appear at the reunion, in the form of two videos — one taken the day of sentencing and another, after she had made the decision to enter rehab. In the videos, Huger got candid about her relationship with alcohol, insisting she doesn't have an issue, and thanked some of her past and present cast mates for their support.

Huger's new attorney, David Martella, opened up to the Washington Post about the "profound impact" this has had on Huger, noting the trial itself was "a wake-up call." Martella stated that since her return from her 28-day treatment center, Huger has been active in Alcoholics Anonymous. However, prosecutor Jordan Kramer reportedly noted in filings that Huger had three previous alcohol-related traffic cases between 2006 and 2011, including one in which she was found guilty for driving while impaired and another in which she was found guilty for driving under the influence. Huger's husband, Raymond, was the only other person to testify at her sentencing besides her. The reality star's sister was "heard letting out a big cry" while Huger was signing probationary documents before being taken into custody.

The March 2024 DUI was a major point in season nine of the Real Housewives of Potomac. However, Huger wasn’t allowed to go into much detail on the show as the investigation was still ongoing at the time. Huger had checked into Beachside Recovery Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, in January. Speaking to TMZ shortly after the crash, Huger said she was "still in shock" and "grateful to be alive." The incident occurred after Huger met a girlfriend for dinner and discussed emotionally sensitive topics, causing her to become emotional and distracted while driving. Huger's case has sparked a conversation about the importance of seeking help for addiction and the need for accountability when it comes to driving under the influence.