Karen Huger Makes Court Plea to Judge Ahead of DUI Sentencing Over Pills Withdrawal

Real Housewives of Potomac OG Karen Huger is preparing to face a judge. In March 2024, Karen was arrested for DUI after hitting a sign and a tree with her vehicle. During her trial in December 2024, she was found guilty of several charges. These included driving under the influence, negligent driving, failure to control speed to avoid a collision, and failure to notify authorities of an address change.

Then, Karen fired her legal team and requested that her sentencing date be delayed. Karen entered rehab, and her new legal team would have limited access to her. So, the judge pushed the sentencing back from January 29, 2025, to February 26, 2025. Now Karen’s attorneys have filed a new motion ahead of her sentencing.

Karen Huger’s attorneys argue that her actions were due to “a combination of alcohol and a prescribed anti-depressant medication”

According to In Touch, Karen’s new attorneys, Barry Helfand, and David A. Martella, stated in a new filing, “Ms. Huger’s mother died on Thanksgiving morning in 2017 of kidney failure and sepsis. Her father died seven months later on June 28, 2018, from the complications of Alzheimer’s and ‘of a broken heart.’ Those two losses, in quick succession, were for Ms. Huger, personally devastating and, in her opinion, may have been the straws that broke her back. Arguably leading to several errors in judgment that led to her arrest in this case.”

Karen’s new legal team added that they did not represent her at the time of her trial. The attorneys said, “For many months, Ms. Huger was hoping to explain that she believes she drank in moderation; however, her difficulties that evening were the product of a combination of alcohol and a prescribed anti-depressant medication for depression. Ms. Huger eventually acquiesced to the legal advice of her counsel indicating that such circumstances might be mitigation – but is not a defense. This is because the taking of such a strong anti-depressant medication can amplify the effects of alcohol on one’s coordination.” They added, “The taking of that prescribed medication is not a defense to DUI; to the contrary, it is more of a reason to avoid consuming alcohol before driving.”

Karen Huger’s attorneys explain what happened the night of her arrest

Karen’s attorneys explained that Karen began taking anti-depressant medication following her rape in college. “However, over time, the loss of her parents, and the pressures of being in the public eye – and the stress of providing responsible leadership on the TV show – continued to wear at her well-being,” her lawyers said. “Over time the dosages of the medication went up – probably beyond prescribed recommendations – but the drinking in moderation remained the same. As she explains, ‘I was taking one pill after the assault and then I began taking two after my parents’ death. I appeared to be in control and had no noticeable issues that I was aware of.’”

The night of her DUI, Karen reportedly had dinner with a friend and had some champagne. “In hindsight, she is concerned that the medication (combined with alcohol) impaired her ability to accurately assess her coordination on March 19. The trial was a wake-up call that inspired Ms. Huger to take the dramatic step of entering a 28-day in-patient rehabilitation program: Beachside in West Palm Beach,” Karen’s attorneys said. “Ms. Huger refers to her time at Beachside as a triple-diagnosis program: dedicated to treating alcohol abuse; drug/medication abuse; and trauma.'” Karen also suffered symptoms of withdrawal during her stay.

The prosecutors pointed out that Karen has prior DUI convictions

The prosecution has a differing opinion. They noted that Karen “has two prior DUI/DWI convictions plus a third one that was pled down to a reckless driving.” The prosecutors continued, “Ms. Huger is extremely lucky that neither she nor anyone else was seriously injured or even killed during this incident. In spite of this, Ms. Huger does not appear to have taken any steps whatsoever to take accountability for her actions on March 19, 2024.”

Well, the prosecutors want Karen to serve time in jail. “It is therefore the State’s recommendation that your honor sentence the Defendant to two years suspend all but 6 months of executed incarceration followed by a period of supervised probation.”

Plus, they would like Karen to complete a Mother’s Against Drunk Driving victim impact panel, participate in any alcohol programs the court deems necessary, and install an interlock device on any car that she drives.