Karen Huger Sentenced To 2 Years In Prison — She Was Taken Into Custody Immediately
Karen Huger was sentenced to two years in prison on Wednesday following her DUI conviction in Montgomery County, Maryland.
While Karen had been facing up to two years behind bars, the judge suspended one year of her sentence, meaning she will serve 12 months in prison unless her appeal — which she has 30 days to file — is successful.
Karen Gets Emotional in Court
During her sentencing, The Real Housewives of Potomac star, 61, addressed the court, expressing remorse for her actions.
“I understand better the brutal clarity of the fact that when you’re behind a car driving, you’re not just driving for yourself,” she told the judge, according to The Baltimore Banner. “It’s my responsibility to make sure that my community members make it where they need to be safely.”
But Judge Terrence McGann was not convinced that this was an isolated incident.
“Can we believe that she’s only driven while intoxicated four times in the last 17 years,” the judge questioned, “or is it more likely that she’s been very lucky and her inebriation has gone undetected?”
A History of Traffic Offenses
Karen’s sentencing follows her fourth alcohol-related traffic offense since 2006. Prosecutors had initially sought six months in jail, while her attorneys argued for rehabilitation instead of prison time.
However, after a two-day trial and five hours of jury deliberation in December 2024, Karen was found guilty on five out of six charges, including:
- Driving under the influence (DUI)
- Negligent driving
- Failure to control speed
- Failure to notify authorities of an address change
She was acquitted of reckless driving, but the severity of her repeated offenses ultimately led to a harsher sentence than her legal team had hoped for.
The Crash That Led to Karen’s Arrest
The charges stem from Karen’s March 2024 arrest when she crashed her Maserati into a median and multiple street signs in Potomac, Maryland.
At the time, police described her driving as “aggressive” and reckless, with Karen speeding before losing control of the vehicle. Bodycam footage from the arrest painted a bizarre picture, with Karen admitting she was drunk and referring to herself as “Thomas Jefferson’s concubine.”
During her police interrogation, she also made controversial comments toward an officer, telling him that he was “white and poor.”
Karen Entered Rehab Before Sentencing
In January, Karen’s representative confirmed that she had entered a private recovery program, which explained her absence from the RHOP Season 9 reunion.
“Karen made the important decision to enter a private recovery program, so [she] was unable to attend the reunion taping,” her rep told The Daily Dish. “We stand behind Karen as she embarks on this meaningful journey and are proud of her for taking such a significant step forward in her personal growth.”
However, some critics — including prosecutors in her case — argued that her decision to seek treatment came too late and appeared to be an attempt to soften her sentencing.
Will Bravo Stand by the Grand Dame?
With Karen’s legal troubles now a major headline, her future on RHOP remains uncertain.
A source told Page Six that Bravo executives are closely watching her situation and that she “would need to clean up her act” in order to continue with the network.
Karen Huger, who has been with The Real Housewives of Potomac since its debut season, now faces a major career crossroads as she prepares to serve time behind bars.
The Real Housewives of Potomac Season 9 reunion concludes March 2, at 8pm EST, on Bravo.
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Avigail is an Entertainment blogger at All About The Tea, who specializes in The Real Housewives of Atlanta and The Real Housewives of Potomac. Avigail has a background in marketing. She’s a Brooklynite living in the Bahamas, with a passion for travel, writing, reality TV watching, pop culture and spoken word.
