Police Call Sutherland a Good Inmate

[January 19, 2008]  GLENDALE, Calif. (AP) -- Kiefer Sutherland, who plays the hard-as-nails agent of TV's "24," was a softy during his 48 days in jail on a drunken-driving charge.

Sutherland, scheduled to be released Monday, has spent his sentence cleaning sheets, pillowcases and blankets on laundry duty, police Officer John Balian said Friday.

"He was very humble, never complained," Balian said. "He didn't give us any problems at all."

Sutherland, 41, pleaded no contest in October to driving with a blood-alcohol level above the legal limit of 0.08 percent. He was sentenced to 30 days, as well as 18 days for violating probation stemming from a 2004 drunken-driving arrest.

After entering his plea last fall, Sutherland issued a statement saying he was "very disappointed in myself for the poor judgment I exhibited recently, and I'm deeply sorry for the disappointment and distress this has caused my family, friends and co-workers."

He was granted a request to serve his time in suburban Glendale's city jail rather than in the overcrowded downtown Los Angeles County jail. The trade-off was that he could not shave any time off his sentence for good behavior or early release because of overcrowding.

Sutherland was convicted of alcohol-related reckless driving in 1993.

He was in the same jail as 69-year-old actor Gary Collins, who was released Friday after completing a four-day sentence for drunken driving.

Collins, who also chose to stay in Glendale instead of the Los Angeles County jail, was also a good prisoner, Balian said, and "there were no problems" during his stay.

He pleaded no contest Dec. 6 to one misdemeanor count each of driving under the influence and driving with a blood-alcohol content of 0.08 percent or more in a traffic crash in Sherman Oaks.

He must also serve four years' probation upon his release and pay a $500 fine.

Collins was driving when his sport utility vehicle was struck by another driver. He was not found at fault in the collision, but officers smelled alcohol on his breath.

[Associated Press; By EDITH M. LEDERER]

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