In a post in April, we shared how former Nickelodeon star Amanda Bynes was arrested for DUI after she supposedly crashed into an officer's vehicle. The actress has claimed since that highly publicized incident that not only did she not drink and drive, but she doesn't drink at all. Her father has also come to Bynes' DUI defense, confirming that he knows his daughter does not use alcohol.
However, it's apparent that Bynes wants more than the support of her father in her drunk driving case. She has used a popular social media platform to reach out to a much more influential source. Via Twitter, Bynes wrote, "Hey @BarackObama... I don't drink. Please fire the cop who arrested me. I also don't hit and run. The end."
But will that mark "the end" of the 26-year-old's legal hardship? No. President Obama has not responded nor taken any official action as a result of the celebrity request. He's got a country to run and a reelection to work towards. Though she doesn't have backup from the president, Bynes and her criminal defense attorney still found the confidence to enter a not guilty plea in court last week.
Bynes is formally charged with misdemeanor DUI and refusing to take a Breathalyzer and blood test after her arrest. This is her first DUI offense, so it is likely that even if the case goes badly for her, she would not receive an extreme sentence. But it isn't just the jail time, fines or other potential punishments that drive defendants to succeed in court. A mere criminal allegation can have a significant and damaging effect on one's reputation and future opportunities.
Source: Reuters, "Amanda Bynes Pleads for President Obama's Help in DUI Case," Andrew Chow, June 8, 2012
