Posted: Mar 12, 2008, 2:14 PM CST
2008-03-12 17:34:46 -
GILLIGAN'S ISLAND star DAWN WELLS' lawyers have hit out at the media coverage of her recent arrest, branding the reports "extremely inaccurate and erroneous".
The 69-year-old was alleged to have been sentenced to five days in jail, placed on six months' probation and fined $410.50 (£255.25) at a hearing in Driggs, Idaho on 29 February (08) after pleading guilty to reckless driving following a recent arrest on suspicion of possessing marijuana.
She was stopped by cops on 18 October (07) as she was driving home from a surprise birthday party held for her, after officers spotted her vehicle swerving across a road.
Wells allegedly agreed to plead guilty under the terms of an agreement that saw three other charges - driving under the influence, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia - dropped.
However, her attorney Ron Swafford insists Wells did not serve a jail term and was only issued with a fine and "informal" probation. He also claims there was no "plea deal", reports ETonline.com.
The star had marijuana in her car as it had been borrowed by a "third party" earlier in the day, and swerved only because she was "reaching for her heater controls in an unfamiliar new car". The "third party" appeared in court and admitted responsibility for the drug possession.
Swafford adds any DUI charges were dropped due to "insufficient proof of excessive alcohol consumption", as none of the tests administered to Wells were carried out correctly. The officer who stopped the actress has since been suspended from his duties.
Swafford goes on to claim the offence will not appear on Wells' driving record due to her "cooperation, integrity and complete lack of criminal record".
In a statement by Swafford, he adds, "This is a very humiliating and embarrassing event for Ms. Wells. She wishes to apologize to her friends and supporters for any embarrassment or disappointment this occurrence may have caused."