Broward County Judge Cynthia Imperato guilty of DUI, reckless driving

Judge sentenced to 20 days of house arrest, 1 year of probation

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. ā€“ A Broward County judge accused of driving under the influence was found guilty Friday, but she won't spend any time behind bars.

Judge Cynthia Imperato was convicted by a Palm Beach County jury of DUI and reckless driving.

Immediately after the verdict, Palm Beach County Judge Mark Eissey sentenced Imperato to 20 days of house arrest in lieu of jail. She was also sentenced to a year of probation, ordered to pay court costs, perform 150 hours of community service and attend DUI school. She will also lose her driving privileges and be prohibited from possessing or consuming alcohol or drugs for which she will be subjected to random testing.

Imperato was arrested on a DUI charge in Boca Raton in November 2013. She refused to submit to a Breathalyzer or field-sobriety test, so there was no physical evidence to prove she was intoxicated at the time of her arrest.

"I'm not doing anything until I talk to my lawyer," she told the arresting officer in a video from a camera mounted on the dashboard of a police car.

Jurors began deliberating about 7:30 p.m. Thursday after listening to closing arguments and receiving jury instructions.

During Thursday night's deliberations, jurors asked to see the police video of Imperato's arrest again and once more listen to the testimony of Officer Robert Jesionek.

Imperato was previously arrested on a DUI charge in Leon County in 1988.

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