Karen Huger, star of the Bravo reality show “The Real Housewives of Potomac,” will spend one year behind bars after being convicted in December on charges of driving under the influence.
Huger, 61, was sentenced to two years in prison on Wednesday, with one year suspended, Nick Cavey, a public information officer for the Maryland Judiciary, told The Epoch Times via email on Friday.
Huger is serving her sentence at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility in Boyds, Maryland, where she was admitted shortly after her verdict was read, a representative for the facility confirmed over the phone.
Once Huger is released, she must spend five years on probation, during which she must have a breathalyzer interlock system installed in any vehicle she drives. The reality star was also ordered to pay $2,900 in fines.
Huger has one month to appeal the case and 90 days to ask the judge to reconsider her sentence.
The Epoch Times reached out to Huger’s representatives for comment. A response was not received by publication time.
Huger was arrested on March 19, 2024, in Montgomery County after being involved in a single-vehicle crash.
“We continue to reserve Mrs. Huger’s right to an appeal and intend to fully pursue justice on her behalf. We appreciate your support and prayers for Mrs. Huger and her family at this time.”
Huger’s arrest was heavily featured in the ninth season of “The Real Housewives of Potomac,” which premiered in October 2024. The season’s first episode, titled “A Crash Course in Deflection,” began with a reenactment of her accident.
Text shown at the bottom of the screen indicated that Huger had left dinner at around 11:19 p.m. to return home on the evening of her crash. Bravo noted that approximately 20 minutes later, she was driving along Oaklyn Drive in Potomac. The text then read: “11:50 p.m.—Karen is taken into custody and cited with DUI.”
“I was in shock seeing that Karen has totaled her car, all the charges,” fellow cast member Gizelle Bryant said in the episode.
“We know that Karen has had a DUI before, so I never thought that Karen would be a repeat offender,” added Ashley Darby, another personality on the show.
“The woman I know, the mother, the businesswoman, the wife—all those things that she prides herself on—I never thought that Karen would put herself in this situation.”
Elsewhere in the episode, Huger, who pleaded not guilty, shared that she had ample time to reflect on the crash.
“Accidents happen, and while I cannot talk about things in detail because the case has not been adjudicated, I will say this, the injuries—thank God—are not life-threatening, it’s my ribs and my ankle,” she said. “I know the value of life more now than ever.”
Huger, who has two children—Rayvin, 27, and Brandon, 37—with her husband, Ray Huger, was not present at the Season 9 reunion.
However, Bravo showed a video of her being interviewed shortly after being found guilty during Part 1 of the reunion, which aired on Feb. 16.
In the clip, Huger said her “heart dropped” after hearing the guilty verdict.
“This is very frightening, but I accept full responsibility for everything,” she shared. “I don’t care about me right now. I care about my children, I care about my family.”
When asked if she has a problem with drinking, Huger promptly replied: “No, I’m not an alcoholic, let’s be clear.”
“I know a lot of children look up to me,” she added before sharing a word of advice to young viewers.
“Do as I say not as I do.”
