Karen Huger Sentenced to Jail for DUI in Potomac

POTOMAC, Md. — Karen Huger, star of the reality series “The Real Housewives of Potomac,” was sentenced Wednesday to two years in jail, with one year suspended, following a DUI conviction. The sentence was handed down after she crashed her vehicle in March 2024.

Huger was arrested on March 19, 2024, after her vehicle collided with another in Potomac, Maryland. She was subsequently convicted by a Montgomery County jury in December on charges of driving under the influence, negligent driving, failure to control speed to avoid a collision, and failure to notify of an address change.

During the sentencing hearing, Huger expressed remorse to Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Terrence McGann and the police officers involved in her arrest, calling the experience a “mirror of brutal clarity.”

“I take full responsibility for my actions and I am deeply sorry to everyone affected, especially those who encountered the consequences of my decisions,” Huger said, according to court filings.

Huger, along with her husband Raymond and defense attorney David Martella, advocated for leniency, citing her efforts toward sobriety and rehabilitation. However, Judge McGann stated that Huger’s DUI history warranted a stricter sentence to deter public endangerment.

In addition to the jail time, Huger was ordered to pay $2,900 in fines and serve five years of probation. After completing her sentence, she will face a one-year suspension of her driving privileges. Any violation of her probation could result in her being sent back to jail to serve the remainder of her suspended sentence.

Martella told ABC News that he anticipates Huger will serve between six to eight months in jail before being released for good behavior. He described Huger as “at peace” with the judge’s decision.

“She is glad this part of the process is over. She has been working diligently on her recovery and is ready to face the future,” Martella remarked outside the courthouse.

Emotional moments unfolded following the sentencing as family members embraced Huger in the courtroom, with tears streaming down her sister’s face as Huger signed probation documents before being taken into custody.

One family member shouted, “We love you! God’s got you,” as police escorted Huger away. While no decision has been made regarding an appeal, Huger has starred on “The Real Housewives of Potomac” since its inception in 2016 and gained recognition in her own special, “Karen’s Grande Dame Reunion.”

Karen is married to businessman Ray Huger, who appears alongside her on the reality series.