‘RHOP’ Star Karen Huger Sentenced to Jail Time for DUI Conviction

Karen Huger, best known as the “Grande Dame” of The Real Housewives of Potomac (RHOP), has been sentenced to two years in jail, with one year suspended, after being found guilty of driving under the influence in late 2024. The sentencing took place Wednesday morning in Montgomery County, Maryland, according to court records.

The reality TV star was convicted in December 2024 on seven DUI-related charges stemming from a crash in March of the same year. Authorities say Huger lost control of her 2017 Maserati, veering over a median and crosswalk. At the time, she told TMZ that she was emotionally distraught and swerved to avoid a head-on collision.

During the sentencing hearing, Huger’s defense team pleaded for leniency, arguing that “nobody lives a charmed life” and asking the judge for compassion. Her attorneys emphasized that Huger deeply regrets the incident, noting that she had sent a letter apologizing and thanking the officers involved in her arrest.

The courtroom proceedings took an unexpected turn when the judge abruptly paused the hearing after discovering someone was live-blogging the sentencing on Reddit. All phones were ordered to be turned off before the hearing resumed.

Huger, a Virginia native and University of Virginia graduate, has been a mainstay on RHOP since its premiere in 2016. The show is currently in its ninth season, which premiered in October 2024.

Her legal troubles also impacted her involvement in the show’s most recent reunion special. Huger opted out of the three-part RHOP reunion and instead shared a pre-recorded video addressing her DUI conviction. In the clip, she expressed remorse, acknowledged the seriousness of the situation, and opened up about concerns regarding her alcohol consumption and its effect on her family.

For now, Huger’s future on RHOP remains unclear as she prepares to serve her sentence.