Tiger Woods has officially entered a plea of not guilty following his high-profile DUI arrest last Friday.
The 15-time major champion is once again turning to a familiar face to navigate his legal troubles, retaining prominent Florida defense attorney Douglas Duncan-the same lawyer who represented him during his 2017 DUI case.
According to court records filed on Tuesday, Duncan has been listed as the attorney of record and has already filed a waiver of Woods’ presence for upcoming pretrial conferences.
Woods, now 50, also waived his formal arraignment, which was originally slated for next month.
Re-enlisting the 2017 defense team
By returning to Duncan, Woods is leaning on the experience of the man who helped him resolve his 2017 arrest, which involved a toxicology report positive for five different drugs. In that instance, Woods eventually pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of reckless driving and completed a diversion program.
This latest case stems from a rollover crash last Friday where deputies described Woods as “lethargic and slow” with “bloodshot and glassy” eyes.
While Woods reportedly blew a 0.00 on a breathalyzer at the scene, the arrest affidavit notes that he performed poorly on field sobriety tests and had two loose hydrocodone pills in his pocket.
Woods told officers the crash occurred because he was distracted by his cell phone while trying to change the radio station and did not notice the vehicle in front of him slowing down.
Prescription meds and the refusal to test
While Woods admitted to taking prescription medication earlier on the day of the crash, he maintained that he had not consumed any alcohol. However, his legal position became more complicated when he reportedly refused to provide a urine sample at the scene.
As a result, Woods is currently facing two specific charges:
- DUI with property damage
- Refusal to submit to a lawful test
Although the 2017 case resulted in probation and community service, the “refusal to submit” charge in Florida often carries its own set of mandatory administrative penalties.
With the not guilty plea now on the books, the golf world turns its attention to May, when Woods is scheduled to return to court for the next phase of the proceedings.
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