SPRINGVILLE — Lacey Plaisted, wife of BYU basketball star Trent Plaisted, pleaded guilty Tuesday to a reduced charge of drug-related reckless driving in connection with a December traffic stop.
Originally, Springville prosecutors charged 21-year-old Lacey Plaisted with a first offense class B misdemeanor DUI and a class C misdemeanor of failing to stop. But city prosecutor Paul DeWitt and Plaisted's attorney Greg Stewart struck a deal in which she would plead guilty to a lesser charge of drug-related reckless driving in Springville Justice Court.
DeWitt said he thought the deal was appropriate considering the circumstances of the situation.
"This looks like an isolated incident," he said.
Trent Plaisted accompanied his wife to the courthouse, and the two were polite throughout her court appearance. Trent, who's at home on a basketball court, admitted the couple felt out of place in a court of law.
"We're kinda new to the whole experience," he said to a bailiff.
After Lacey Plaisted pleaded guilty in a barely audible voice, DeWitt and Stewart reviewed the facts of the case for Judge Sherlynn Fenstermaker. A Utah County sheriff's deputy observed Lacey Plaisted driving left of center near 600 South and Canyon Road in Springville Dec. 13. When she failed to stop at a stop sign, the officer pulled her over.
The officer noticed Lacey Plaisted's speech was slurred, and she was booked in Utah County Jail. She was released on bail an hour later. DeWitt said a blood sample taken from Lacey Plaisted at the time tested positive for hydrocodone — a common painkiller.
Lacey Plaisted said she injured her knee working at Ruby River, a steakhouse in Provo, and she had taken some painkillers the morning of the traffic stop.
As Fenstermaker handed down her sentence, she said the situation was a good lesson in reading labels on prescription medicine, especially the warnings against driving or operating heavy machinery.
"There's a reason they put those on there," she said.
The fine for drug-related reckless driving is $1,332, Fenstermaker said, but she gave Lacey Plaisted a $500 credit based on tuition as incentive to do well in school. She also said Lacey Plaisted would not have to serve jail time or perform community service.
Stewart said the situation was unfortunate, but ended well.
"We've reached a good resolution for everyone," he said.
E-mail: jdana@desnews.com