'Lost' stars split paths in Hawaii DUI cases
One admits guilt while another gets her trial postponed
A STAR of the television show "Lost" has opted to admit her guilt, while another had her trial postponed until next spring for separate drunken-driving arrests in Kailua earlier this month.
Attorney Lanson Kupau told a Kaneohe District Court judge that actress Cynthia Watros would like to "take full responsibility" for her actions. He said that on Jan. 12 she will either enter a plea of no contest or guilty to driving under the influence.
The attorney for actress Michelle Rodriguez waived a reading of the charges at yesterday's hearing in Kaneohe District Court and a trial date was set for March 30.
"Basically, Cynthia realizes that she made a mistake," Kupau said. "She's very sorry for what happened, and she wants to get this over. ... She wants to take responsibility for it, and she's not going to duck it."
Rodriguez and Watros were arrested separately for operating motor vehicles while under the influence of an intoxicant just after midnight on Dec. 1 along Kalanianaole Highway after they began to "weave all over the right lane and into the bicycle lane," according to police reports.
CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM
Deputy Prosecutor Sean Sanada spoke to reporters at Kaneohe District Court yesterday about the DUI charges against "Lost" actresses Michelle Rodriguez and Cynthia Watros.
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Police said Rodriguez, who had been driving a black Mercedes sedan, had a blood-alcohol level of 0.145 percent while Watros, who was driving a white Lexus sport utility vehicle, had a 0.1 percent blood-alcohol level -- both above the state's legal limit of 0.08 percent.
According to police reports, when Watros was pulled over, she told officers she was heading back home to Lanikai, until police pointed out to her that she was heading in the wrong direction.
The police reports also stated Rodriguez was "very argumentative" with arresting officers and said, "I don't (expletive) belong here! Why don't you just put a gun to my head and shoot me? You've already taken my freedom! You might as well take my life, too! This is (expletive) bull--, baby! I don't (expletive) belong here!"
The reports also state that after being fingerprinted, Rodriguez said, "I was only drinking, baby. I can understand taking away my car for drinking and driving, but I didn't hurt nobody, so why do I have to wear these things? I feel like a slave, man. This takes away my freedom," and grabbed at the leg irons she was wearing.
Rodriguez's attorney Steven Barta had no comment about yesterday's proceedings or how his client would plead in March. However, city prosecutors point out that this is Rodriguez's second drunken-driving arrest because she was already on probation in California for pleading no contest to driving drunk, leaving the scene of an accident and driving without a license in June 2004.
"We are counting the one that occurred in L.A.," said Deputy Prosecutor Sean Sanada. "Mr. Barta wanted additional time to speak with the state about this case.
"Until that time happens ... we don't know what her decision is going to be in this case."
Besides Rodriguez's drunken-driving arrest, she has also been cited three times for speeding on Oahu and was fined $357 for going 83 mph in a 55 mph zone on Nov. 19.
Officials for the Los Angeles City Attorney's office have filed a motion in California courts to revoke Rodriguez's probation because she violated the terms of her release when she was arrested for drunken driving in Hawaii, and said she could face jail time on the mainland.