Vanessa Trump Attends Tiger Woods Plea Hearing in Florida
The golfer's girlfriend sat behind him in a Martin County courtroom as he pleaded no contest to reckless driving.
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Courtroom Appearance in Martin County
Vanessa Trump was in a Martin County, Florida courtroom on Wednesday when the golfer Tiger Woods changed his plea in the criminal case arising from a March rollover crash.
CNN reported that she sat behind Woods during the hearing and that the two chatted before the judge entered. The Guardian reported that Woods and Vanessa Trump, whom it described as his girlfriend, walked in and out of the Martin County Courthouse together for the change of plea hearing.
The Guardian said Woods wore a dark suit and tie and arrived in the front passenger seat of a black SUV. He did not answer questions from reporters gathered outside. The sources identify Vanessa Trump only as Woods' girlfriend and give no further detail about her.
The Plea Agreement
Woods, 50, pleaded no contest to a reduced charge of willful reckless driving, and the court entered a judgment of guilty. He had originally pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence and refusal to submit to testing.
He agreed to a five year suspension of his driver's licence. The publications differ on the money. CNN reported he agreed to pay $1,500 in fines. The BBC reported a $1,000 fine. The Guardian reported a $1,000 fine on the reckless driving count plus $500 for refusing a lawful test, and said court records show he paid $2,131.44 in fines and costs after the hearing.
The Guardian also reported a concurrent five year suspension on a careless driving citation and that Woods agreed not to seek a hardship exemption during the suspension. CNN quoted state Judge Darren Steele telling him: "For the safety of the public, if you drive, you will immediately go back to jail." The hearing lasted about five minutes, and Woods answered mainly "yes" to the judge's questions.
The March Crash
The charges came from a crash on 27 March. The Guardian dated it to Hobe Sound and said Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek described Woods approaching at a high rate of speed on a road with a 30mph limit as a truck slowed to turn into a driveway.
Woods' Land Rover clipped a trailer and came to rest on its driver's side. He was alone, was not injured and climbed out through the passenger side. He told deputies he had looked down at his phone.
A breath test found no alcohol, but Woods refused further drug testing. Deputies found two hydrocodone pills in his pocket. The BBC reported that Woods said afterwards on social media that he was stepping away to seek treatment and work toward lasting recovery.
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