Tawny Kitaen's DUI Charges Dropped By Prosecutors Days After Her Death
May 19 2021, Published 12:22 p.m. ET
Tawny Kitaen’s criminal charges were dismissed days after her tragic death.
According to court documents obtained by RadarOnline.com, on May 18, a hearing was held in Kitaen’s DUI case in Orange County.
At the hearing, the actress’s lawyer informed the court Kitaen passed away on May 7. As a result, the prosecutors decided to officially drop their case. The judge signed off on the decision.
Kitaen was set to appear in court this month but passed away days before.
As RadarOnline.com previously reported, Kitaen was hit with a misdemeanor charge after being arrested for driving under the influence on July 22, 2019. She pleaded not guilty to all counts.
Kitaen was allowed to remain out on bond while awaiting her trial in the case. The judge ordered Kitaen to attend 3 AA meetings every week.
The case dragged on for several months with many delays due to the pandemic. In October 2020, the court found Kitaen had violated the court order by failing to show proof of her AA meetings and said she was behind 45 sessions.
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A couple of weeks later, Kitaen showed up to court with her lawyer. She presented proof of 15 meetings and the court decided not to throw the actress in jail.
Instead, the court ordered she could remain on bond as long as she didn't drink or take drugs. She also agreed to be subject to random drug tests and was banned from driving without a driver's license. The actress was also ordered to continue attending 3 meetings a week.
The case is now officially closed.
As RadarOnline.com previously reported, Kitaen's cause of death has yet to be determined. Sources close to her family say police told them no drugs were found at the scene of her death.
Kitaen had a long history of legal troubles. In 2006, the actress was taken into custody after police found more than 15 grams of cocaine in her Newport Beach home. Her lawyer scored a sweet plea deal that saw the charges being dropped in exchange for Kitaen completing rehab.
In 2009, Kitaen was arrested for driving under the influence. Law enforcement sources believed she had taken prescription pills. She avoided jail time in that case too.