Kiefer released from jail

2008-01-21 17:02

Los Angeles - Actor Kiefer Sutherland has been released from jail after serving 48 days on a drunken driving charge, according to a police official.

Two police spokesmen did not return phone calls seeking confirmation of a story on People magazine's website saying the 41-year-old actor walked out of jail at 00:05 on Monday, hours earlier than had been expected.

But a police official who spoke on condition of anonymity and was not authorised to speak publicly confirmed that Sutherland had been released.

People quoted police Officer John Balian as saying, "(Kiefer) looked like he was glad to be out," and that Sutherland was wearing a shirt and jeans when he left the facility.

Sutherland - the star of Fox television's drama, 24 - has spent his sentence cleaning sheets, pillowcases and blankets on laundry duty, Balian told The Associated Press on Friday.

"He was very humble, never complained," Balian said. "He didn't give us any problems at all."

Sutherland pleaded no contest in October to driving with a blood-alcohol level above the legal limit of 0.08 percent.

Drunken-driving arrest

He was sentenced to 30 days, as well as 18 days for violating probation stemming from a 2004 drunken-driving arrest.

After entering his plea last fall, Sutherland issued a statement saying he was "very disappointed in myself for the poor judgment I exhibited recently, and I'm deeply sorry for the disappointment and distress this has caused my family, friends and co-workers."

He was granted a request to serve his time in suburban Glendale's city jail rather than in the overcrowded downtown Los Angeles County jail.

The trade-off was that he could not shave any time off his sentence for good behaviour or early release because of overcrowding.

The actor must also serve five years probation and complete an 18-month alcohol education programme and attend weekly therapy sessions for six months.

- AP