Karen was convicted of seven counts and sentenced to 10 years in prison for drunk driving in December 2024, with a previous fatal crash.
Per Fox 5 DC, Karen was sentenced to two years in jail with one year suspended. “Karen Huger told me she is at peace with this decision. She is happy to have this part of the process behind her,” her lawyer, David Martella, said in a statement to reporters. “Because of her work in recovery over the last few months, she feels she is the healthiest she has been in several years. She is prepared to get through this, she will get through this. And she looks forward to a brighter day.”
The sentencing took place on February 26, a little under a year after The Real Housewives of Potomac cast member got in a single-car accident in Maryland in March 2024. She was later charged with a DUI and DWI (driving while intoxicated), as well as other charges related to speeding, reckless driving, driving with suspended registration, and for failing to report a change of address to the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration.
Karen was ultimately found guilty on all of the above charges except driving recklessly. Her two-day trial concluded on December 19, and her sentencing was initially scheduled for January 29 until it was delayed.
Karen Huger reacts to her guilty verdict
Just 12 hours after she was found guilty, Karen sat down with a producer from RHOP to share her immediate thoughts.
“My heart dropped,” she admitted in a clip that played at the RHOP Season 9 reunion, which she did not attend. “This is very frightening, but I accept full responsibility for everything that went on with my car accident. I don’t care about me right now; I care about my children, I care about my family. They are so hurt… I know a lot of young children look up to me right now, [they] call me Auntie Karen, [the] Grand Dame. Do as I say, not as I do.”
Why did Karen Huger skip the RHOP Season 9 reunion?
Karen’s manager, Ryan Tresdale, released an exclusive statement about Karen’s absence to The Daily Dish. “Karen made the important decision to enter a private recovery program, so was unable to attend the reunion taping today,” Ryan said. “She was fully supported in this choice. We stand behind Karen as she embarks on this meaningful journey and are proud of her for taking such a significant step forward in her personal growth.”
Karen also addressed her absence in a message to her castmates, which played at the beginning of Part 1 of the reunion.
“OK, ladies, as you notice, I’m not there. I am going away to a treatment center to address taking anti-depressants and drinking,” she began. “I want to get to the bottom of it, but I would be remiss if I didn’t take this time to thank those who truly touched my heart through this process.”
Karen went on to thank Gizelle Bryant for putting a special note in her flowers that read, “One step at a time.”
She also praised Keiarana Stewart for always saying that she would “handle” things as best as she could, as well as Jassi Rideaux for sending her “special notes that touched [her] heart.”
“I plan to be coming back as Karen Huger only, because Karen is enough,” she concluded in her video message.
Find out more about Karen’s case here.
