Alabama Senate Majority Leader Zeb Little pleaded guilty Monday to driving under the influence of liquor and having an open liquor container in his pickup.

The 40-year-old Democrat from Cullman admitted his guilt in Jefferson County District Court as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors. District Judge Sheldon Watkins fined him $625, gave him a suspended 30-day sentence and ordered him to attend driving classes. Little will also lose his driver’s license for 90 days.

The judge dismissed charges of failing to yield for an emergency vehicle and having an expired driver’s license.

After the court hearing, Senate President Pro Tem Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, said he still has confidence in Little as a Senate leader and Little handled the arrest correctly.

“It was the right thing to do to address his situation straight on,” Smitherman said.

Little, an attorney, appeared in district court with his lawyer, former state Criminal Appeals Court Judge Bill Bowen. He sat with others in a courtroom crowded with people charged with driving offenses, but he stood out because he was wearing a coat and tie and most others wore jeans.

The judge did not lecture the senator or discuss the dangers of drunken driving. He simply processed Little’s case like he did the others.

Little was arrested April 3 in Jefferson County after striking another vehicle on Interstate 65. After his arrest, he acknowledged that he had “struggled with alcohol” at various times in his life and would accept responsibility for his actions.

“I’ve done that today,” he said as he left the courthouse.

Little also said he is “taking every step I need to make sure this never happens again,” but he would not elaborate.

Little said he did not use his powerful position in the Alabama Senate to seek special treatment.

Asked if he plans to run for a fourth Senate term next year, he said, “We’ll address those questions in due course.”

Source