Broward County Judge Lynn Rosenthal agrees to plea deal

Judge seeking re-election has charge reduced to reckless driving

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A Broward County judge arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence won't go to prison after agreeing to a plea deal with prosecutors Wednesday.

Judge Lynn Rosenthal had a DUI charge reduced to reckless driving in exchange for serving three months of probation and 25 hours of community service.

Rosenthal, 56, was arrested in May after her BMW sport utility vehicle struck a parked Broward Sheriff's Office cruiser in the parking lot of the county courthouse.

According to the arrest report, Rosenthal admitted to taking Ambien, a sleep-inducing prescription drug, the night before.

The judge is running for re-election next month.

Rosenthal did not attend Wednesday's hearing.

"I have entered a no-contest plea today and sincerely regret the auto accident I was involved in on May 27, 2014," Rosenthal said Thursday in a statement. "Thankfully no one was injured. It is important for the public to know this accident was the result of an involuntary overdose and adverse drug reaction I had to Zolpidem Tartrate ER (extended release), the generic form of Ambien CR. This involuntary overdose was caused because my doctor mistakenly prescribed me twice the amount of Ambien CR recommended by the FDA."