Singer Rick Springfield was arrested Friday after he missed a court date related to a 2011 DUI conviction in Malibu. In what he said was a big misunderstanding, the singer was taken to the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station, which he called “my home away from home.”
Springfield, who lives in Malibu and is famous for songs such as “Jessie’s Girl,” was supposed to appear in court in February to prove he had completed a court-ordered alcohol education program. The program was part of a plea deal with prosecutors made in order to avoid jail time.
But Springfield failed to show up, and sheriff’s deputies issued a bench warrant for his arrest Wednesday. Deputies appeared at Springfield’s Malibu home Friday and took him into custody at the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station.
Various media reports have stated that Springfield’s lawyer arranged to have the warrant recalled by the time he was booked, and he soon left the station.
On the singer’s Facebook page, Springfield posted a photo of the sheriff’s station, and said he had not been aware of the February court date he was arrested for missing. Springfield also said he would still be playing a scheduled performance Friday night at Eagle Mountain Casino in Porterville.
“My home away from home,” Springfield wrote. “Lost hills sheriff station. Arrested this am on a bench warrant. I didn’t know that I was supposed appear in court a few weeks ago. It was to do with the old DUI charge and it’s been cleared up and i am free to go. Thought I might miss the gig tonite but I will be there and we will celebrate together. Life is not boring. XOXO”
Springfield was pulled over for speeding in May 2011 on Pacific Coast Highway near Trancas Canyon Road. He submitted to a field sobriety test and blew a 0.10, surpassing California’s legal limit of 0.08.
