Kiefer checks into jail to serve 48 days behind bars

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Kiefer Sutherland, Canadian television and film actor, checked into California jail late Wednesday to begin serving a 48-day sentence for DUI. The star of the hit Fox TV series "24" reported to the Glendale Calif. city jail hours after a Los Angeles court sentenced him to 48 days jail term.

The actor will spend 30 days behind bars in connection with a September arrest in West Los Angeles for misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence, registering blood alcohol level higher than the permissible limit, while the remaining 18 days involve a probation violation from a 2004 DUI case.

Sutherland, who entered a no contest plea in October to one count of DUI -driving with a blood-alcohol level above the legal limit of 0.08%, Wednesday afternoon appeared in the court along with his lawyer Blair Berk, and requested to allow him to serve his time at the Glendale city jail.

During a brief hearing, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Stuart Rice granted Sutherland’s request and formally sentenced him to 48 days in jail for the DUI offense and probation violation.

Best-known for playing counter-terrorism agent Jack Bauer on the Fox drama series, "24," Sutherland was on probation for a 2004 drunken driving arrest when he was arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department on the misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence. He was arrested in the early morning hours on Sept. 25 on suspicion of drunken driving in West Los Angeles and later was released on bail.

The 40-year-old actor was pulled over in West L.A. around 1:30 a.m. after making an illegal U-turn, authorities said at the time. He was nabbed for investigation of misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence after he failed a field sobriety test. He was on way back to home after attending the Fox Fall Eco-Casino party at Area nightclub.

Although, the judge gave Sutherland until March 30 to complete his jail term, but he arrived at the jail soon after he was sentenced, said Glendale police Officer John Balian.

"Kiefer made the decision to surrender to custody immediately," Sutherland’s attorney Blair Berk said.

Besides serving all 48 days behind bars, Sutherland was also ordered to serve 60 months probation, pay a $510 fine, enroll in an 18-month alcohol-education class and attend weekly alcohol-therapy sessions for six months, Assistant City Atty. Dan Jeffries said.

Born on December 21, 1966 in London, UK, Kiefer is the son of actor Donald Sutherland and Canadian actress Shirley Douglas. He is the grandson of Canada’s influential politician Tommy Douglas. He has a twin sister named Rachel who works as TV post-production supervisor in Toronto, and three step-brothers from his father’s earlier marriage.

Sutherland made a big screen debut by appearing as Bill in Max Dugan Returns in 1983. He is most famous for his role as CIA agent Jack Bauer in the worldwide TV hit “24”. His magnificent acting in the Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran- created series, helped him won a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award and two Golden Satellite Awards, as well as received two Emmy nominations.

Sutherland has been married twice. In 1988, he was married to actress Camelia Kath who was 14 years his senior. But their marriage lasted for two years. The couple filed for divorce in February 1990. They share a daughter, Sarah Jude born in the same year they got married. He was married a second time, to Kelly Winn, on June 29, 1996. Unfortunately, the relationship ended in May 2004.

Kiefer is known to have had romantic relationships with several women like Julia Roberts and dancer Amanda Rice. He became engaged to Roberts in 1991, although their relationship ended just five days before their planned marriage, which was scheduled for June 14, 1991.