Karen Huger, known as the “Grande Dame of Potomac” on The Real Housewives of Potomac, was sentenced to two years in jail, with one year mandatory, after being found guilty of DUI-related charges from a late 2024 incident in Montgomery County.
The ruling on the Karen Huger DUI case, handed down Wednesday morning, also includes $2,900 in fines. Huger was taken into custody immediately following the verdict.
Defense attorney David A. Martella stated that Huger is “at peace” now that this chapter is over and has been committed to recovery for nearly two months. However, no immediate decision was made regarding a potential appeal.
Huger was convicted in December 2024 on seven DUI-related counts stemming from a crash in March 2024, when she lost control of her Maserati, crossed a median, and crashed into a crosswalk.
Inside the courtroom, Huger’s defense argued for compassion, emphasizing her deep remorse and efforts toward rehabilitation. The sentencing was briefly paused when the judge discovered someone live-blogging the proceedings on Reddit, leading to a courtroom-wide phone ban. Huger’s family, visibly emotional, declined to comment following the hearing.
Her future on RHOP remains uncertain. Huger was absent from the show’s three-part reunion, instead sharing a pre-recorded message addressing her struggles and expressing concern for her family’s well-being.
