Cyrus "Zack" Shepherd-Oppenheim, the 22-year-old son of actress Cybill Shepherd, was ordered to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings by the judge presiding over his theft case, the Philadelphia Daily News reported.
The court order specifically says he must attend 24 AA meetings as a condition of his sentence stemming from theft charges at Philadelphia Airport.
While he was charged with theft and not driving under the influence, court-ordered attendance of AA meetings usually is reserved for DUI offenders. Savvy Philadelphia DUI lawyers often request mandatory AA meetings in exchange for expungement of the charges.
Cyrus Shepherd-Oppenheim's case is no exception.
Once he completes the program's requirements, his charges will virtually disappear. The Pennsylvania program, reserved for first-time offenders, is called the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program, or simply ARD (PDF).
He smiled and thanked the judge as he left the courtroom with his attorney, William J. Brennan, who described the relatively long period of time between the January arrest and the judge's order:
"Basically, the case is kept in limbo for a year. At the successful conclusion of the year, all charges are dismissed and the record of his arrest is expunged. It would be as if this never happened."
The attorney said he wasn't sure that AA was needed in his client's case but conceded that "it can't hurt."
Police said he stole a digital camera, a leather makeup case and cash from carry-on bags from other airplane passengers. He is a student at the University of Pennsylvania; his attorney said he was a straight-A student.
If you're a first-time DUI offender, ask your Philadelphia DUI attorney if the ARD program is a viable option.
Related Resources:
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DUI - Sentencing (FindLaw)
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DUI Sentence Stirs Protests in Pa. (Press and Sun Bulletin)
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Browse Philadelphia DUI Attorneys (FindLaw)
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