Abby Wambach Pleads Guilty to DUI Charge

Former U.S. Women’s National Team soccer star Abby Wambach has pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of intoxicants, in a reversal of her previous plans to fight the charge.

Abby Wambach Pleads Guilty to DUI Charge

The 35-year-old former forward appeared before a Multnomah County Circuit Court judge in Oregon Tuesday afternoon. As part of the plea, Wambach agreed to enroll in a diversion program that could potentially cause her charge to be expunged in a year if she follows specific conditions, The Oreognian stated.

Wambach, who is a first-time offender, was ordered to complete drug and alcohol treatment and to install an ignition interlock system in her vehicle. She was also ordered to refrain from drinking alcohol for one year.

The retired two-time Olympic gold medalist was pulled over on April 3 in Portland, Oregon, after a police officer caught her running a red light shortly after 11 pm. After failing a field sobriety test and registering a 0.13 percent blood alcohol content (BAC) level, Wambach was arrested and charged with a DUI. The legal limit in Oregon is 0.08.

Her attorney, Ben Eder, originally submitted a non-guilty plea on her behalf.

Wambach confessed to police that she had tried cocaine and used marijuana 10 years ago in court papers released from her arraignment on April 5. She also admitted to weekly alcohol use.

Wambach retired from from the U.S. Women’s National Team following the team’s World Cup victory last summer, and currently lives in Portland. She is the highest all-time goal scorer for the national team and holds the world record for international goals for both female and male soccer players with 184 goals. She was also awarded the 2012 FIFA World Player of the Year, becoming the first American woman to win the award in ten years.

The day after her arrest, Wambach wrote a heartfelt apology on Facebook in which she accepted full responsibility for her actions and explained that she had been leaving a friend’s house that night.

GLENDALE, AZ – DECEMBER 13: Abby Wambach #20 of the United States attempts a shot against Zhao Rong #14 of China during the second half of the women’s soccer match at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 13, 2015 in Glendale, Arizona. USA defeated China 2-0. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)