Actor Michael Madsen is facing two misdemeanor DUI charges stemming from his arrest last month in Malibu, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday.
A May 20 arraignment date is scheduled for the 61-year-old actor, who was charged Tuesday with one count each of driving under the influence of alcohol within 10 years of another DUI offense and driving with a 0.08 percent blood-alcohol content within 10 years of another DUI offense.
Madsen — who could face up to 364 days in jail if convicted as charged — was arrested March 24 by Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies after his vehicle struck a pole.
The actor, whose film credits include “Kill Bill,” “Hateful Eight” and “Reservoir Dogs,” was also arrested on suspicion of DUI in Malibu in 2012, TMZ reported.
In the latest case, Madsen’s attorney recently told The Blast.com that his client’s accident was related to side effects to medication that he was taking under a doctor’s care.
“It works better when taken at night before bed and he took it earlier,” the lawyer said. “Modifying the timing of drugs to achieve the greatest benefit with the lowest risk of unpleasant side effects is called drug chronotherapy.”
Madsen’s lawyer said last month that Madsen planned to “provide that defense in court if charges are filed.”
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