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Ex-Miss USA Rima Fakih Gets Probation In DUI Case

HIGHLAND PARK (WWJ/AP) - Rima Fakih, the first Arab-American to be crowned Miss USA, has been sentenced to probation and community service in a Michigan drunken driving case.

The 26-year-old former beauty queen avoided the possibility of jail time during Wednesday's hearing in Highland Park. Judge William McConico put her on six months' probation and ordered she must pay around $845 in fines and costs.

Fakih also must attend an alcohol safety class, a victim impact class, and perform 20 hours of ocmmunity service speaking to high school students about her legal experience.

"I want to do it here ... because, I mean, it's something that I'm already part of. And, at the same time, if I'm gonna give back I wanna give back to my community," Fakih told reporters outside the courthouse.

Fakih pleaded no contest last month to driving while visibly impaired.

Fakih said she's happy to have this behind her and she's ready to move on. But does she feel like she narrowly avoided going to jail?

"It wasn't that. It was kind of more, for me, it was like, good -- the second I decide to make a bad decision I was tripped. Like, watch out," she said.

Arrested back in December, Fakih was accused of driving 60 mph in a Jaguar and weaving through traffic without using a signal.

Two police breath tests put Fakih's blood alcohol content at more than twice the legal limit and police said they found an open bottle of champagne behind the driver's seat.

The former Miss Michigan was crowned Miss USA in 2010.

Fakih said she's looking ahead to more in her show biz career. She'll appear on a new TV show "The Choice" premiering June 7 on FOX.

(TM and © Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012  CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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