'Iron Chef' Cat Cora Avoids Jail Time for DUI case

(Photo : Twitter/Cat Cora)
Cat Cora

"Iron Chef" and "Around the World in 80 Plates" star Cat Cora will not face time behind bars for her June 17 DUI arrest.

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Cora pled "no contest" on Aug. 17 to driving with a blood alcohol level of .08 or higher, a representative for the Santa Barbara County District Attorney told TMZ. Her remaining DUI count was dropped as well. 

She did, however, receive some punishment. Cora was sentenced to three years probation and nine months of DUI school. The Food Network star also had to pay $2,386 in fines. As long as she fulfills all her requirements, she will not have to serve her 120-day suspended jail sentence. 

Cora rear-ended a vehicle after leaving a tavern, officers told People magazine. She admitted to drinking three beers and later blew .19 on a breathalyzer, twice the legal limit, Santa Babara police told TMZ.

"I deeply regret my decision to drive that evening after my designated driver became unavailable," Cora said in a statement soon after her arrest. "I learned a very important lesson from this experience and take full accountability for my actions. This will never happen again." 

Just moments after the crash, the other driver videotaped her. Cora angrily called the driver and his passenger "nerds" with no life.

Cora paid all restitution to the other driver, reported TMZ.

The celebrity chef took her mugshot 11 days after her DUI arrest.