Palo Alto Attorney Sentenced to Jail

Palo Alto attorney Richard Chae, 39, was sentenced to jail Thursday by a San Mateo Superior Court Judge. He will spend eight months behind bars for trying to bribe a police officer who pulled him over for driving under the influence.

Chae was stopped on Feb. 26, 2010, in Colma. He had a blood alcohol level of 0.13, far above the legal limit of 0.08. The officer who stopped him says Chae offered him $900 to let him go, and then upped the ante to $35,000.

In addition to the jail time, Chae must pay $2,331 in fines and serve three years of probation.

The State Bar has suspended Chae’s license to practice law because of the bribery conviction.

District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe is pleased with the timing of the sentence, according to the Contra Costa Times, "We were able to get him the justice he deserved," Wagstaffe said. "He will spend New Year's Eve doing his eight months."

According to Wagstaffe, Chae has been convicted of three DUIs in the past decade.

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