Las Vegas Sun

March 18, 2024

Courts:

Palms owner George Maloof pleads no contest to DUI charge

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George Joseph Maloof

Palms hotel-casino owner George Maloof has pleaded no contest to driving under the influence, a charge stemming from a traffic stop in October as he was driving home from a wedding.

Maloof, who was scheduled to have a bench trial in Las Vegas Justice Court next week, has worked out a plea agreement where he will pay $580 in fines, complete a DUI class and attend a victim impact panel.

The charge stems from a traffic stop late Oct. 9 near Maloof’s home southwest of the Las Vegas Strip. Maloof was stopped at 11:36 p.m. near Spanish Trail Country Club in the southwest valley, where he lives, and was booked into the Clark County Detention Center. He was released from jail the next day.

Metro officers stopped Maloof after clocking him going 72 mph in a 45 mph zone, officials said. He failed three sobriety tests, according to an arrest report.

Maloof has said he had four beers and was driving home with his assistant from a friend’s wedding about six miles away. Maloof also told officers he had taken Ambien, a prescription sleep aid, prior to driving, according to the arrest report.

Maloof later told The Associated Press that he had four beers at a wedding and that his blood-alcohol level was measured at 0.086 percent.

That’s just over the legal limit in Nevada of 0.08 percent, but Maloof said at the time he thought he was “nowhere near intoxicated.”

Maloof was originally charged with driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, speeding, making an improper turn, driving without a valid license and operation of a motor vehicle without security, according to a criminal complaint.

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