Sept. 14, 2007

FRANKLIN, Tenn. (AP) — Mindy McCready was sentenced Friday to a year in jail on a 2004 drug charge after she violated her probation in Florida. The 31-year-old country singer has been in jail since July when she was returned to Nashville after being accused of scratching her mother in a scuffle and resisting sheriff's deputies in her hometown of Fort Myers.

McCready received a suspended three-year sentence in 2004 for fraudulently obtaining prescription painkillers. She was resentenced Friday because of the probation violation.

The singer sobbed as she asked for leniency from Circuit Judge Jeff Bivins.

"Your honor, I can honestly tell you this: This has been the longest two months of my life ... not being able to hold my son ... has been excruciatingly painful."

"I could only say I'm sorry," she said. "Please give me a chance to make things as right as they can possibly be."

Bivins sentenced her to a year in the county jail with credit for 75 days of time served. After her release she will face another two years of probation.

Deputy District Attorney General Derek Smith said McCready violated probation by being charged in a new offense, not reporting those charges immediately to her probation officer and by the nature of the new assault charges.

McCready had a hit in 1996 with "Guys Do It All the Time."

She has struggled with legal and personal problems that included a beating by her then-boyfriend and suicide attempts. She gave birth to her son in 2006.

Still pending is a charge of violating her probation for driving on a suspended license in 2005. She pleaded guilty to the driving charge, but her attorney has since sought to withdraw the plea, citing new evidence.

[ Open Letter to Mindy McCready ]

Mindy McCready

Mindy McCready - Country singer released from prison

12/31/07

Country singer Mindy McCready was released from the Williamson County jail on Sunday morning,.

The Fort Myers native has been in jail since July when she violated her probation as a result of an arrest in her hometown for battery and resisting arrest.

McCready hugged her management and family members as she left the jailhouse. She even blew a few kisses in the direction of jail.

“I’m so happy to be out,” she told WKRN2-TV in Nashville. "I’m the happiest girl in the world right now.”

McCready’s jailtime came as a result of an arrest in North Fort Myers in July.

Lee sheriff’s deputies say it all started after a night of drinking and an argument with her mother at their North Fort Myers home. McCready called 911 to say her mother was attacking her, but deputies say that when they arrived, they found McCready’s mother with scratches on her face.

When a deputy tried to handcuff her, McCready resisted, so a woman deputy forced McCready to the ground, causing a scratch. But at the jail, McCready got into another tussle with deputies, prompting them to spritz her with pepper spray.

Although her mother didn’t press charges, the star’s arrest violated a probationary sentence from Nashville for trying to buy OxyContin with a fake prescription in 2004 — and several other run-ins with the law.

Now the gal who hit No. 1 with “Guys do it all the time” said she’s ready to get her career and her life back and spend time with her son, Zander, who has been living in North Fort Myers with McCready’s mother.

“I’m going to work, work, work, and sing, and I’m going to see my son who I miss more than you could possibly imagine," she told the TV station.

The 32-year-old released her last album, “Maybe, Maybe Not” in 2002.

McCready was sentenced to a year in jail but served a little less than six months. She still faces two years probation for violating her probation.

Even though McCready was sentenced to one year, she benefitted from Tennessee's 2-for-1 system with jail time. In McCready's case, every day served counted as two days against her sentence, therefore she was released after about six months. She still has two years probation.

The 2-for-1 system typically is given to most people with minor convictions, except DUIs and child support violators, although a judge can order a 1-for-1 in any specific case.

[ Open Letter to Mindy McCready ]