Whitehouse reacts to son's DUI charge

NEWPORT, R.I. (WPRI/AP) - The son of a U.S. Rhode Island Senator was arraigned on a drunk driving charge in Newport District Court.

Alexander Whitehouse, 19, stood before a judge for three minutes and 23 seconds as he pled no contest to a misdemeanor charge of driving drunk.

As a result of his no contest plea, Alexander Whitehouse will now lose his driver’s license for three months, pay $760 in fines and fees, and serve 30 hours of community service.

Outside courthouse, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse spoke to the media.

“Alexander knows that what he did was wrong. The legal process is now completed and Alexander is going to have to face the family consequences for his actions," said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse.

The family’s lawyer explained what Senator Whitehouse and his wife, Sandra, wanted to accomplish in court Friday.

“The Whitehouse’s goal here was to make sure Alexander understood what went on, to make sure that he accepted responsibility and to be have been punished adequately and directly. And that’s what happened today. They didn’t want to prolong this, they had no reason to prolong this,” said Kevin Bristow, defense lawyer.

“We hope, as parents who love him, that these serious events provide him a lifelong lesson,” continued Whitehouse.

Alexander Whitehouse was arrested by Middletown Police early Wednesday morning in a 7/11 parking lot after admitting to having drunk three Bud Light beers and four shots of a gin at a friend's house.

• Related: Sen. Whitehouse's son charged with drunk driving

He failed a field sobriety exam on scene then was handcuffed and brought to the Middletown police station where police say he blew a .09 on a Breathalyzer test. The legal limit in Rhode Island is .08.

The passenger, Robert Bauer, 18, of Portsmouth, was charged with possession of marijuana and minor in possession and consumption of alcohol.

Middletown Police Chief Anthony Pesare said they are investigating where the alcohol came from in this case.

On Wednesday, the Executive Director of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) said she was disappointed to learn of U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse's son's DUI charge.

• Related: MADD reacts to Whitehouse's son's DUI

If Alexander Whitehouse avoids legal trouble, he will not have his criminal conviction on his record permanently. He’ll be allowed to have it expunged or removed at some point in the future.