New York Post - August 19, 2002
LIZZIE'S LOCKUP TERROR by Post staff
Lizzie Grubman is "terrified" to go to jail.
"She's scared, of course she is, but she wants it over with - for the victims, for their families, for her family," a friend of the embattled PR princess told The Post yesterday.
"She's terrified that she's going to have to live with people she doesn't know. And who knows what they might think of her.
"But hopefully, they're all in there for their own infractions, and they'll realize she's no different than they are."
As frightened as she is of jail, she'd rather spend time in the slammer than face endless months of legal wrangling.
Grubman, the friend said, "is not sitting around feeling sorry for herself - her concern right now is what's best for the other people involved in this."
"She's decided this is the way it's going to be. It was her decision. It's something that will make the victims, and hopefully the public, happy-that she's paying her debt and doing the right thing."
The 31-year-old publicist is expected to cop a guilty plea Friday to mowing down 16 people with her father's Mercedes SUV at a Southampton club last summer.
The deal calls for a 90-day sentence, but Grubman will likely be released after 60 days for good behavior. The plea deal will also likely include probation and community service.
Grubman would do her time at a dorm-like DWI facility in Yaphank.
"It may not have bars, but it's still a jail," the friend said.
Grubman's spokesman, Dan Klores, said only, "Any normal person would be filled with anxiety and fear in this situation."
Another friend said, "Personally, I think she initially wanted to go to trial, but that could be months and months down the road.
"That means more waiting time for everyone. And if she went to trial and got acquitted, people would say she bought her way out.
"If she got the book thrown at her, her legal team would appeal.
"This way, she goes to jail, she does her time, she pays her dues and then it's over."
Grubman was charged with drunken driving, 24 counts of vehicular assault and fleeing the scene of the accident July 7, 2001, at the Conscience Point nightclub.
She could have faced up to seven years in jail if convicted at trial.
Grubman was hit with more than $200 million in victim lawsuits - some of which have been settled.
"People think she's arrogant, that she's a spoiled rich kid with no remorse who can buy her way out of a bad situation - and that's not the case," said a family friend.
"She feels terribly about the accident, and if she could take it back, change it, she would. But she can't. All she can do now is try and make things right for the people she hurt."