Real Housewives of New Jersey has no shortage of drama, but things are about to get really real for one reality TV veteran, Joe Giudice. His long-awaited trial begins April 1st – and this is not an April Fool’s joke. Juicy Joe’s had his share of trouble with the law in the past, but this time, the charge against him is fraud: for getting caught driving using his lookalike brother, Pete Giudice’s, driver’s license after his own license was suspended for a DUI.
Viewers can recall Joe painting a rosy picture of the DUI incident on season two of Real Housewives of New Jersey, when Joe patiently explained to then-friends Chris and Jacqueline Laurita why he had alcohol in his blood that night. According to Joe he dozed off at the wheel for a second, flipped the car, walked to a family friend’s house, called the police, and took a couple shots in the interim to calm himself down.
If you had forgotten about this case, it’s probably because it’s taken a long time to come to trial. Joe flipped his car in March 2010 and was arrested for a DUI. He subsequently had his license revoked for 12 months and was ordered to serve 30 days of community service. Then in September 2010, Juicy Joe was arrested for driving without a license and spent 10 days in jail. Joe was then arrested for fraud in March 2011, and was indicted in December 2011.
At the time of his 2011 arrest, NorthJersey.com reported: “Giudice’s legitimate license, which was suspended at the time, is still suspended… Giudice is charged with wrongfully using identifying information of another person, a second-degree crime. If convicted he could face up to 10 years in prison… Giudice is also charged with forgery, a fourth-degree crime that carries an 18-month maximum prison sentence.”
Joe has since rejected plea deals to serve five years in jail, and he now faces a 10-year sentence. He plans to reject future plea deals that stipulate serving time in jail and is choosing to take his chances and go to trial. As we previously reported, Chief Assistant Prosecutor Jay McCann said, in May 2012, that any sentence Joe receives will definitely include some jail time. Of course, the real question here is whether or not Caroline Manzo’s prediction that Teresa will write a book about her life as a single mom after Joe goes to jail will come true!
And that’s not all: it looks like Joe’s wife, Teresa Giudice, could be called upon as a witness for the defense. Joe’s lawyer, Miles Feinstein, told Radar Online, “Teresa could be the star witness if we need to call her… And even if she doesn’t testify she will be there every day for him because she completely supports him. She wants Joe to win this case!”
Earlier in February, Radar Online reported, “Giudice’s attorney says he has a rock solid defense, which he vows will prove the innocence of his client, and Joe’s outspoken spouse could prove to be the star witness.” Teresa might prove to be an interesting on the witness stand because she sometimes gets creative with her words. (“Ingredientses”, anyone?) Given Teresa’s history of flipping tables, let’s hope the witness stand is bolted to the floor.
