In the early morning hours of October 16, 2011, Burbank police officers directed traffic through an active accident scene. Mitchel Musso, then 20 years old, failed to slow down his 2007 Mercedes-Benz when approaching the officers. Patrolmen waved him down, detected a strong odor of alcohol, and administered a field sobriety test. Musso blew well over the legal limit of 0.08 percent. Because California operates a strict zero-tolerance law for drivers under 21, officers placed the actor under arrest, booking him at the Burbank City Jail on suspicion of driving under the influence.
Musso posted bail set at $5,000 later that morning. In 2012, his legal team entered a plea of no contest to one count of operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 or higher. He received 36 months of informal probation, mandatory alcohol awareness courses, and a fine. While the legal process unfolded quietly over months, the corporate response from Disney arrived with immediate, ruthless speed.
