NYC Ballet chief pleads guilty in bad-driving case

YONKERS, N.Y. – A New York City Ballet leader accused of driving while intoxicated has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.

Yonkers City Court clerk Nina Azeez says ballet master in chief Peter Martins on Tuesday admitted driving while ability impaired. She says he was fined $300 and released.

The 64-year-old Martins was arrested New Year's Day at a police checkpoint near his home in Irvington, a village just north of New York City.

Police say his Bentley drifted from its lane at the checkpoint and hit a curb. They say he failed a sobriety test and refused a breath test.

The ballet company says it's glad the case is resolved. Martins earlier issued a statement saying he'd been advised not to discuss it.

Martins joined the ballet company as a principal dancer in 1970 and became sole director in 1989.