Los Angeles  - Charles Barkley did the crime, and now he'll serve his time

Barkley, the Hall of Fame Basketball star turned TV analyst, was sentenced on Monday to 10 days in jail after pleading guilty to two counts of driving under the influence
(DUI), according to Phoenix, Arizona radio station KTAR.

Arrested on New Year's Eve, Barkley also pleaded "responsible" to a third charge of running a red light, near his Scottsdale, Arizona home.

Though the 45-year old Barkley was sentenced to 10 days in jail, beginning March 21, and fined 2,000 dollars, he could have that time cut in half, if he completes an alcohol awareness program.

As a result of having a blood-alcohol level of .149 per cent - nearly twice the legal limit of .08 per cent in Arizona - television station TNT suspended him for six weeks.

Upon his return last Thursday, Barkley apologized for the embarrassing incident.

"Clearly everybody knows I got a DUI," Barkley told a national audience. "That's unacceptable, 100 per cent my fault. I screwed up, I made a mistake. I'm sorry, I apologize." (dpa)