Miss Montana has been suspended from the duties related to her pageant crown, the Associated Press reported. She has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol stemming from an incident on January 3. Jennifer Hepner, who is 23, was permitted to compete in the Miss America contest on January 24 and her duties were suspended in February 16. Hepner, whose talent was belly dancing, was not a finalist in the Miss America competition. Despite the allegations, the Miss America Organization has stated that Hepner will keep her crown until her predecessor is selected this June. Hepner is a graduate student at the University of Montana.
Hepner was pulled over in Bozeman, Montana. Law enforcement officials say that she refused to submit to a breath or blood alcohol test to determine her sobriety level. As a result of the incident, Hepner's driver's license has been suspended. Hepner has entered a plea of not guilty. Her criminal defense lawyer says that Hepner requested to speak with legal counsel in the course of the traffic stop, but police did not permit her to do so.
Hepner is not the first beauty queen to become embroiled in criminal problems that has affected her duties. Miss Teen Louisiana, 18-year-old Lindsey Evans, was arrested for possession of marijuana and leaving a restaurant without paying the bill last fall, an incident that made national news due to her role. The governing board stripped Hepner of her tiara due to the behavior, which is unbecoming of a beauty queen and sets a poor example. She is a student at Northwestern State University. Because the runner-up in the 2008 contest was slated to compete for the 2009 tiara, Miss Teen Louisiana was not replaced and so the slot remained vacant until the next competition, which was held just 10 days after Evans lost her crown.
Hepner was pulled over in Bozeman, Montana. Law enforcement officials say that she refused to submit to a breath or blood alcohol test to determine her sobriety level. As a result of the incident, Hepner's driver's license has been suspended. Hepner has entered a plea of not guilty. Her criminal defense lawyer says that Hepner requested to speak with legal counsel in the course of the traffic stop, but police did not permit her to do so.
Hepner is not the first beauty queen to become embroiled in criminal problems that has affected her duties. Miss Teen Louisiana, 18-year-old Lindsey Evans, was arrested for possession of marijuana and leaving a restaurant without paying the bill last fall, an incident that made national news due to her role. The governing board stripped Hepner of her tiara due to the behavior, which is unbecoming of a beauty queen and sets a poor example. She is a student at Northwestern State University. Because the runner-up in the 2008 contest was slated to compete for the 2009 tiara, Miss Teen Louisiana was not replaced and so the slot remained vacant until the next competition, which was held just 10 days after Evans lost her crown.
