Rochelle White pleads guilty to driving while license suspended; court suspends sentence and dismisses cell-phone violation

Rochelle White pleaded guilty to driving while license suspended (second degree) during the July 30, 2025 readiness calendar. Judge Jennifer Grant accepted her plea after confirming White reviewed the plea form with counsel and understood the rights she was waiving.

The court noted collateral consequences with the Department of Licensing and that White was not relicensed at the time of the plea. Defense counsel told the court White had not worked for seven months, had no savings, was caring for a son with medical and mental-health needs, and had accumulated $5,612 in fines from various jurisdictions. The court granted the defense’s request for a suspended sentence of two years rather than the 24 months requested by the defendant, suspended the $5,000 statutory fine, and imposed jurisdiction for two years.

Judge Grant also addressed a cell-phone violation related to the same incident and, at the city’s request, recalled and dismissed that violation (removing a $197 obligation). White was instructed to keep the court informed of any address changes so mailed judgment and sentence documents could be delivered.