The world-renowned conductor of the
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra accused of drinking and driving entered a not guilty plea Tuesday morning.
Paavo Järvi's lawyer entered the not guilty plea on his client's behalf in a Hamilton County courtroom. Järvi was scheduled to appear in court Tuesday afternoon. A pre-trial hearing has been scheduled for April 20.
The Grammy-award winning conductor is facing charges of OVI after he was pulled over by Fairfax police last week. According to court records, police pulled him over on Columbia Parkway around 1:30 a.m. last Thursday after he apparently fell asleep behind the wheel at a red light.
In the cruiser cam video of the incident,classical music can be heard blaring as officers approach Järvi's 1998 BMW 330 at the intersection. Police say he sat through at least two light changes.
Police say he admitted to have "two wines" and "three waters" during a night of "socializing" in an interview.
The CSO says while the legal matter is sorted out, Järvi will continue to conduct the orchestra.
Järvi became the 12th Music Director of the symphony in September 2001 and is under contract until 2012 according to his
online biography.
