Keyshia Cole escapes punishment over September arrest

R&B star Keyshia Cole has escaped a legal mess following an arrest in September (14), when police discovered she was still a wanted woman relating to a 2002 DUI charge.

The I Should Have Cheated hitmaker was placed on probation following the driving under the influence (DUI) bust and ordered to attend an alcohol education course, but court officials did not receive a proof of completion notice and a bench warrant was subsequently issued for her arrest.

She managed to avoid a run-in with authorities until last year (14), when she was accused of assaulting an assistant of her rumored ex-boyfriend Bryan 'Birdman' Williams. Cops were called over the incident at his Los Angeles home and during their investigation, they learned there was a warrant out for Cole's arrest.

The singer faced 30 days behind bars for the apparent violation, but her lawyer, Shawn Holley, appeared in a Santa Clarita, California court on Monday (06Apr15) and successfully argued the decade-old warrant should not be enforced.

Holley blamed Cole's former legal representative for failing to alert court officials to the completed alcohol awareness sessions, but claimed those in charge of the program, who no longer have records from the course, must have notified chiefs at the Department of Motor Vehicles, because the musician has since been able to obtain two driving licenses.

The judge accepted Holley's argument and allowed Cole to walk free, according to TMZ.com.