‘Jessie’ Star Debby Ryan Charged With Drunk Driving; 6 Other Disney Stars Who Have Been Arrested

Debby Ryan, who rose to fame as the star of Disney Channel’s “Jessie,” was arrested for driving drunk in Los Angeles last week. The 22-year-old joins a long list of Disney actors and actresses who have encountered similar troubles in adulthood.

According to TMZ, Ryan was driving her 2016 Audi at around 11 p.m. PDT on an undisclosed day last week when she crashed into another vehicle. Authorities responded to the scene, where the driver of the other car — a Mercedes Benz — claimed he/she was hurt. Police administered a field sobriety test to Ryan, which she failed. She was immediately arrested for felony driving under the influence. TMZ reports that the charge was automatically upped to a felony because the other drive was hurt. The charge was later lessened to a misdemeanor as the other driver’s injuries were minor and Ryan’s blood alcohol content was just .2 over the legal limit of .08. Ryan is currently out of jail on $100,000 bail.

Ryan isn't the first Disney alum to be arrested for such an offense. Below are six other actors and actresses who have struggled to stay on the straight and narrow:

1. Orlando Brown

While the former “That’s So Raven” fame has not been seen on the small screen for quite some time his name continues to pop up in tabloids for various run ins with the law. On Feb. 18, TMZ reported that the former Disney actor was arrested for assaulting his girlfriend in the parking lot of a police precinct. He is also said to have been in possession of meth when the incident occurred.

2. Shia LaBeouf

LaBeouf, who famously got his start as Louis Stevens on the network’s “Even Stevens,” has amassed quite an impressive rap sheet in the last few years. The actor was first arrested for DUI in July 2008 in West Hollywood, California. According to the Hollywood Reporter, he was driving drunk with “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” co-star Isabel Lucas when he hit another car. He was injured during the incident, which postponed filming for two days. He has since been arrested four times for various offenses.

3. Lindsay Lohan

Like LaBeouf, Lohan has created quite a reputation for herself since leaving Disney Channel. The actress, who starred in the films “Life-Sized” and “Get a Clue,” has been arrested six times between 2007 and 2012 for charges ranging from DUI to violating probation.

4. Lalaine Vergara-Paras

Vergara-Paras, who played Miranda Sanchez on Disney’s “Lizzie McGuire,” was arrested in 2007 for possession of meth. TMZ reported that she was able to keep the incident quiet — at least temporarily.

5. Dutch Elijah Whitlock

The “High School Musical” star has been out of the acting game since 2007. The following year he made headlines once more — this time for attempting to rob a pizza place at gun point. According to a report from the Salt Lake City Tribune, Whitlock was ordered by a judge to pay a $750 fine as well as $115 in restitution and $200 for an attorney. He was also slapped with three years probation and asked to complete a substance abuse treatment program.

6. Jason Weaver

Weaver became a household name after landing a role on Disney's hit series “Smart Guy.” The show ended in 1999, at which time he moved on to smaller roles. Weaver encountered legal issues in 2011, according to Straight From the A, when police charged him with having defecated on someone's lawn.

Ryan addressed her arrest via a statement on Twitter. She penned a heartfelt letter to fans in which she acknowledged that what she had done was wrong, adding that she let down the hundreds of thousands of young people who look at her as a “role model.” Ryan claims that she has “worked hard to set a good example” and was apologetic for having let her fan base down.