Colleen Zenk arrested in Naples on third DUI: What's next?
Colleen Zenk, best known from The Young and the Restless and As the World Turns, was arrested in Naples, Florida, on May 15, 2026—the soap star's third DUI arrest since 2010. Collier County court records show two misdemeanor DUI charges after a parking-lot crash. She has pleaded not guilty, with a pre-trial date set for July 29.
The arrest has drawn attention far beyond Collier County, landing in celebrity breaking news feeds as fans weigh what it means for a daytime icon with decades on camera.
Key Takeaways
- Colleen Zenk was booked May 15, 2026, on two misdemeanor DUI charges in Naples, Florida.
- Records show breath tests of 0.206 and 0.192—well above Florida's 0.08 legal limit.
- This is her third DUI arrest since 2010, following prior cases in Connecticut and Collier County.
- Zenk pleaded not guilty through her attorney; a pre-trial hearing is scheduled for July 29, 2026.
- She last appeared on The Young and the Restless in January 2025 after returning to daytime TV in 2023.
Who is Colleen Zenk and what happened in Naples?
Colleen Zenk, 73, is a three-time Emmy nominee who spent decades as Barbara Ryan on As the World Turns and recently played Jordan Howard on The Young and the Restless. According to records obtained by Soap Opera Network from the Collier County Sheriff's Office, Zenk was involved in a two-vehicle crash on May 15, 2026.
A witness told investigators Zenk was backing out of a handicap parking spot when her vehicle struck a parked car beside her. The witness alleged Zenk continued backing and tried to leave the scene before being stopped a few feet away, and that she stumbled when she got out of her vehicle.
What do police and court records show?
After the crash investigation ended, deputies began a DUI inquiry. Zenk told the arresting officer she had been at Bar Tulia and consumed two wine cups, according to the arrest report cited by Soap Opera Network.
Zenk agreed to field sobriety exercises but struggled with balance, failed the walk-and-turn and one-leg stand tests, and showed signs of horizontal gaze nystagmus, the report states. She provided breath samples of 0.206 and 0.192 BAC. She was booked at 7:35 p.m. EDT on charges of DUI with property damage and DUI with a blood alcohol level of 0.15 or higher—each carrying a $1,000 bond.
She bonded out on May 16, 2026. At a June 10 hearing, she filed a waiver of appearance and entered a not-guilty plea through her attorney.
Why does a third DUI arrest matter for the soap star?
This is Zenk's third DUI arrest since April 1, 2010, when police in Wilton, Connecticut, pulled her over for erratic driving and crossing into oncoming traffic. She was charged again on May 28, 2017, in Collier County—her first DUI case in the Naples area.
Repeat DUI allegations carry steeper legal exposure in Florida, including enhanced penalties for high BAC readings above 0.15. For a performer who returned to The Young and the Restless in November 2023 after more than 13 years away from daytime television, the timing raises questions about her public profile and any future industry work.
What's next in Colleen Zenk's Florida DUI case?
Zenk's case is scheduled for a pre-trial continuance on July 29, 2026, in Collier County. She has not been convicted; the charges remain allegations she is contesting through counsel.
As coverage from the Naples Daily News underscores, the next court date will determine whether the case proceeds toward trial or a negotiated resolution. Until then, Zenk remains presumed innocent under Florida law.