George Jones [ tickets ] faced a Williamson County grand jury on Wednesday and admitted that alcohol was a factor in the March 9th single-car accident that serously injured the singer.Jones, who has long struggled with alcoholism, was fined $500 for DWI and an additional $50 for violating Tennessee's open-containter law. Jones must also complete an alcohol treatment program.

Jones told reporters after being sentenced, ''There are no excuses for what I did. The struggle never ends, but I will get better.''

Alcohol was not at first considered a factor in the accident, which left Jones with a collapsed lung and punctured liver, but an opened and re-capped bottle of vodka was later found under the passenger seat of the SUV Jones was driving.

Jones expressed thanks to fans who sent over 40,000 letters while he was hospitalized, and apologized to friends who insisted that Jones was could not have been drinking.

''I look for this to be my final wake-up call,'' Jones told reporters. ''I think I'm going to have my life straightened out after this.''