Dourdan Cops to Drug Felonies, Avoids Jail
For Gary Dourdan, two out of three ain’t bad. Of course, it’s not really all that good, either…
The recently killed-off CSI player pleaded guilty to two of his three counts of felony drug possession in Indio, Calif., this morning, stemming from his early morning bust in Palm Springs last month.
The actor copped to one count each of cocaine and Ecstasy possession during today’s arraignment; a third charge of heroin possession was dismissed.
Although he could have faced up to three years and eight months behind bars, in exchange for his plea Dourdan will not serve any time but instead has until Nov. 20, 2009, to complete a series of drug-education courses as part of the court’s diversion program.
“As a result of today’s proceedings, Gary has been given diversion,” his attorney, Shawn Chapman Holley, said outside the courthouse. “He very much regrets what happened, and he’s very embarrassed by what occurred, but he’s looking forward to moving on and getting back to work.
“He is very grateful to the court for being understanding and giving him an opportunity to resolve the issue and move forward.”
Should Dourdan successfully complete the program, his convictions may be dismissed.
“Gary was given diversion, which means that both charges will be dismissed as soon as he completes 30 hours of classes,” Holley told News.
Riverside District Attorney spokeswoman Ingrid Wyatt also told News that the actor will be required to pay a small fee as part of his restitution.
Dourdan was present for the morning hearing, though he did not speak to reporters on his way in or out of the courtroom. He did, however, don a navy blue suit for the occasion and flashed a peace sign on his way out of the building and into his Lincoln Town Car.
The 41-year-old was busted on April 28, when cops found his car parked on the wrong side of the street and the actor asleep at the wheel. A search of his vehicle yielded the drugs and after being released on $5,000 bail, the actor initially claimed the drugs weren’t his and said he was “embarrassed” over the situation.
Dourdan’s Warrick Brown was slain on the CSI season finale last week. The actor opted not to return for a new season after failing to reach a new contract with producers.
CSI’s Gary Dourdan avoids jail time
On Monday, April 28, CSI star Gary Dourdan was arrested in Palm Springs, California. He was asleep in his car and when a police officer approached, he found Dourdan disoriented. The actor was arrested after the cop found cocaine, heroin, Ecstacy, miscellaneous prescription drugs and paraphernalia in the car. Despite pleading guilty to drug possession today, Dourdan will not have to do any jail time. In fact, in the deal his lawyer struck with prosecutors, Gary will get treatment for his drug problems. Basically, he lucked out.
“Once Gary completes 30 hours of a diversion program, his case will be entirely dismissed,” said his lawyer, Shawn Chapman Holley, in a statement to The Associated Press. Dourdan won’t have to do any time in a drug rehab facility or behind bars, so all things considered, he’s very, very fortunate. He could have faced up to three years or more in jail .
Gary has already departed CSI, and in the season finale, his character was seemingly killed in a point blank shooting. However, when Jorja Fox returns for the fall premiere, Dourdan is reportedly in the show. And not as a ghost. So, now that he won’t be doing time, he’ll have time to film scenes for CSI and, presumably, wrap up the unfinished business of the CSI crew exposing the corrupt under sheriff.
Matt Roloff found not guilty of DUI
Matt Roloff, patriarch to the Roloff family of the very popular TLC reality show Little People, Big World, was found not guilty of Driving Under the Influence by a Washington County, Oregon judge. He made this decision even though it was a jury trial. You see, a few of the jury members got into a bit of trouble. But first, more about Matt.
Back on June 19th of last year the 46-year-old Roloff was pulled over after a sheriff’s deputy saw his van leaving a bar and weaving over lane lines. During testimony last week Roloff mentioned that he was only dropping off a friend at the bar and never left his car. He also testified that he was tired from a cross-country RV trip he took with his family and that the pedal extensions on the van he was driving (it was his wife Amy’s van) were different than what he was used to.
The verdict was given by Circuit Judge Donald R. Letourneau rather than the jurors because a few members did not heed instructions to not look up any information about the case. Two of the jurors looked up definitions of “implied consent” and “beyond a reasonable doubt” on the Internet. In addition, one of those two looked up information about the eye test that deputies say Roloff failed twice the night he was pulled over. After chastising the jury about disobeying the law, Judge Letourneau dismissed the panel and gave the verdict on his own.
Despite Roloff’s acquittal, he still isn’t scott free. Under Oregon’s “implied consent” law, Matt’s driver’s license was suspended for three years because he refused to take a breath test after his June arrest and had gone through a previous drunken-driving diversion program within the past five years. At this point in time, he cannot get his license back any sooner.
On the Roloff Farms website, Matt thanked his fans for their support and encouragement over the last few months and that his top priority is to spend time with his family. He also says that in the coming months he’ll be able to share more about what happened during the arrest as well as everything leading up to the trial.