Tatum O'Neal Pleads Guilty, Pays Fine
By Jane Ivory
13:08, July 3rd 2008
37 votes
Vote this story
Tatum O'Neal Pleads Guilty, Pays Fine

Academy Award winning actress Tatum O’Neal pleaded guilty Wednesday in New York to disorderly conduct following her controversial drug arrest in June.

It was the talk of the town when former child actress Tatum O’Neal was arrested early last month as she exchanged money for drugs on the Lower East Side, not far from where she resides.

Police officers found two bags of cocaine in her possession, according to a court complaint.

It was initially reported she had bought crack cocaine from a homeless ex-con, before the eyes of an undercover cop. Police later said she had bought powder cocaine. Both she and the drug dealer, a 33-year-old man named Alan Garcia, were arrested.

Tatum O’Neal, who was convicted in 2003 of criminal possession of crack, was released without bail the same day. She was initially charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance and arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court.

The misdemeanor offence was punishable by up to one year in jail, court officials said. Charges against her will be dropped if she complies with the court’s orders, the Associated Press reports.

Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Elisa Koenderman ordered the actress to spend two half-day sessions in a drug treatment program and pay a $95 fee.

She is next scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 4. Should she meet these conditions by then, the case will be dismissed.

While Tatum O’Neal may have sighed in relief Wednesday upon hearing the court’s decision, she was already pleased back in June, upon being arrested, explaining that the arresting officers actually saved her life, by preventing her from taking the drug.

Tatum O’Neal has been outspoken about her substance abuse problems, detailing in her memoir, “A Paper Life,” how her addiction to heroin troubled her relationship with her three children with tennis pro John McEnroe, her former husband.

Only daughter of “Love Story” star Ryan O’Neal, in 1974, she became the youngest person ever to win an Academy Award, a record that remains unbroken to this day. She was merely 10 years old when she won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her performance in “Paper Moon.”



© 2007 - 2008 - eFluxMedia
dotclear

Other News in

The Ultimate “Twilight” Hysteria

The Ultimate “Twilight” Hysteria

Film stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart of the monster phenomenon known as "Twilight" are still astonished by their new found fame, as fans have been lining up and camping out in...

“Twilight” to Open Friday in the United States

“Twilight” to Open Friday in the United States

The romantic horror drama starring Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Billy Burke „Twilight” is scheduled to debut in United States theaters Friday, November 21st. Directed by Catherine...

Pirate copies of anti-Mafia film Naples

Rome - Gomorra is on its way to the Oscars as Italy's official candidate, but counterfeit DVD copies have already hit the streets of Naples - a market controlled by the local mafia whose dealings...

A child star is born in Baz Luhrmann's Australia

Sydney - Australians were daring to hope Thursday that the 13-year-old Aboriginal boy Brandon Walters could win an Oscar for his critically acclaimed performance in local film director Baz Luhrmann's...

Winona Ryder in "good health" after falling ill on plane

London - Hollywood actress Winona Ryder was briefly taken to a London clinic Wednesday after falling ill on a flight from Los Angeles but left hospital in "good health" shortly afterwards,...

dotclear
Latest videos in Movies
Davis in No Doubt: Streep Is...
Review: Scott, Rudd Star in a...
Prepare to Slum It With...
Sneak Peek of Cruise's...
'High School Musical' Is Head...

dotclear
Movies You are here: Movies
» Movie Reviews   » Movies   » Music   » People   
E-mail To A Friend Print RSS Text size: Decrease font size Increase font size
dotclear
dotclear
dotclear
Most Popular in Movies
“James Bond: Quantum Of Solace” Scores Less Than Previously Reported“James Bond: Quantum Of Solace” Scores Less Than Previously Reported

» read full story
dotclear

Interested In This Topic?

News Alert will keep you informed. Find out more.
dotclear
Photos Gallery
dotclear
Today's Latest News
Paris Hilton Frees Herself From Benji MaddenParis Hilton Frees Herself From Benji Madden

» read full story
dotclear