Tatum O’Neal is one lucky lady, at least legally. The actress comes from a long line of family members who have famously battled with addiction. The actress was busted for trying to buy crack and cocaine in early June. She subsequently claimed that she was still sober, but had almost relapsed. Oh and she thanked the cops for arresting her. And seemed to be in a fair amount of denial about the whole thing.
Instead of facing the original drug charges, O’Neal pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct, and will get off with a pretty lenient sentence.
Crime may not pay, but for Tatum O’Neal, it doesn’t exactly cost all that much, either. The former wild child actress has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct stemming from her June crack bust. Prosecutors in turn dropped more serious charges, including drug possession.
To atone for her misdoing, Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Elisa Koenderman sentenced the youngest ever Oscar winner to spend two half-day sessions in a drug-treatment program and pay a $95 fee.
Should the 44-year-old Rescue Me star make good on both conditions of her sentence by Sept. 4, when she’s due back in court, the case against her will be dismissed. O’Neal turned down a nearly identical deal from prosecutors last month in which they offered her the chance to plead guilty to disorderly conduct and spend two days in a treatment. No word on what caused the change of heart.
[From E! News]
That’s one hell of an easy deal. $95 bucks and a total of one day in a treatment program? How is that even a consequence? Or if you don’t want to be retributive, then how is that even helpful? $95 isn’t a punishment, and a day in treatment isn’t helpful. Essentially the court is saying, “You can get away with breaking the law” and/or “We don’t care enough about you to try to get you some help.” The courts have failed from either angle you take in terms of how drug users should be treated.
Let’s hope Tatum cares enough about herself and her family to get herself into some serious and long lasting treatment.
Here’s Tatum O’Neal at the Season Three New York premiere Screening of ‘Rescue Me’ on May 24, 2006. Photographer: Doug Meszler. Images thanks to WENN.
I am so sick of these drug and alcohol addicted celebutards getting off with a slap on the wrist. What makes them so special that they don’t have to abide by the same laws and rules as the rest of us? It is a disgrace and I am just praying for the day when some judge has the balls to actually punish these a-holes and sentences them accordingly. In my youth, I made the mistake of driving after drinking. I spent a weekend in jail, paid $2000.00 in fines, had 100 hrs of community service, went to 120 hrs of alcohol and drug awareness classes and was on probation for 5yrs. In addition to that I lost my license for 6 months and paid an attorney $1500.00 to represent me. I was 26 and had a clean driving record and no prior offenses. I learned a valuable lesson financially as well as morally. Seems to me celebrities need to be held to the same standards as the rest of us.
Took the words right out of my mouth devilgirl.
I think it’s a really great idea to send the message that as long as you are wealthy and famous, you are above the law 😡
I just hope she gets help. I read her biography, she comes across as an eminently bright, self-aware individual. She’s had a very tough life, her family put the dys in dysfunctional and then being married to that wackjob John McEnroe didn’t help matters any. Anger management anyone? She was buying hard core drugs…very scary. I really really hope she’s going to be ok.
Oh, to be a rich famous white girl- I could get away with anything with just a big smile. But there’s no double standard in this country folks, have no fear.
Sadly, I don’t think she will quit using drugs.
I have always enjoyed her work and love her on Rescue Me. I think that her messed up past is going to keep creeping in unless she does something HUGE about it. I hope that she does, in fact, get that help. 😕
Another chance ❓ Why not ❓
If it wasn’t for another chances we
would all be up $hits creek, what
makes her any different. Always a
judge in the house 🙄
This is just sick. Why are these people treated so differently? It just proves that money and fame will get you everything while the rest of us get harsh penalties and prison. I’m sick of the double standards. There are people in prison for the shit these “celebrities” get away with. This is fair? It’s gross. 🙁
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