British Pop Singer Arrested On Drug Charge

Tulisa Contostavlos was arrested on drug charges, according to British media.

LONDON — British media say singer and former U.K. "X Factor" judge Tulisa Contostavlos was arrested Tuesday on allegations of supplying hard drugs.

The arrest came after the Sun tabloid ran a story claiming the 24-year-old had acted as a go-between in a deal to sell cocaine.

The Metropolitan Police force said a 24-year-old woman and a 35-year-old man were arrested "on suspicion of being concerned with the supply of class A drugs."

They were questioned at a London police station and later released on bail pending further inquiries.

Police in Britain do not usually name suspects who have not been charged. The BBC and other major media outlets identified the suspect as Contostavlos, who came to fame with London group N-Dubz.

She was recently replaced as a judge on TV talent show "X Factor" by Sharon Osbourne.

Contostavlos' spokesman declined to comment Tuesday.

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Redmond O'Neal takes plea on drug charge, gets rehab (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Redmond O'Neal, the troubled son of the late Farrah Fawcett and Ryan O'Neal, pleaded no contest to drug and weapons charges on Wednesday and was ordered to spend a year in a live-in rehabilitation program.

O'Neal, 26, was arrested in Los Angeles earlier this month after police found heroin and marijuana in his car following a routine traffic stop for running a red light.

After his arrest, police searched O'Neal's home and discovered a handgun, which he is not allowed to possess because he is still on probation for a 2009 drug conviction. Back then, he was ordered to spend one year in a drug treatment program and given three years probation.

On Wednesday, O'Neal entered pleas of no contest to one count of possessing heroin and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. In addition to the year in rehab, a judge also sentenced him to five years probation.

It was the latest trouble for O'Neal, who has battled drug dependency in the past and who saw his mother die after a long, public battle with cancer in 2009.

(Editing by Jill Serjeant)

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Vince Neil trial delayed on Vegas battery charge (AP)

LAS VEGAS – Motley Crue singer Vince Neil is getting an emergency postponement in his Las Vegas trial on misdemeanor charges stemming from a confrontation with an ex-girlfriend at a casino comedy club.

A Las Vegas judge granted the request Monday during a brief hearing. The trial was rescheduled for Nov. 7.

A lawyer for the 50-year-old rocker did not explain why he was requesting the continuance. Neil did not appear in court for the hearing.

Neil has pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor battery and disorderly conduct charges.

He's accused of poking the chest of Las Vegas entertainment reporter Alicia Jacobs in a casino comedy club March 24, and cursing and pointing at Jacobs and two friends sitting with her.

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Pacino's daughter arrested on DWI charge in NYC (AP)

NEW YORK – The 21-year-old daughter of actor Al Pacino has been arrested on a drunken driving charge in New York City.

Police say Julie Pacino was stopped at a traffic checkpoint on West Houston (HOW'-ston) Street in Manhattan at 1:05 a.m. Saturday.

Police say Pacino's blood-alcohol level was over the legal limit for driving. Her exact blood-alcohol level was not immediately available.

Pacino is being held at the Manhattan Detention Complex pending arraignment. No information on an attorney was immediately available.

Julie Pacino is Al Pacino's daughter with acting coach Jan Tarrant. An agent for the actor didn't immediately return an email seeking comment.

Julie Pacino graduated from Tappan Zee High School in suburban Rockland County in 2007 and went on to the University of California at Los Angeles. She was a softball standout at both schools.

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Domestic violence charge dropped against Lohan dad (AP)

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – Prosecutors have dropped a misdemeanor domestic violence charge against Lindsay Lohan's father after his ex-girlfriend failed to show up at trial.

District attorney's spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons said Tuesday the office will no longer pursue the case against Michael Lohan after his ex, Kate Major, could not be located.

The elder Lohan was arrested in March and has pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor domestic violence battery.

A trial was scheduled to begin Tuesday, but Gibbons said it could not proceed without Major's cooperation.

Michael Lohan's attorney, Dana Cole, says he worked out an agreement with Major so she wouldn't testify.

Cole says Major wasn't paid anything, and she declined to cooperate because she did not want a court spectacle.

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Funk icon Sly Stone pleads not guilty to cocaine charge (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Sly Stone, the reclusive funk legend whose career was crippled by rampant drug abuse, pleaded not guilty to possession of cocaine rocks on Wednesday.

The 68-year-old frontman for Sly and the Family Stone was arrested April 1 when Los Angeles police pulled over a live-in van for a minor traffic violation.

Cocaine rocks were found in the clothing of both Stone, who was a passenger, and the driver, according to the singer's defense attorneys. Both men were arrested.

"A lot of musicians hang out with people who have drugs. How are they supposed to know?" said Peter Knecht, one of his attorneys. He insisted the cocaine did not belong to Stone.

Stone, whose real name is Sylvester Stewart, is next scheduled to appear in court in the Los Angeles suburb of Van Nuys for a pretrial conference on July 19. His arraignment was originally scheduled for last Friday, but he was hospitalized for heart problems.

Stone, a veteran of the San Francisco power scene, revolutionized soul music with tunes such as "Don't Call me Nigger, Whitey" and "I Want to Take You Higher" that both fed on and fueled the political and social turmoil of the time.

His career, however, was marred by decades of run-ins with the law. Throughout the 1970s and 80s, he was plagued by drug and gun possession charges.

"You can't punish a guy for what he did 40 years ago, 30 years ago," said Knecht.

Stone made his first major public appearance in almost 13 years at the Grammy Awards in 2006 when he was the object of an all-star tribute. Sporting a blond Mohawk and a shiny white jacket, he sauntered out on stage during a performance of "I Want to Take You Higher," but left before the song was over.

Stone just finished recording a new album that will be released on August 16, according to Tim Yasui, general manager for Cleopatra Records. It would mark his first album in almost 30 years.

(Editing by Dean Goodman)

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Funk icon Sly Stone pleads not guilty to cocaine charge (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Sly Stone, the reclusive funk legend whose career was crippled by rampant drug abuse, pleaded not guilty to possession of cocaine rocks on Wednesday.

The 68-year-old frontman for Sly and the Family Stone was arrested April 1 when Los Angeles police pulled over a live-in van for a minor traffic violation.

Cocaine rocks were found in the clothing of both Stone, who was a passenger, and the driver, according to the singer's defense attorneys. Both men were arrested.

"A lot of musicians hang out with people who have drugs. How are they supposed to know?" said Peter Knecht, one of his attorneys. He insisted the cocaine did not belong to Stone.

Stone, whose real name is Sylvester Stewart, is next scheduled to appear in court in the Los Angeles suburb of Van Nuys for a pretrial conference on July 19. His arraignment was originally scheduled for last Friday, but he was hospitalized for heart problems.

Stone, a veteran of the San Francisco power scene, revolutionized soul music with tunes such as "Don't Call me Nigger, Whitey" and "I Want to Take You Higher" that both fed on and fueled the political and social turmoil of the time.

His career, however, was marred by decades of run-ins with the law. Throughout the 1970s and 80s, he was plagued by drug and gun possession charges.

"You can't punish a guy for what he did 40 years ago, 30 years ago," said Knecht.

Stone made his first major public appearance in almost 13 years at the Grammy Awards in 2006 when he was the object of an all-star tribute. Sporting a blond Mohawk and a shiny white jacket, he sauntered out on stage during a performance of "I Want to Take You Higher," but left before the song was over.

Stone just finished recording a new album that will be released on August 16, according to Tim Yasui, general manager for Cleopatra Records. It would mark his first album in almost 30 years.

(Editing by Dean Goodman)

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Willie Nelson off the hook on pot charge (Reuters)

SAN ANTONIO (Reuters) – When Willie Nelson is on the road again, he will be traveling without a Texas drug charge hanging over his head.

A West Texas prosecutor said on Wednesday that the legendary singer and songwriter has pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia and has agreed to pay a $500 fine plus court costs of about $280.

"I have given him the option to do it by mail," said C.R Bramblett, the county attorney in remote Hudspeth County, where Nelson was charged with marijuana possession last November.

A Border Patrol officer smelled pot inside Nelson's tour bus when it was pulled over at a checkpoint on Interstate 10.

Bramblett said he has spoken with Nelson's attorney, and the singer has agreed to the plea deal. Bramblett expects the case to be settled within two weeks.

"All he has to do is sign the papers, and get me a cashier's check for the money," Bramblett told Reuters.

Bramblett said the case will be dismissed entirely if Nelson stays out of trouble for 30 days.

He says officials have determined that there was a "little bit less than two ounces" (56 g) of marijuana inside the bus, which allows the case to be treated as a misdemeanor. Officials had initially reported that as much as five ounces of pot was discovered, which would have made the case a felony.

"He got the same thing I'd give to anybody," Bramblett said of the settlement.

(Editing by Corrie MacLaggan and Greg McCune)

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Willie Nelson off the hook on pot charge (Reuters)

SAN ANTONIO (Reuters Life!) – When Willie Nelson is on the road again, he will be traveling without a Texas drug charge hanging over his head.

A West Texas prosecutor said on Wednesday that the legendary singer and songwriter has pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia and has agreed to pay a $500 fine plus court costs of about $280.

"I have given him the option to do it by mail," said C.R Bramblett, the county attorney in remote Hudspeth County, where Nelson was charged with marijuana possession last November.

A Border Patrol officer smelled pot inside Nelson's tour bus when it was pulled over at a checkpoint on Interstate 10.

Bramblett said he has spoken with Nelson's attorney, and the singer has agreed to the plea deal. Bramblett expects the case to be settled within two weeks.

"All he has to do is sign the papers, and get me a cashier's check for the money," Bramblett told Reuters.

Bramblett said the case will be dismissed entirely if Nelson stays out of trouble for 30 days.

He says officials have determined that there was a "little bit less than two ounces" (56 g) of marijuana inside the bus, which allows the case to be treated as a misdemeanor. Officials had initially reported that as much as five ounces of pot was discovered, which would have made the case a felony.

"He got the same thing I'd give to anybody," Bramblett said of the settlement.

(Editing by Corrie MacLaggan and Greg McCune)

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NYC Opera union seeks unfair labor practice charge (AP)

NEW YORK – A union representing workers at the financially troubled New York City Opera says it will file unfair labor practice charges after the board voted to move out of the Lincoln Center and cut staff.

National Executive Director Alan Gordon said Saturday that the American Guild of Musical Artists will also consider seeking an injunction preventing the production company from continuing to use the name New York City Opera.

On Friday, the board voted to leave the Lincoln Center, cut staff across the board and scale back its performance schedule. The opera's general manager, George Steel, says the changes are necessary to keep the opera afloat and build "a foundation for sustainable growth."

The 68-year-old organization is revered as a pillar of American culture. But in recent years, it has been struggling with a dwindling endowment and a multimillion-dollar deficit.

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Singer Pete Doherty jailed on cocaine charge (Reuters)

LONDON (Reuters Life!) – Musician Pete Doherty was jailed for six months on Friday after pleading guilty to possession of cocaine, the Press Association reported.

The 32-year-old was arrested in January last year by police investigating the suspected overdose death of heiress Robyn Whitehead.

The controversial Babyshambles singer has been jailed twice before and has repeatedly admitted possession of banned substances.

Judge David Radford said he had an "appalling record" of committing offences, having made 13 other court appearances in the past.

Peter Wolfe, 42, who had pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of cocaine and one count of supplying cocaine to Whitehead, was sentenced to a total of 12 months in prison.

Whitehead, 27, the granddaughter of the late Teddy Goldsmith, founder of The Ecologist magazine, spent the last 10 days of her life making a documentary about Doherty.

Prosecutor Alison Morgan said paramedics were called to Wolfe's flat in Hackney, east London, where Whitehead collapsed on January 24 last year.

They tried to resuscitate Whitehead but she was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

Toxicology reports found she had a combination of cocaine and heroin in her body and had died of heroin poisoning.

Footage filmed inside the flat two days earlier showed her in the flat with Wolfe and him passing her a crack pipe, which she then smoked.

The prosecutor told Snaresbrook Crown Court that Doherty later joined them and was also filmed smoking on the crack pipe and putting crack cocaine inside it.

She said the drugs offences to which the two men had been charged had been committed between January 22 and 24 but that the crack cocaine that Wolfe had supplied Whitehead with could not have been what killed her.

Judge Radford said she had died from the poisoning of another illegal drug which she had chosen to take.

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Nicolas Cage Arrested on Domestic Violence Charge

Nicolas Cage was arrested in Louisiana early Saturday morning, following an altercation with his wife of six years, Alice.

The incident that led to the arrest was a rather public one: According to TMZ sources, the Oscar winner was "very drunk" on a New Orleans street when a taxi driver allegedly witnessed the couple quarreling loudly. The cabbie reportedly called the police when Cage pushed his wife.

Cage is said to have taunted cops into taking him into custody, repeatedly refusing their request to quietly go home and asking, "Why don't you just arrest me?" The officers ultimately obliged, charging Cage with disturbing the peace and domestic violence.

He remains in custody awaiting a bail hearing; his wife is reportedly denying any physical violence occurred, and expressing no wish to press charges.
With Alice, the actor is raising a son named Kal-El, born in 2005. Cage, who lost his father in 2009, was previously married to Patricia Arquette and Lisa Marie Presley.

Cage has a history of public outbursts, including a blow-up last year (caught on tape) on the Romanian set of a movie, and a bar fight in New Orleans last month.

Nobody would dispute that Cage has been battling his fair share of demons recently, including major financial woes. The IRS has alleged for years that he owed millions in income and property tax, while the mother of Cage's firstborn son sued him in 2009 for more than $13 million. That same year, Cage filed a $20 million negligence and fraud suit against his business manager, Samuel Levin -- who then accused Cage of ignoring his pleas to stop living beyond his means. Levin said in a countersuit that Cage was repeatedly advised to curtail his spending, but instead ended up purchasing yachts, Rolls Royces, a Gulfstream jet and 15 homes.


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