Sentenced To One Year In Rehab For Club Altercation, Dr. Drew Pinsky reportedly spoke at hearing. Options

[nyccali9]

It's back to rehab for former "American Idol" finalist Jessica Sierra. The singer appeared in court Monday morning (January 7) in Tampa, Florida, and pleaded no contest to charges of disorderly intoxication and obstruction of an officer, which prompted Judge Daniel Perry to reluctantly agree to send her to rehab for a year.

The Tampa Tribune reported that Perry sentenced Sierra to spend the next year at the Pasadena Recovery Center in Pasadena, California — a facility he had reservations about because it has hosted TV programs in the past. He was concerned that Sierra might use the stint as a means of boosting her career, the paper reported.

"I don't want this to be some steppingstone for her to have a career as a recovering addict," Perry said.

Sierra's sentence also includes two years of probation, stemming from an incident on December 1 at a bar in Ybor City, Florida, during which the singer allegedly got into a heated confrontation with bar personnel and police after she was ejected from the bar. Perry also prohibited Sierra from doing any interviews or appearing on TV during her recovery, including any promotional spots for the upcoming reality show, "Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew," which debuts on VH1 this Thursday.

The host of that program, Dr. Drew Pinsky, an addiction specialist, spoke on Sierra's behalf during the brief court appearance, according to the paper, telling the judge that the "low level" treatment she received on the reality show was not enough to deal with her level of addiction, but that a yearlong stint in treatment would give her a better chance for recovery. A spokesperson for the courts did not return calls for comment at press time and Sierra's lawyer, John Fitzgibbons, could also not be reached for comment.

During the December arrest, Sierra, 22, was ejected from the Full Moon Saloon and, after confronting patrons on the street, allegedly became combative with police as they tried to arrest her, calling the officers names, vomiting in the police car, yelling racial slurs and offering sexual favors in exchange for her release, according to an arrest report.

The arrest violated Sierra's probation from an incident in April of last year, which resulted in charges of cocaine possession and felony battery, after she allegedly hit a bar patron in the head with a glass; she also pleaded no contest in that incident. Tampa TV station WTSP reported that Perry warned Sierra that if she doesn't follow the rules of the rehab center she will be brought back to Florida and put in prison for a year.

Pinsky said that Sierra had already completed her portion of the "Rehab" show before the December arrest, and he described her as a "courageous" patient, who had been "on the street" doing drugs before she sought treatment. He also said the singer, who is pregnant with her first child by a man she has only described as "a rapper," made some "very poor choices" during her drug-using phase, including a video the paper said he described as "symptomatic of her addiction." Pinsky and Sierra reportedly discuss the video — which TMZ has reported is a sex tape — on the show.

In a preview of the VH1 show screened by the Tribune on the day before Sierra's sentencing, the paper described a scene from the second episode of "Rehab" during which Sierra breaks down in tears while discussing her mother's death from a drug overdose while the singer was auditioning for "Idol." During the group therapy session, Sierra talks about how she hates her mother for abandoning her, doing drugs and becoming a prostitute and becomes so upset after revealing the information that she becomes desperate for a drink, saying she would have "chewed the alcohol swabs" at the facility if she could have.


-MTV News http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1579100/2...__jessica.jhtml

[Hero]

I'm happy she isn't going to jail! However, if she decides not to use this chance to better her life, I don't know what is going to happen to her if she slips up again.

[SteveIdolFan]

Really glad she isn't going to jail. I'm glad they chose to send her to rehab, because she seriously needs to get her shiat together. Especially with a baby on the way and all..

I wish her luck!

[Drew]

Good luck, Jess. I know you can do it!

[Kimberly_Caldwell_4_Life]

So....will her appearance on Tyra still air, being that she's not allowed to go on TV talking about this stuff now?

[zilad]

I think this was the best possible outcome for her right now. I saw video of the hearing and it was sad seeing her, teary eyed, handcuffed, and in the orange jumpsuit, but I am relieved that she is getting a chance to get her life together for both herself and her child. I hope she makes the most of it and truly cleans herself up; if not, the next story will read about her will likely be an obit. I wish nothing but the absolute best for her in all regards and will keep her in my prayers.

Edited to answer: yes, it will still air. That interview was taped back in mid November, a good couple of weeks prior to her second arrest. What the judge does not want her to do - and honestly, I don't know how it will be legally written in the record or if it even can be - is to do interviews while she's in her year of treatment at this rehab. That, I think, is a valid point. Honestly, I think the judge was both fair and wise in making this decision. Going with this option, unlike prison, has a potential benefit for both Jessica and society and also saves taxpayers money.

This post has been edited by zilad: Jan 7th 2008, 6:20 PM

[Jay*]

oh thank god that judge definitely knows what hes doing. this is definitely whats best for jessica.

[KelsAdorkable]

-credit to TMZ.com

California Says No Way To "Idol" Trainwreck
Posted Jan 9th 2008 3:40PM by TMZ Staff

TMZ has learned "American Idol" rehab queen and mommy-to-be Jessica Sierra has been denied treatment in California. They don't want ya!

Sierra was released from jail in Florida this morning, and was to fly to Dr. Drew's Pasadena Recovery Center, but never got on the plane. A judge had agreed to send Sierra to Drew's facility for a year, to be followed up by three years of probation. But now, City of Tampa prosecutor Pam Bondi tells us the California Department of Probation has denied treating Jessica Sierra as an "emergency transfer." Because of this, Sierra will appear in a Tampa courtroom tomorrow to figure out what her next steps are. We're told transfers with the California Department of Probation usually take 30 to 45 days.

Sierra had been in jail since December 1, after her arrest on charges of disorderly conduct and resisting an officer without violence. The arrest came after she taped of the VH1 series "Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew."

That arrest was a violation of her probation on previous charges stemming from another arrest in April. On that occasion, cops say she threw a glass at a bar patron and had cocaine on her.

[dandymandy10]

she already did something she wasnt suppose to by talking to reporters as she left the jailhouse...

[Jay*]

she already did something she wasnt suppose to by talking to reporters as she left the jailhouse...

she's allowed to talk to them i thought. just not while she's in rehab.

[CahoonGirl]

Jay that is correct she is not suppose to do any interviews from rehab or have anything televised from rehab.
I don't think there way anything wrong with what she did but if the Judge wants to be tough on her he could put her back in jail, I hope not.
I guess we will see tomorrow.
I hope that she gets to go to California ASAP

This post has been edited by CahoonGirl: Jan 9th 2008, 10:25 PM

[Jay*]

i dont think its a big deal jessica talked to them.

[KelsAdorkable]

-credit myfoxtampabay.com

Judge orders Sierra to stay away from cameras

Last Edited: Thursday, 10 Jan 2008, 11:45 AM EST
Created: Thursday, 10 Jan 2008, 11:45 AM EST


TAMPA – After a slight delay, former American Idol Jessica Sierra is headed to California today in hopes of beginning her one-year stint in a drug and alcohol rehab program.

Sierra was released from jail on Wednesday, but her flight to Los Angeles was cancelled after California authorities wanted more time to finish the paperwork to take over her drug probation.

On her way out of the Hillsborough County Jail, Sierra made a quick comment to reporters, and that didn't sit well with Judge Daniel Perry.

"I do not like-- after I tell someone not to do something-- I do not like to turn on my television and see them doing what I told them not to do," he told Sierra in court on Thursday morning. "Those mics are like a magnet to you, so I tell you what-- you're not allowed within 100 yards of a mic or a TV camera. You understand me?"

Sierra agreed, and Judge Perry gave her 45 days to get California to accept her as a probationer with random drug testing and regular check-ins. Her attorney, John Fitzgibbons, says she'll fly out on Thursday night.

[Jay*]

i still dont see the big deal with her talking to the media outside rehab but w/e its great shes getting out there now!

[taylorkat]

I'm going to be watching the show. I wish her luck with recovery and I hope the program helps her.

[zilad]

Just fyi - in case anyone is not clear on this - Jessica taped the Celebrity Rehab show back in the summer, well prior to her latest arrest and all the tabloidy stuff surrounding her. She's going back to do a full year at the same rehab center - much longer and more intensive than the 3 week, low level treatment done as part of the show - and that will not be filmed or televised...which is also for the good. I suspect as with many VH1 shows, VH1 will do a follow up/reunion show after all 8 eps of C.R. run. If so, Jessica won't be able to participate in that either due to the judge's orders, but I'm sure Dr. Drew will give a report on how she is doing.

This post has been edited by zilad: Jan 14th 2008, 2:43 AM

[Jay*]

maybe the judge can exempt her this one time?

[CahoonGirl]

maybe the judge can exempt her this one time?

Never gonna happen this judge is not going to change his mind.
In fact Dr. Drew is trying to get permission for her to go to off site meetings, I doubt he will ok that either maybe 6 months down the road but definitely not now.