Murder Charges for Dr. Conrad Murray?

Maggie Rodriguez spoke with former Michael Jackson attorney Tom Mesereau about the possible manslaughter or murder charges against Dr. Conrad Murray in Jackson’s death.

Etta James Hospitalized

Famous Blues Singe Ettat James has been hospitalized for various illnesses, to include blood poisoning. She was already in a clinic to treat for addiction to pain killers and other medications.

“She’s been in a pretty big battle,” her son Donto James said. The singer has been in hospital for a week.

Cameron Douglas Pleads GUILTY

The son of Oscar-winning actor Michael Douglas admitted in a New York court to possessing heroin and dealing large amounts of methamphetamine and cocaine.

Cameron Douglas, 31, was arrested last July at a hotel in Manhattan. If convicted he faces a minimum 10-year prison sentence.

When asked by US District Judge Ronald Ellis if he knew what he was doing was wrong, he said: “Yes, your honour,”

Prosecutors said he has signed a plea agreement, but gave no further details.

In addition to conspiracy to distribute drugs, Douglas pleaded guilty to heroin possession.

The charge stems from allegations that his girlfriend tried to smuggle him the drug in an electric toothbrush while he was under house arrest.

Cameron Douglas appeared with his father and grandfather, actor Kirk Douglas, in the film It Runs in the Family in 2003, a comedy focusing on three generations of a dysfunctional family.

BBC

Joe Namath’s daughter arrested on drug charges in Florida

Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath’s 19-year-old daughter has been arrested in South Florida.

Olivia Namath faces charges of possession of liquor by a person under 21 and two counts of possession of marijuana, including possession with the intent to sell. She has been released on bond.

According to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy smelled marijuana in a car driven by Namath during a traffic stop Sunday.

Authorities found bags containing a green leafy substance that tested positive for marijuana in the car’s floor board and trunk. They also found a bottle of rum and beer bottles.

The deputy’s narrative states that Namath denied knowing about the drugs.

USA TODAY

Artie Langee Tries to Kill Himself

Artie Lange, was found last Saturday in his kitchen by his mother with 9 stab wounds to his torso. He apparently tried to kill himself. She then called an ambulance and they took him to the hospital. Lange, is known for his stand up comedy and being the side kick on The Howard Stern Show. In the past, Lange has also wrestled with drug abuse.

“We all have our demons,” said Stern, referring to Lange’s past battles with addiction. “Artie has given this show tremendous moments of great comedy. He’s a tremendous contributor. He is a good man. Don’t forget how great he is.”

Redmond O’Neal back to Jail

Back in September, when Redmond O’Neal was moved from jail into in-patient rehab, his attorney advised us all, via People, that “Redmond has embraced recovery.”

But in ordering the son of Farrah Fawcett and Ryan O’Neal back behind bars today on a probation violation, a judge clearly disagreed.

“It seems to me you haven’t got a clue as to what recovery means,” Judge Michael Tynan said. “It’s a lifetime commitment. It’s grinding, hard, painful work.”

Why is Redmond being sent back to jail? O’Neal had been on a 24-hour pass from a residential treatment center, L.A. County sheriff’s spokesman Steve Whitmore told L.A. Now. “When he came back, he told the program counselors that he had used drugs,” Whitmore said. “He tested positive” for unspecified drugs.

LA TIMES BLOG

Artie Lange still in Hospital

A publicist for Artie Lange says the comedian and radio personality has been hospitalized.

In an e-mail sent Monday to The Associated Press, publicist Hilary Hansen declined to elaborate, saying, “Artie has chosen to keep all information on this matter between him and his doctor.”

The 42-year-old Lange, best known as Howard Stern’s radio sidekick, has been absent from Stern’s Sirius radio show for a month. On Monday’s show, Stern said Lange isn’t leaving the program and called him “a tremendous contributor.”

Lange, who lives in Hoboken, N.J., has battled drug addiction. In September, a New Jersey judge revoked his driving privileges for seven months after he admitted he was under the influence of prescribed sleeping pills in a minor traffic accident.

ABC NEWS

Patrick Disney Miller pleads ‘Not Guilty’ on Gun Charges

A 42-year-old grandson of Walt Disney pleaded not guilty to charges of illegal possession of guns and drugs on Wednesday in a California court and was remanded in custody, authorities said.

Patrick Disney Miller, who already has a 2005 conviction for drug possession, was detained on December 9 after police conducted a search of his home in the Los Angeles suburb of Woodland Hills, local prosecutors said.

Miller had been freed on a 35,000 dollar bail, but at Thursday’s arraignment the judge raised the amount to 550,000 dollars and Miller was taken into custody. A new hearing was set for February 4.

Miller was originally charged with a single felony count, but prosecutors Wednesday filed 19 additional felony charges against him.

Police allegedly recovered an arms cache comprising 13 handguns, a rifle and an illegal assault rifle during the search. Various drugs were also found.

As a result of his 2005 conviction, Miller is barred from owning guns or ammunition, according to prosecutors.

Los Angeles Police Department officers obtained the search warrant after running a background check on Miller when they discovered he had allegedly purchased ammunition.

If convicted of all charges, Miller faces more than eight years in state prison. Miller is the youngest child of Diane Disney Miller, who is Walt Disney’s only biological daughter.

Associated Press

Tiger Woods: Sex on Drugs?

A tireless Tiger Woods - famous for his drive - allegedly teed up his sex life by popping Ambien sleeping pills with a purported high-society siren hot for a tipsy tumble.

Rachel Uchitel, the 34-year-old Big Apple tart who has gone under the covers since being named as Tiger’s sex toy, is alleged to have told friends she experimented with the insomnia medicine for sex, RadarOnline.com reported.

“Uchitel told friends that she and Tiger liked to have sex while taking the drug Ambien. Uchitel told one pal, ‘You know you have crazier sex on Ambien, you get into that Ambien haze. We have crazy Ambien sex,’ ” RadarOnline said.

In an e-mail to the Herald, Uchitel’s attorney, Gloria Allred, said she had no comment on Ambien sex trysts or an alleged million-dollar payout. “There will be no other statement today,” Allred said.

Uchitel called off a press conference this week amid reports Woods, 33, was willing to pay her up to $1 million to clam up. Her camp has denied any quid pro quo with the PGA powerhouse.

Another purported mistress, Jaimee Grubbs, 24, first described as a Las Vegas cocktail waitress, was identified yesterday as an employee at a medical marijuana store, RadarOnline reported. There are no allegations she shared any of her product.

As for the Ambien accusation, this isn’t the first time the pill has made headlines.

U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy blamed Ambien after he smashed his Ford Mustang into a barrier near Capitol Hill in May 2006. The Rhode Island Democrat sought treatment after the 3 a.m. crash.

Meanwhile, The Daily Beast Web site reported that Woods offered his wronged wife, Elin Nordegren, 29, $5 million up front if she agrees to stay with him.

The Web site also reported a revised prenup is being negotiated that offers Nordegren staggered payments totaling up to $75 million over five years.

To collect, Nordegren would have to stay on board for a total of seven years from their Oct. 5, 2004, marriage, the site said.

Sports marketing experts say despite the seemingly endless scandal, it still won’t torpedo Tiger’s career. His squeaky-clean image is tarnished, but redemption could still be teed up down the line.

“In the short term, he takes a huge hit,” said Jim Delaney of Boston-based Activate Sports & Entertainment.

“The general public may be disappointed . . . but the public also loves a comeback story,” Delaney told the Herald. “He will come out of this as Tiger Teflon.”

Marc Ganis, a Chicago sports consultant, said any alleged Ambien use won’t drive Woods off the endorsement gravy train.

“There’s no deviant behavior. This story hasn’t crossed that line yet,” Ganis said. “What’s wrong with Ambien? So many people take it.”

He did suggest, however, that Woods might want to lower his profile to let this infidelity storm blow over until the tour starts up again next year.

Boston Herald

Warrant: Drug in Jackson case came from Vegas firm

A powerful anesthetic recovered from Michael Jackson’s bedside after he died had been purchased in Nevada by his doctor who had it shipped to California, court documents show.

Search warrant records released Friday show that Dr. Conrad Murray bought the sedative propofol from Applied Pharmacy Services on May 12, according to receipts found in his Las Vegas medical office.

The Los Angeles County coroner blamed propofol in ruling that the 50-year-old pop music icon’s June 25 death was a homicide. The coroner also cited the sedative lorazepam.

Murray, 56, is the focus of a Los Angeles police homicide investigation, but has not been charged with a crime.

The cardiologist, who is licensed in Nevada, California and Texas, told police he used propofol along with other sedatives to help Jackson sleep.

Propofol is usually used in medical settings by anesthesia professionals to render patients unconscious for surgery. Officials say it is not meant for use as a sleep agent. However, the milky liquid drug is not regulated by state and federal authorities as a controlled substance.

Read More at AP

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