Fawcett's son charged with heroin possession
LOS ANGELES, CA
Redmond O'Neal's attorney Richard Pintal said he hopes to reach
a deal with prosecutors that includes additional treatment for his
client, who had a string of drug arrests in recent years.
O'Neal also pleaded not guilty to a charge of being a felon in
possession of a firearm. Police uncovered a 9mm handgun in a search
of his apartment after his arrest Tuesday.
O'Neal's father and his half-sister, the actress Tatum O'Neal,
also attended the hearing.
The 26-year-old was on probation for an incident in which he
brought drugs to a detention facility north of Los Angeles. In that
case, he was arrested in the parking lot of the facility while
still under supervision for a previous drug arrest and an incident
in which he and his father were arrested at the actor's Malibu
home.
He was in jail in June 2009 when his mother died after a battle
with cancer and was briefly released to attend her funeral.
Until his arrest by Santa Monica police on Tuesday, the younger
O'Neal had stayed out of trouble for months. He was stopped after
officers say they saw him run a red light, and a search of his car
found the drugs, authorities have said.
He returns to court on Aug. 24 for a probation violation hearing
and to try to resolve the current case, Pintal said.
O'Neal faces nearly four years in prison if convicted, but
Pintal said he is hopeful a judge will order him to receive
additional treatment.
"We remain cautiously optimistic and hopeful that there remains
a possibility that a resolution can be structured that allows Mr.
O'Neal to receive treatment rather than custody," Pintal said.
