Boy George Rehabs

By: Shannon Gossage

Boy George, real name George O’Dowd, pleaded guilty Wednesday to falsely reporting a burglary. The more serious cocaine possession charges were dismissed. O’Dowd was fined $1,000 and sentenced to five days of community service. He was ordered to attend a drug rehabilitation facility and must not be arrested on any new charges over the next six-months. O’Dowd is to appear back in a Manhattan court on June 9 with written proof that he completed a stint in rehab. The judge has allowed O’Dowd to attend rehab at Clouds rehabilitation facility in England.

O’Dowd’s lawyers released a statement form the former pop star that read, "I am relived and happy that this case has been disposed of, and would like to thank the judge, the district attorney and my attorney, Lou Freeman, for the fair and speedy way it was dealt with. I love New York and am looking forward to coming back and working in the states later this year." The letter was signed "George."

O’Dowd was arrested October 7, 2005 after he called the police to report an alleged burglary at his apartment in Manhattan. Once police arrived they found a small amount of cocaine and George was promptly taken into custody. He faced possession charges and false reporting charges. If convicted on the possession charge O’Dowd faced up to 15 years in prison. Louis Freeman, O’Dowd’s attorney, said last month, "He’s going to fight (the charges) all the way." All he has to do now is keep his nose clean. If he can’t do that it remains very likely that he could end up in jail.