Posted on 04/28/2005 2:34:44 PM PDT by Asphalt
APRIL 28--One of the five remaining "American Idol" finalists was once arrested for felony cocaine possession, but had the charge--and a separate marijuana count--dismissed last year after completing a so-called "diversion program," The Smoking Gun has learned. Harold "Bo" Bice, 29, was busted in June 2001 by Huntsville, Alabama cops and hit with the drug count, a Class C felony, according to the below warrant. He was arrested again in July 2003 near Birmingham and charged with marijuana possession, public intoxication, and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to court records. He pleaded guilty to the latter two misdemeanors in December 2004. The pot charge was dismissed after Bice's successful completion of the same diversion program that covered his prior cocaine bust. In that 2001 case, a District Court preliminary hearing was set for August 29, but when a Huntsville Police Department investigator did not show, Judge Susan Moquin dismissed the Bice case, according to a court docket. But with prosecutors prepared to refile the felony count, Bice later opted to enter a drug diversion program overseen by the district attorney's office, according to Heather Douglas, spokesperson for the Madison County D.A.. Bice formally entered the diversion program in 2003 following his pot arrest, and the two separate drug possession charges were effectively merged and covered by Bice's diversion program, according to a TSG source familiar with the cases (the cocaine charge was bounced on April 28, 2004, and the pot rap was dismissed five months ago). Bice was arrested on the cocaine charge after scoring about 1/2 a gram of the drug from an acquaintance at Huntsville's Silver Dollar strip club, according to a source. If convicted of the felony coke charge, Bice would have faced a maximum of 10 years in jail, though a probationary term would have been more likely. While details of what Bice had to do in the diversion program are confidential, enrollees usually must submit to urine tests, undergo drug counseling, and attend awareness classes. Bice, who worked at the time in a Huntsville bar, is a long-haired rocker whose gritty appearance and performances have stood out from "American Idol"'s usual pop pablum. On Fox Television's "Idol" web site, Bice reports that his "most embarrassing moment" was when he once "fell off stage during a show."
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CLAY was the real winner, out of ALL seasons thus far, if you ask me.
You couldn't be more wrong about Kelly Clarkson. She's a legit star now, with not one, not two, but three singles in the Billboard Hot 100. The first two, "Breakaway" and "Since U Been Gone," have sold two million copies. For all his success, Clay Aiken hasn't turned that trick yet.
So, whose to say Constantine won't be better off now that he can focus on making his album instead of playing to the pathetic American Idol show?
"Pathetic?" You're acting as if you don't watch it!
Tuesday's performance was Maroulis' worst since his laughable rendition of "I Think I Love You." I didn't think Constantine belonged in the finals, but he did himself proud with "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "I Can't Make You Love Me," taking on Freddie Mercury and Bonnie Raitt and not sounding like a fool for doing so. But as Simon said Tuesday night, that was Maroulis' niche -- as a crooner. He's "crossed over to the dark side, or the light side," and has to give up the rock tunes, which he can't do as well. (This was something that Goo Goo Dolls' front man Johnny Rzeznik said to his bandmates when he abandoned the band's original hardcore punk sound -- "There's no going back.")
Constantine is attractive and talented enough to be more successful than, say, Justin Guarini. Right now, I would say he is just as good (for better or worse) as Ashlee Simpson, and better than Dylan McCartney, a teen pretty-boy singer who I saw on Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. He flat-out sucked.
Well, I want Carrie to win, but I don't know if I want her to win this way LOL.
If Bo is kicked off because of this, you know who'll replace him, don't you? Lt. Dan! ARRRRRGGGGHHHH! Just when we thought we were rid of him ...
No flames from me. Nikko wasn't my favorite, but he was fun.
Anthony is one of my favorites. He's a bit plain I suppose, but he has a good voice. He's only 19, so he has some things to learn, but if you just listen to his voice, it has a very pure quality to it.
I agree.
The last arrest was in 2003.
See my reply to you over on the AI thread. The latest hot conspiracy theory on the AI boards is that Constantine or "his people" released the stuff about Bo for exactly that reason. Bo goes and Lt. Dan gets called back. Personally, I think this is all hilarious.
Maybe nobody will win this year [snicker].
I think Idol would have a hard time dropping someone this late in the competition. They may decide that 1) they already knew of this or 2) he was never convicted.
Look on the bright side, when we had Lt. Dan to kick around, you had some of the best posts on the AI thread.
I still laugh at the time Constantine was shaking his head around and you said there goes lice and dandruff all over the stage!
Bo has become a Christian, and is a regular churchgoer. His church is right across the street from mine. He has admitted in the Birmingham News to a "rock and roll lifestyle" in his past, so I doubt he tried to hide this from the AI people. I will still support him.
Exxxxcellent!
:)
Ah, the classics :)
ROFLMAO!!!
He's a bit plain I suppose, but he has a good voice.
I agree with you. I'll still support Bo. Let's be real. What "rocker" hasn't tried some kind of drug. Look at Paula Abdul. She's always high on something lately.
It sounds like he's cleaned up his act and become a Christian.
If they didn't kick Slingblade (Scott) off for wife (baby's mama) beating, I don't think they'll even blink an eye at Bo.
I think his fans will forgive him.
You are bothered by his accent?
Not only that, he'll win in a landslide.
Repentant sinner syndrome.
I wouldn't be surprised if Bo released this himself.
I think you're right. (But I don't think he released it.)
I just checked the AOL poll and Bo has overtaken Carrie 38% - 36%.
Carrie's still my girl to win, but now I'm sure that Bo will be in the final 2, regardless.
You are bothered by his accent?
Yeah - what a shocker! A rocker who's done drugs! I hope his fans will still support him; like you, I think most will.
I didn't take it as a racist remark or anything Anna. I was just surprised that the accent bothered you at all. It's pretty hard to hear in my opinion.
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