Posted on 06/25/2007 2:05:07 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
LOS ANGELES - Tom Sizemore was sentenced Monday to 16 months in state prison by a judge who ruled the alleged discovery of methamphetamine in the actor's car had violated his probation in a previous drug case.
Sizemore "has been in every program, and here he is again," Superior Court Judge Cynthia Rayvis said.
He "abused the privilege of probation" and "needs to be in a lockdown setting," the judge said.
Rayvis recommended Sizemore be sent to the R.J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego County because of its noteworthy drug treatment program.
Sizemore, whose screen credits include "Saving Private Ryan" and "Black Hawk Down," didn't speak during the hearing. He wore orange jail clothing.
Authorities arrested the 45-year-old actor in Bakersfield on May 8.
Sizemore's lawyer, Fay Arfa, argued that prison wouldn't help her client overcome his problem.
She said Sizemore had "literally fallen from stardom, sitting in a jail cell by himself" and wants to recover.
After the ruling, Arfa said Sizemore's legal team "will pursue our remedies on appeal."
Martin Sheen, who starred on TV's "The West Wing," attended the hearing in support of Sizemore.
"I don't think prison is appropriate for anyone who is in the grip of drug and alcohol abuse," he said outside court. Even so, Sheen said Sizemore could be successful in a prison drug rehab program.
Sizemore was arrested last month with another suspect. In court papers, Deputy District Attorney Sean Carney alleged that Sizemore violated his probation by being under the influence of methamphetamine, opiates and marijuana, possessing methamphetamine and possessing drug paraphernalia.
Sizemore faces up to six years in prison if convicted of all the charges. He has been in jail without bail since June 5, when he surrendered on a warrant alleging he had violated his probation.
The actor was due back in court Tuesday for a hearing on whether he will be credited for time he's spent in live-in drug rehabilitation.
Sizemore was convicted in 2003 of domestic violence involving his ex-girlfriend, former Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss. He remained free pending an appeal.
In October 2004, he pleaded guilty to a felony count of possession of a controlled substance identified as methamphetamine and was placed on probation. The probation was revoked in 2005 when Sizemore was caught using a prosthetic device during a drug test.
His probation was later reinstated, but he tested positive for drug use last year and was given another three years' probation, authorities said.
Actor Tom Sizemore arrives at the Airport Branch of the Los Angeles County Superior Court in this June 5, 2007, file photo in Los Angeles. Sizemore was sentenced Monday, June 25, 2007, to 16 months in prison for violating his probation in a drug case. (AP Photo/Nick Ut, FILE)
Actor Tom Sizemore listens during a court hearing June 22, 2005, in Los Angeles, where a prosecutor told a Superior Court judge that Sizemore violated terms of his probation by attempting to use a prosthetic device to falsify a urine test for drugs. Sizemore asked a judge Tuesday, June 19, 2007, for another chance after acknowledging that he violated his parole in a drug case. (AP Photo/Nick Ut, File)
In the commercials for the VH1 series about his troubles and recovery, they called him “the greatest actor of his generation.”
I thought that was a bit of a stretch.
Funny, huh? They DO pat each other on the back don’t they.
The man clearly believes that movies are, in fact, reality. - Pathetic.
Dude's a loser and I can't recall him standing out in any of his films.
Martin Sheen is a bore.
That whole crowd makes my happy ass hurt.
Too bad he loves drugs above all else.
In those sobfest shows everybody is the greatest whatever of their generation.
He’s repeatedly violated his terms of probation. He’s gotten a lot of breaks, more than the average bear. Things don’t look too good for him, either legally, or healthwise. Sitting in jail apparently has done wonders for Paris Hilton, maybe there is a chance for Tom Sizemore.
>“the greatest actor of his generation.”
Now that is something I have never heard. Those words all in the same sentence.
Just what is “his generation” anyway? What parameters of age encompass “his generation?”
And does that mean those in his general age group, or those who have and who are acting at this (his) time?
Sounds like an awful lot of actors for him to be on the top.
My wife and I, upon hearing this proclamation, both agreed that Tom Sizemore's acting generation must somehow be limited to him and a couple of people who were extras.
Although I did like him in both Private Ryan and Blackhawk Down. The character/real person he played in Blackhawk Down is someone I know personally (though not well) and admire very much.
I wish him good luck. I hope he overcomes his demons. He probably will not, and that to me is very sad.
I was thinking the same thing when I saw that picture.
Damn, he looks at least 65 there.
“Heat” was another good movie Sizemore was in. Ironically, it was De Niro and Sizemore’s mother who told him to get clean or he won’t find any more work.
So other than that what else has the guy done?
Greatest ... schmatest.. whatever.
Martin Sheen, who starred on TV's "The West Wing,"
Ooooo! Ahhhh! Wow!
Perhaps he'll grant a presidential pardon !
Sorry, this is real life... no chance.
BHD: Colonel McKnight(was the commanding officer that rode in the Humvee column) a pretty big role in the movie.
SPR: I can’t believe you haven’t seen this. Plays a Sergeant and is pretty good in that role.
Heat: He is one of DeNiro’s underlings and is pretty good as well.
The other movies he played well, but they were not as notable roles. He does have good range.
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