Actor Michael Douglas’ son Cameron was sentenced to five years in prison this week for drug dealing and possession.
The 31-year-old was first arrested in 2007 after police found a syringe of cocaine in his car. He was charged with possession of a controlled substance. This past July, he was arrested by officer from the Drug Enforcement Administration for possession of methamphetamine at the Hotel Gansevoort in Manhattan. Because he had .5 pounds of meth, he was charged with intent to distribute.
Although Cameron had been in trouble before, he had plenty of big names pleading his case before the judge. Both dad and grandfather Kirk Douglas wrote letters, pleading for leniency for Cameron. Michael insinuated that Cameron was having problems dealing with a famous father, something he himself had faced. He also pointed out that had had experienced problems with alcohol. Also pleading for leniency was Michael’s wife Catherine Zeta-Jones and NBA coaching great Pat Riley.
Cameron, facing a minimum of 10 years in prison, said he wanted another chance to turn his life around and become an entertainer. He also asked for the “opportunity to be a role model to my younger brothers and sisters.”
Although his lawyer asked for no more than three and a half years, Cameron was sentenced to five years in prison, $25,000 worth of fines, and sentenced to serve 450 hours of community service.
The judge in the case said too many people treated Cameron as a victim, but he needed to “get over the idea.”
It seems that being a celebrity’s child isn’t always what it is all cracked up to be. Michael even admitted he wasn’t there for Cameron when he was growing up.
But, the judge was convinced the Cameron wasn’t going to stop doing drugs. Maybe this jail time will do for Cameron what it did for Robert Downey Jr., who after hitting rock bottom has finally turned his life around.
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