The “American Idol” finalist Bo Bice easily cruised through to the Top Five in the singing competition this week. However, the self-styled rocker’s path to the show was a little bit rougher than some might expect.
In June 2001, Bice, 29, was arrested in his home state of Alabama on a cocaine-possession charge, and again two years later on charges of marijuana possession, public intoxication and possession of drug paraphernalia, TheSmokingGun.com has uncovered.
His first arrest came after Bice allegedly bought half a gram of cocaine from an acquaintance.
Two months after the arrest, Bice’s case was dismissed when an investigator from the Huntsville, Ala., police failed to show at a preliminary hearing.
After this the local district attorney’s office moved to refile the charges but Bice agreed to enter a drug-diversion program for first-time offenders. The program also covered the pot charge from the second arrest in July 2003; he pleaded guilty to the other two charges, both misdemeanors.
A spokeswoman for the D.A.’s office said that details of the diversion program are kept confidential, but such programs typically involve counseling and regular drug tests.
Once Bice completed the program last year, the possession charges were dropped.
Credit: Zap2It.com
