Cameron Douglas Sentenced to 5 Years in Drug Case

By Marc Schneider Posted Apr 20th 2010 03:58PM

Calling it his "last chance to make it," a New York judge on Tuesday sentenced Michael Douglas' son to five years in prison for his role in dealing methamphetamine and cocaine in New York City, the AP reports. Cameron Douglas apologized to Federal Judge Richard Berman and the court and admitted he was responsible for not turning his life around. In addition to jail time, Douglas was ordered to pay $25,000 in fines and will spend an additional five years in a release program.

The 31-year-old actor had faced 10 years behind bars, but the sentencing is seen as a clear rejection of the defense's request that Douglas serve, at most, three and a half years in prison.

Michael Douglas was in the courtroom for the announcement and appeared dejected as he and ex-wife Diandra Luker, Cameron's mother, exited the building. On Monday, the famed 'Wall Street' actor penned a personal letter asking a judge to have mercy on his son, writing that the family's long history of drug abuse exacerbated his downward spiral.

"He is an adult and responsible for his own actions," Michael Douglas wrote, but added that "genes, family and peer pressure" also contributed to his son's substance abuse problems, which led to his getting involved in drug-dealing.

Berman said he read the father's letter, along with others sent from supporters who all shared the same belief that Douglas was ready to "turn his life around." However, the judge determined full rehabilitation outside of prison would "be a very difficult chore," adding, "I think this case and this sentencing may well be his last chance to make it."

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Michael Douglas Snapshots

Michael Douglas and ex-wife Diandra Luker exit Manhattan federal court amid a crush of reporters following the sentencing of their son Cameron on Tuesday. Cameron received a 5-year sentence after pleading guilty to drug charges. More Photos >>

FR77522 AP

Michael Douglas Snapshots

Michael Douglas exits Manhattan federal court following the sentencing of his son Cameron Douglas, Tuesday, April 20, 2010, in New York. Cameron was sentenced to 5 year in prison after pleading guilty to drug charges. (AP Photo/ Louis Lanzano)

Michael Douglas Snapshots

Actor Michael Douglas and his former wife Diandra Luker leave New York Federal Court April 20, 2010 after their son, Cameron Douglas was sentenced to 5 years for possession of methamphetamines with the intent to distribute. AFP PHOTO/TIMOTHY A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)

Michael Douglas Snapshots

Cameron Douglas pleaded guilty in January to dealing large quantities of meth and cocaine while holed up in a trendy Manhattan hotel, where he was arrested on July 28 of last year. He told a judge that a New York contact first asked him if he could score the drugs in 2006. After that, "I began supplying on a regular basis."

Douglas was swept up at the Hotel Gansevoort as part of a Drug Enforcement Administration probe, in which investigators said he was paid tens of thousands of dollars for smuggling meth -- what he referred to in intercepted phone calls as "pastry" or "bath salts." Cash and drugs were routinely exchanged from coast to coast through shippers like FedEx, a criminal complaint said.

Defense lawyers argued Douglas came to New York to look for an apartment when he had a chance encounter outside the hotel with a fellow guest and drug dealer who invited him to dinner. Afterward, the dealer asked Douglas if he could send him a pound of meth. "Still impaired by his addiction, Cameron agreed and later flew to California to arrange the requested transaction," court papers said.

In his letter to the court, Michael Douglas painted his son's problems with substance abuse as the product, in part, of a privileged but difficult childhood and the long shadow cast by a family of screen icons. "I have some idea of the pressure of finding your own identity with a famous father," wrote Douglas.

Douglas lists several Douglas family members who have grappled with substance abuse, but those names have been blacked out. Michael's half-brother, Eric, died of a drug overdose in 2004.

The five-page letter joined others written to the court by Cameron's supporters, including grandfather Kirk Douglas and stepmother Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Zeta-Jones wrote that while his drug addiction had taken over his life in recent years, he remained a "caring, considerate, worthy human being." She did not argue that Cameron should not pay for his crime. "What is wrong, is wrong," she admits. "But may all these positive attributes prevail, so that a facility that he is positioned in, will help rehabilitate him."

In his letter, Kirk Douglas asked the judge to spare his grandson from a lengthy sentence, saying he hopes to see him turn his life around "before I die." The elder Douglas, 93, visited Cameron in jail recently, where he "didn't express any self-pity, nor did he ask for any. The only sorrow he expressed was for the trouble he had caused others. ... I was shocked when he got in such a mess."

He concluded: "I'm convinced Cameron could be a fine actor. ... I hope I can see that happen before I die. I love Cameron."

The young Douglas has acted in a handful of movies including 2003's 'It Runs in the Family,' starring his father and grandfather, but his Hollywood career has sputtered since then. According to his IMDB page, Douglas' next project was supposed to be 'The Beautiful Outsiders,' a film in pre-production also starring Corey Feldman and Shannen Doherty.

Tags: Cameron Douglas, Michael Douglas

Comments

(292)

Tuesday 20 April

By Vince

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vgrandja -- The first time?? What planet have you been living on??

By Dawn

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Amazing..I can understand the pleading for your flesh n blood when in over his head with addiction to drugs, is why he went with the deal to deliver. It is an addiction ppl!!! in which he needs to recieve a 5 year probation with extensive ongoin help of rehabilitation. As for cutting up the family, I have enjoyed the entertaining acting from both Kirk n Michael Douglas films very much. The one who they should go after is, the person who talked Cameron (knowing he was hooked on meth) into selling to get his fix. Instead of calling names n hoping for the utmost punishment for an addiction, put yourself in the same situation n I bet most of you would end up eating your words. I wish the family luck n prayers that the Judge will consider going easier n ordering (tough 5 years probation) plus, medical n rehab he definately needs on going. I would Love unconditionally n without hesitation or conviction when n if it were my son. Sincerely, Dawn

By jmslotnick

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I said it before and I will say it again....My heart goes out to the Douglas family, but Cameron Douglas needs the jail time to make him realize that drugs are a destroyer in many ways. This is not the first Douglas that has had drug problems. Being affluent does not condone bad behavior and should not be given an easy road because of the families name and fame.

By Jose

I hope he gets the maximum sentence hehehehe PS... Cameron don´t drop the soap hehehehe

By js

"Cameron is not a criminal," Riley wrote. Pat Riley you are wrong !! He is a criminal, thats why he is in jail

Monday 26 April

By Randall Chase

Cameron Douglas should not be treated any different than anyone else. He already has a privileged life with all the "chances" anyone could ask for. Jail time will do him good! It will do the family some good too!

By Emmaline

Cameron Douglas had every advantage any child could have and this is how he decided to use that advantage: to do heroin himself and buy/sell drugs for others. He could have been an actor; he chose not to. He could have afforded all the education the world provides; he chose not to. He could have used his "knowledge of the abuse of drugs" to make a life for himself in drug addiction rehabilitation; he chose not to. What he DID choose to do was to buy/sell drugs. There are consequences to that action and now, NOW, he wants leniency. He's used up all his privileged chances and now it is time for Cameron to pay the consequences for his choices. No poignant letters from ANYONE should influence the judge. Cameron made these choices. And now Cameron, the cheese, stands alone. Bad choices; bad consequences. End of story.

By R.

Oh pulease. Spare me the 'save him' garbage. For god sakes- the 'kid' is 31 year old- and old man OLD enough to take full responsibility for his self-entitled sense of superiority- and failures. Even the photo above- shows a long haired adult with the usual rich kid smirk plastered on the face. Let's face it. He refuses to grow up- since he has family- 'to save him'. And to think we send garden variety drug addicts to real prison for the same if not even lesser offenses.

This world- really is messed up. Big time.

By Lou

THERE IS ONLY ONE SENTENCE FOR DRUG DEALERS WHO RUIN LIVES...
THAT IS EXECUTION BY INJECTION

By Jami

Meth has destroyed MANY lives and he contributed to that. 10 years is not LONG enough !

By Sharon

This young man has had numerous chances with law enforcement and his family. Hasn't made a difference with him. He needs to be treated like normal everyday people who are sentenced to the fullest extent of the law for the wrong they have done. Maybe when he gets out of jail in 3-5 years, he'll actually be a changed person.

By artie

So Michael wants the judge to help his kid. Maybe if Michael had posed less for the cameras, and HELPED his son, he wouldn't have to ask the judge to do it. This kid hurt and probably destroyed the lives of a few poor kids. Let him do his time and learn what the real world outside of Tintsle town is like.

By JEK

If Michael Douglas feels so responsible for his sons actions volunteer to do his time!

By Lucy L.

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If addiction is a disease and if it is true that Cameron is an addict then I believe his sentence should be in a facility that will treat his substance abuse and help him rehabilitate so that he may realize his intention of staying sober in the future. Drug dealing is a tricky crime, in my opinion. Who are the victims in it? The people he sold meth to wanted to buy the drug from him. It's a crime that deals with consensual parties on either side. It is illegal and I am not arguing that aspect but I don't think it should be punished as severely, or in many cases more severly, than a crime that has a clear cut victim...someone who is hurt by another's actions against their will. Drug offenses have been known to be punished more heavily than rapes and vehicular manslaughter due to DUI/DWI. There is something wrong with that. If Cameron wasn't pushing his product on minors or on school grounds, which it sounds like he wasn't, then traditional incarceration is not appropriate. We put murderers into mental health facilities for treatment in lieu of jail when they can "prove" insanity as the cause for their actions, why not do the same for a lesser crime?

By Really real

You know, I wonderif Cameron has ever had a J O B.. Many of these adult children of celebrities have never had to earn their way in life. Pretty sad really. They just don't seem to know how to do much of anything. except maybe get high. Losers!

I know many addicts who had J.O.B.S., weren't the children of celenbrities and were still addicts. They fed their addictions, put others at risk by either dealing to support their habits and/or driving while under the influence of their drug of choice, including alcohol and prescription meds. You need to redefine your definition of what constitutes and addict and exactly who it is that you think is susceptible to addiction. Getting high isn't just for losers. As a matter of fact, I would bet that you've gotten high on some sort of booze or substance, at some point. You just draw your line at that substance and judge all others that go past it. You would be surprised at the variety of people currently in active addiction and in recovery or dead from addiction. They include people from all walks of life. You likely have addicts where you work and in your family but you may not know it yet because thus far, they've remained functional and are still able to hide it well. Stop being so judgement and take off your blinders. So much righteousness here on these boards!!

By John

If the judges in the USA would stop giving these brats less jail time or just a slap on the hand maybe these brats would stop doing it if they see that they cant get away with it. Throw his butt in jail and be done with it. Why didnt his father help him before this because he was too busy chasing after his present wife and turning his back and his kids.

By bruce

All I can say he hasn't so called popped a cap in anyone and that's how the bro's keep out of jail. Just pop them witnesses.

By joe

How much mercy did the folks who died from the drugs he supplied get?

By Diana

How many of us were able to give a judge a note? None of us, not one. Meth is as bad as it can get, the stuff will kill. And now Michael thinks his boy is special, I dont think so. Anyone who sells meth, they deserve what ever they may get. I have no sympathy for meth sellers, and the users.

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