Former teen idol Leif Garrett pleads not guilty to heroin charge [Updated]
Former teen idol Leif Garrett pleaded not guilty Wednesday in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom to one felony count of heroin possession.
The '70s heartthrob was arrested Feb. 1 by L.A. County sheriff’s deputies patrolling the Metro subway station at Pershing Square downtown. Garrett, 48, was about to board a train and was sweating and shaking, deputies said. He told them he was hiding black tar heroin in his shoe, they said.
Garrett was released Feb. 3 after posting $10,000 bond, said district attorney spokeswoman Jane Robison. He is scheduled to appear back in court March 16.
The troubled former actor-singer has a history of drug-related offenses. The district attorney’s complaint cited Garrett’s convictions on three previous charges, two in 2006 and one in 2001.
[Updated at 11:24 a.m.: Garrett's attorney Andrew Flier called the accusations “out of character” for the former star, who he said had been turning his life around the last few years.
“He’s completely stayed out of trouble, he’s changed his life a lot, he’s taking care of his mother,” Flier said.]
-- Amina Khan
Photo: A booking photo released Feb. 3 by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department showing former 1970s teen idol Leif Garrett, 48, after he was arrested. Credit: Associated Press
EDITOR'S PICKS:
Let's see Leif Garrett get treatment. Be it in jail or in a recovery establishment, Garrett obviously has a substance abuse problem. He needs help and it looks like he does not know how to ask for the help he needs. Leif is in the news all the time about his drug use. Let's help people who we know have a problem with drugs and get them treatment.
Posted by: Alex Datig | February 24, 2010 at 03:48 PM
He'll always be Leonard Unger to me in those, what, two episodes of The Odd Couple he appeared in.
Posted by: Ted | February 24, 2010 at 03:57 PM
Sounds like Leif needs to turn a new leaf!
Posted by: Dookie | February 24, 2010 at 10:23 PM
EXTRA EXTRA This just in Leif Garret pleads not guilty to heroin possession HA HA Ha This is a joke right not guilty
Positively Shocking There goes 30 seconds of my life that I cant get back
Posted by: Scott | February 25, 2010 at 08:27 AM
Love You Leif !! I wish you the best of Luck in life please get the help you need !!
Posted by: Mary starling | March 21, 2010 at 04:43 AM
Good Luck Leif !!!
Posted by: Mary starling | March 21, 2010 at 04:44 AM
What happened on March 16th courtdate or was it postponed?
Posted by: AmyG | March 22, 2010 at 09:25 PM