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But lawyer denies drugs found in singer’s apartment belonged him
Reuters
Updated: 4:35 p.m. ET Oct. 8, 2005
NEW YORK - A lawyer for Boy George is denying that drugs found in the British singer’s apartment belonged to him.
Authorities said the singer, whose real name is George O’Dowd, was arraigned on drug charges early Saturday.
He had called 911 to report that his home had been burglarized around 3 a.m. Friday, said Detective Kevin Czartoryski, a police spokesman.
Officers arrived at O’Dowd’s apartment and discovered a small amount of cocaine next to a computer, police said. They were continuing to investigate.
The singer was released Saturday without bail after being charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, allegedly more than an eighth of an ounce of cocaine, said Barbara Thompson, a spokeswoman for the Manhattan District Attorney’s office. He was scheduled to return to court on Dec. 19.
“It was a small amount of drugs,†lawyer Lou Freeman told the New York Post for Saturday editions. “He does not know where it came from. He’s had a lot of people in his house.â€
“A man who has something to hide does not call police,†he said.
It is not the first time that Boy George has had problems with drugs.
In 1986, the singer was convicted for heroin possession in England. Two of his friends overdosed in the incident and O’Dowd was forced into a rehabilitation program. The conviction led to the disintegration of his group, Culture Club, one year later.
Boy George, famous for his androgynous persona, and Culture Club had hits including “Karma Chameleon†and “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me.â€
Prison time?
It was unclear what prison term, if any, he faces since police said they had yet to determine with precision what quantity of drugs may have been in his apartment.
George’s musical “Taboo†closed in New York last year after losing money. The musical was an autobiographical look at a time when flamboyant cross-dressers reigned in London clubs and Culture Club topped pop charts around the world.
The son of an Irish builder, George rose from supermarket shelf-stocker to glitzy pop millionaire.
He became an international star in 1982 with “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?†The song topped hit parades in 18 countries and Culture Club went on to sell almost 20 million albums.
Known for his flowing locks and the lash of his sharp tongue, the boy doll with the asexual image was devoured by British tabloid newspaper who wrote often about his heroin-induced excesses to his pitiful withdrawal.
In 1995, Boy George recounted his drug-induced fall from grace in his autobiography “Take It Like A Man,†writing about his convictions and relapses and about how he had finally kicked his habit.
In recent years, George made a new career as a disc jockey and record producer.
Reuters
Updated: 4:35 p.m. ET Oct. 8, 2005
NEW YORK - A lawyer for Boy George is denying that drugs found in the British singer’s apartment belonged to him.
Authorities said the singer, whose real name is George O’Dowd, was arraigned on drug charges early Saturday.
He had called 911 to report that his home had been burglarized around 3 a.m. Friday, said Detective Kevin Czartoryski, a police spokesman.
Officers arrived at O’Dowd’s apartment and discovered a small amount of cocaine next to a computer, police said. They were continuing to investigate.
The singer was released Saturday without bail after being charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, allegedly more than an eighth of an ounce of cocaine, said Barbara Thompson, a spokeswoman for the Manhattan District Attorney’s office. He was scheduled to return to court on Dec. 19.
“It was a small amount of drugs,†lawyer Lou Freeman told the New York Post for Saturday editions. “He does not know where it came from. He’s had a lot of people in his house.â€
“A man who has something to hide does not call police,†he said.
It is not the first time that Boy George has had problems with drugs.
In 1986, the singer was convicted for heroin possession in England. Two of his friends overdosed in the incident and O’Dowd was forced into a rehabilitation program. The conviction led to the disintegration of his group, Culture Club, one year later.
Boy George, famous for his androgynous persona, and Culture Club had hits including “Karma Chameleon†and “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me.â€
Prison time?
It was unclear what prison term, if any, he faces since police said they had yet to determine with precision what quantity of drugs may have been in his apartment.
George’s musical “Taboo†closed in New York last year after losing money. The musical was an autobiographical look at a time when flamboyant cross-dressers reigned in London clubs and Culture Club topped pop charts around the world.
The son of an Irish builder, George rose from supermarket shelf-stocker to glitzy pop millionaire.
He became an international star in 1982 with “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?†The song topped hit parades in 18 countries and Culture Club went on to sell almost 20 million albums.
Known for his flowing locks and the lash of his sharp tongue, the boy doll with the asexual image was devoured by British tabloid newspaper who wrote often about his heroin-induced excesses to his pitiful withdrawal.
In 1995, Boy George recounted his drug-induced fall from grace in his autobiography “Take It Like A Man,†writing about his convictions and relapses and about how he had finally kicked his habit.
In recent years, George made a new career as a disc jockey and record producer.
