Pubdate: Mon, 29 Jan 2001
Source: CNN (US Web)
Copyright: 2001 Cable News Network, Inc.
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Anchor: Joie Chen
Bookmark: Downey, Robert Jr. http://www.mapinc.org/find?170

ACTOR ROBERT DOWNEY JR. TO APPEAR IN COURT ON DRUG CHARGES

JOIE CHEN, CNN ANCHOR: Robert Downey Jr. out in California is making 
an appearance before the court there. Of course, he is up on drug 
charges that stem from his arrest, like, last Thanksgiving in Palm 
Springs at a hotel, resort hotel there. He is appearing before the 
court at Indio, California.

CNN following up on this case. We understood that there is some 
discussion under way this afternoon for a bit a postponement. Robert 
Downey Jr.'s lawyers wanted to take a look at additional material 
coming from the trial, wanted to get further analysis of drugs found 
at the hotel location where Robert Downey Jr. was arrested.

Again, that was last Thanksgiving. He was apparently there with 
another person and he was arrested inside -- after receiving report 
at the hotel. CNN's Paul Vercammen is following this case in Indio, 
California and he joins us now.

Paul, can you tell us what's going on in the courtroom at this point?

PAUL VERCAMMEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I'll tell you exactly what's 
going on. Just a little while ago, Robert Downey Jr. took sort of a 
long, circuitous walk into this courthouse. It was a three-ring media 
circus and some supporters yelled, we are with you, Robert Downey Jr. 
and we love you and that sort of thing. He will now go inside, and 
they will deal with the matter at hand.

And what it looks like -- I just talked to the prosecutor as well, 
before she got in the courtroom, there has been no deal made at this 
point. So what is expected is that Downey's lawyers will ask for the 
continuance they've been seeking. They want more time to look over 
evidence, and in particular, the drugs that police allegedly found in 
Downey's hotel room.

The prosecutor says she has no problem with going along the wish for 
continuance, so, I guess the only wild card that would left is if the 
judge were to deem somehow in a different way. We'll just have to see 
what happens here. The courtroom is entirely packed right now with a 
lot of still photographers, so, you may see a burst of flash bulbs 
soon. And I can't see the monitor now, so make sure you let me know 
when the proceedings do begin. We're awaiting for them to start 
momentarily -- Joie.

CHEN: Paul, can you talk to us a little bit about what the defense 
has planned for the defense of Robert Downey Jr.? I mean, if they 
want to look further at the material that was found in the hotel 
room, what is their point?

VERCAMMEN: Well, for one, they will not tip their hand, but I know 
that members of the Downey camp have raised this point. They've got a 
problem with that 911 caller. They have suggested that possibly that 
isn't the best of witnesses, and maybe -- maybe perhaps authorities 
went to that hotel room under false pretenses. Don't forget, there 
was some talk that there was a gun in the hotel room.

Also, what remains to be seen is what's going to happen with this 
other charge of possession. It was cocaine possession and possession 
of Valium, and by the way, for a clarification, way back when, you 
might have heard methamphetamine, but that was incorrect. That came 
out in one of the reports. There could be a possibility and maybe 
down the road they will look at this, that maybe Downey had 
prescription for Valium. We don't than right now, and we don't know 
that if that will be a bone of contention. But that remains to be 
seen.

Otherwise, Downey's attorneys won't really give up too much. They've 
just sort of suggested that they've got some problems with the 
investigation. You may know that in Hollywood, there is a huge course 
of support for Downey. Mel Gibson for one. Curtis Hanson, who 
directed in "The Wonder Boys" and Sean Penn, who is usually very 
tight-lipped, does not think that Downey should go to prison, and we 
talked about that just the other day.

SEAN PENN, ACTOR: His particular case concerns me a great deal 
because he's somebody I know, a person who I care a great deal about. 
I think he is a poster boy for the fact that the prison doesn't cure 
it. And I think that, you know, he's our kid. He's -- he's us, and 
our kids are him. And if we don't come up with a better way, it's 
going to be them.

VERCAMMEN: And now back here live also, career wise for Robert Downey 
Jr., he was to be with Mel Gibson. Mel Gibson was to direct him in a 
live theater version of "Hamlet" somewhere in Los Angeles. And Gibson 
has said he does not want to do that play with anyone else but 
Downey, and that his heart goes out to Downey.

And so again, a lot of support for Downey in Hollywood and, of 
course, he just added yet another sort of glowing item to his resume. 
He won that Golden Globe for his performance on "Ally McBeal." He 
received it just last Sunday. He's been credited with sort of jump 
starting the show and increasing interest in the show, the buzz 
around it. He is Calista Flockhart's romantic interest. The ratings 
are up.

And so, we will see have to see what happens with the "Ally McBeal" 
situation because there had been some talk that he had signed on for 
11 more episodes. But we checked with Fox, and that is not yet true 
or confirmed, and that he's not scheduled to go back to the set. Of 
course, they do have a whole batch of episodes left to shoot this 
season for "Ally McBeal." So, we'll wait and see if they go ahead of 
and ink some more for Robert Downey Jr. -- Joie.

CHEN: Hey Paul, what does Downey say about his own problems with drugs?

VERCAMMEN: That's interesting, because I was covering the Golden 
Globes last Sunday and he's not going to get into long, lengthy 
discourse about it, you can imagine. But he did answer the question 
and he did say, basically, I am doing the best I am can. I'm trying 
to right my ship. I'm trying very hard. So, he seems to be suggesting 
to all of us that he realizes that there is a problem and it's not 
that he's taking a cavalier approach to it.

So, that's been the latest that he said did about it and he was also, 
as you may have seen in the Golden Globes, more than willing to make 
a joke about his own travails and he suggested, you know, that he 
wanted to thank all other -- I think that he worded it this way, 
parolees and then he was talking about honorees as the Golden Globes. 
So, he's been jovial at times and willing to recognize that there is 
some trouble there.

CHEN: All right, Paul, we'll ask you to stand by and take a break 
here on CNN TODAY.
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