Pubdate: Fri, 03 Sep 1999
Source: New York Post (NY)
Copyright: 1999, N.Y.P. Holdings, Inc.
Contact:  http://nypostonline.com/
Author: Andy Geller

KIN'S E-MAIL GETS DOWNEY TRANSFERRED TO REHAB JAIL

A Web site launched by Robert Downey Jr.'s family has apparently
gotten results - the 34-year-old, sobriety-challenged actor has been
moved from a jail cell to a rehab center.

The family established the site:

http://www.freerobertdowneyjr.com/ to pressure officials into allowing
the star of "Natural Born Killers" and "Chaplin" to do his three years
in a prison rehab facility. It urged his fans to join a letter-writing
campaign to President Clinton and California Gov. Gray Davis - and
included a handy form letter to mail.

Apparently, it worked. The one-time Oscar nominee is now one of 700
inmates at the California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility in
Corcoran, Calif.

"The system works. We are very grateful," said a message on the Web
site yesterday.

On Aug. 5, Judge Lawrence Mira sentenced the Hollywood bad boy to a
maximum of three years in the slammer for repeatedly violating
probation on drug and weapons charges.

The charges stem from a June 1996 incident in which Downey was stopped
for speeding. Inside his pickup were cocaine, crack, heroin and a
pistol. He entered rehab, but kept falling off the wagon.

Downey was shipped off to North Kern State Prison in Delano, Calif.
But on Aug. 25, he was transferred to the rehab center, said Manuel
Porras, a spokesman.

"He's doing fine," said Porras.

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