GUILTY! Boy George Convicted Of Falsely Imprisoning Male Escort

LONDON — Boy George, the flamboyant former Culture Club front man, was convicted Friday of falsely imprisoning a male escort.

Norwegian escort Audun Carlsen had alleged he was handcuffed to a wall hook at the singer's east London apartment on April 28, 2007. Prosecutors said Carlsen was held by the singer, whose real name is George O'Dowd, for under an hour.

Carlsen, 29, said O'Dowd swung a metal chain at him when he got loose and fled the apartment following a naked photo shoot.

O'Dowd, who is 46, admitted he restrained Carlsen with handcuffs while trying to figure out if Carlsen had tampered with a computer. The singer said he believed Carlsen had previously removed photos of himself that were taken by the singer.

Jurors were shown photos of welts on Carlsen's head and injuries to his arm, which the escort said had been inflicted by O'Dowd. The singer denied he was responsible.

The iconic '80s singer was released on bail following the verdict. He is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 16. False imprisonment carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. Such a severe sentence is not expected in this case, though the judge warned O'Dowd that some jail time was probable.

This was not the singer's first brush with the law.

Two years ago, he was ordered to do community service in New York _ sweeping streets _ after pleading guilty to falsely reporting a burglary at his lower Manhattan apartment. The officers who responded found cocaine instead.

Two of Culture Club's best known hits are "Karma Chameleon" and "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me." During the peak of his career, Boy George was known for his crooning voice, carefully applied female-style makeup and signature hats.

Comments

[joebiz]

A sad and sorry conclusion to a once promising singer.

I guess we're going to sing a line from his hit MIss Me Blind when he's behind bars in the slammer . . ." I know you miss me, I know you miss blind .. .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48n0WZvRvzY

[trendier]

Oh man! I for one hope he doesn't go to prison. I love boy George, and I always will. He just needs to go to rehab. In my humble opinion he is one of the most talented artist of the 80's he has one of the best voices around.

[martymartymarty]

Whatever happens, jail time or no, I hope George can sort himself out. He has rarely been off drugs, and that has not only addled his head but now all these years into it made him dependent upon a mean streak. He had a flippancy toward these charges that unfortunately was not out of character, it is such a shame he does not realize he did actually do something wrong. I hope this concludes his course of self-destruction, he has been following such a path for far too long. As a lifelong fan of his *music*, I maintain hope that any jail sentence will be the wake up call he needs. He can still sing, his songs are still greatish, and he owes it to himself to let *that* be what he is remembered for instead of all of this tabloid fodder.

[ibivi]

As the British say, "stupid cow". He seemed so sweet and harmless back in the 80s. Turns out he's a perverto. He and George Michael need some therapy.

[Blutus]

Boy gorge. All that blood sausage I bet.

[crayola 08]

wow. he looks like a sweaty balloon.

[duckcrackers]

Amazing how he still looks excatly the same as in his old Culture Club days.

[foxycontin]

What the Jonas Brothers have to look forward to. I can't wait.

[BannedInBoston]

As opposed to TRULY imprisoning a male escort? That's legal?

[Badbone]

What a strange legal phrase "false" imprisonment. What's false about it?

[hamchunk]

Did he imprison him under his huge, sagging man-tit?

[ObamaEdwards]

Um, what does "falsely imprisoning" mean? OK, I guess it means imprisoning without consent as one would receive in an S/M encounter. But why the word "falsely?" Is that the legal term?

[SoCalAmerican]

"Dooo you really want to huuurt meeee?"

"Uhhh...ye­a!"

LMAO

[tangelan]

"Time won't give me time
And time makes lovers feel
Like they got something real
But you and me we know
They've got nothin but time"

They are going to love him in prison. There's going to be a whole lotta cuffin going on.

[daedelus]

You didn't spend a lot of time coming up with that, I hope.

[spiderbucket]

He will be O.J.'s bitch in prison now.

[broezekiel]

Hey, is it just me or is there a remarkable resemblance to now Boy George, and the saxaphone-playing walrus?

[bmwracer]

LMFAO.

Boy George the Hutt.