Leif Garrett Pleads No Contest In Heroin Case

LOS ANGELES — Former teen heartthrob Leif Garrett pleaded no contest Friday to heroin possession in Los Angeles and will enter a drug rehab program.

Garrett, 48, was arrested in February after authorities found him carrying heroin in a Los Angeles subway station.

He has had a series of drug arrests since the height of his popularity in the 1970s.

The case could be dismissed if Garrett completes the terms of the treatment program within 18 months.

"I just think this is in everybody's best interests," said Garrett's attorney, Andrew Flier. He said he was proud of Garrett for entering the plea and recognizing that he needs additional treatment.

Garrett has been working with celebrity addiction specialist Dr. Drew Pinsky and he is among those slated to appear on the next season of "Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew," Flier said. Garrett's court-ordered program wouldn't be part of any reality show, he said.

Comments

[kurtizzyflush]

01:23 AM on 10/24/2010

All you judgmental twits on here should walk a mile in Garrett's shoes. He crippled a friend and turned to drugs to deal with the regret. It could be worse. He could be a republican.

[JaxReader]

03:59 PM on 10/19/2010

We are such strange creatures. (mental rambling)

Society builds up individuals to be celebrities which we then idolize and obsess over, until we have built them up to a level that is impossible to maintain. Then our attention and interests peak, and we drop whoever we thought was important, in search of someone new.

As these psychological factors take hold of the celebrity, we readily watch their lives crumble and we allow (and encourage) the paparazzi to relentlessly torture them during their difficulties. We watch their decline before our eyes, and get some sort of strange cathartic joy from seeing the demise of someone society used to hold up. We also attach our personal judgments about the celebrity's life, decisions, and opinions as to what brought them to where they are.

The only hope for these celebrities is if we destroy the individual so badly, that we start to hope for this person to make a great comeback as the underdog, and so we begin building them up once more.

We always wonder why celebrities seem to have so many problems, but we fail to realize that we play a major role in creating them.

[MiHi]

03:42 PM on 10/18/2010

The years have not been merciful.

Time is the fire in which we burn.

[scorpioleidy]

03:06 PM on 10/18/2010

Now he gets himself a starring role playing himself on Smoking Gun - Dumbest Criminals! How old do you have to get to realize you're too d@mned old to keep doing dr^gs?!

[The Questioner]

05:02 AM on 10/19/2010

At a certain age they start prescribing you drugs just like what he got caught with

[kurtizzyflush]

01:17 AM on 10/24/2010

Why don't you ask Keith Richards?

[Jamal Alexander]

01:55 PM on 10/18/2010

They should feature video of him on the show "World's Dumbest Criminals".

[GeoNorth]

10:27 AM on 10/18/2010

Does he get to keep his snarky job with "World's Worst...?

[The Upper East Side]

06:32 AM on 10/18/2010

He looks great!! He should be proud of himself!!!

[Mort]

10:26 PM on 10/17/2010

In that picture you can almost see the big "L" on his forehead.

[scorpioleidy]

03:07 PM on 10/18/2010

I see it ... it looks permanent!

[kurtizzyflush]

01:18 AM on 10/24/2010

I can see the one on your four heads and I can't even see you.

[flyn2hi]

06:19 PM on 10/17/2010

This guy...

[Shina Nukuai]

05:20 PM on 10/17/2010

Confessions of the first ex~mouseketeer .
Paul Peterson

good read.

[Steve Ochs]

01:37 PM on 10/17/2010

I think Justin Bieber should be forced to follow this case very closely!

[prdamericanmom]

01:08 PM on 10/17/2010

Wow, I couldn't figure out who it was until I read the article. Poor guy. I hope he can kick the addiction and finally get his life back on track. Best of luck to Mr. Garrett.

[fightorleave2]

12:55 PM on 10/17/2010

"The case could be dismissed if Garrett completes the terms of the treatment program within 18 months.

"I just think this is in everybody's best interests," said Garrett's attorney, Andrew Flier."

I wonder if Mr. Flier says the same thing about those who are currently in prison for getting caught with heroin?

[meowser]

12:22 PM on 10/17/2010

Very sad. I hope he can finally turn himself around.

[Gronkie]

11:14 AM on 10/17/2010

Back in the 70's, this guy was a teen idol for about 10 minutes. Since then, he's only been able to get a headline for his run ins with the law. If it wasn't for his drug use, he'd be as well remembered as Peter Lemonjello.

[Steve Ochs]

01:36 PM on 10/17/2010

You remember Peter Lemongello?! Cool! By the way, he is NOT drug addicted and as far as i know mostly enjoys golfing.

[Gronkie]

03:27 PM on 10/17/2010

I just remember the ubiquitous commercials.

[kurtizzyflush]

01:19 AM on 10/24/2010

Or as well forgotten as you.

[Gronkie]

06:42 PM on 10/24/2010

Meee-ow!