American Idol’s Jessica Sierra Pleads Not Guilty
Jessica Sierra, the American Idol contestant from Season 4, was arrested a few months ago for assault (hence the mug shot to the left).
Here’s the news from CBS4:
Former American Idol Pleads Not Guilty To Assault (CBS4) TAMPA A former finalist on “American Idol” has pleaded not guilty to charges she slammed a cocktail glass into a man’s head.
Last April, Jessica Sierra was arrested in Tampa after Wisam Hadad was treated for a three-quarter-inch gash over his right eyebrow.
During her booking at the Hillsborough County Jail, police discovered she also was carrying cocaine, so she faces drug charges as well.
Sierra, who was a top-ten contestant on the show in 2005, thanked her fans after a court appearance Monday. Her attorney says he hopes the charges can be resolved. A trial date has been set for October
Tags: american idol, jessica sierra, american idol jessica sierra, american idol, jessica sierra mug shot
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POSTED IN: Thinking Idol
6 opinions for American Idol’s Jessica Sierra Pleads Not Guilty
Lauren
Jul 3, 2007 at 8:46 am
What kind of evidence does she have that will prove that she didn’t commit the crime? Honestly, the guy had a gash on his head. Who is she kidding? Just admit to it because in the long run you’ll end up lookin’ like a fool!
Beth
Jul 3, 2007 at 7:40 pm
Admit to what? Throwing a glass and causing a minor injury (it was a small cut and the guy refused an ambulance) or felony battery? Based on the limited facts that have been in the media, the crime she actually seems to have committed is misdeameanor simple battery, not felony battery. Pleading guilty to the higher level charge - which as a felony would literally impact her the rest of her life - would be quite foolish IMO…especially given her young age. Even more foolish would be going against the advice of her very good attorney who undoubtedly knows the statutes back and forth and evidently believes they can either get a plea agreement to a lesser charge or prevail at trial on the higher one.
Jeanne
Jul 3, 2007 at 10:54 pm
Lauren - I can always count on you to go into hysterics ;)
Beth - you raise a good point. Why do you think she’s being charged with a felony? I do agree that she should probably try to plea for a lesser charge but things have gone crazy with Hollywood court cases lately!
joshy79
Jul 4, 2007 at 7:45 am
Yuk, that is a nasty picture. Do you guys think so.
Beth
Jul 4, 2007 at 9:22 am
Mug shots are not taken when one is at their best as they follow humiliating body searches, being handcuffed, fingerprinted, etc….and in her case, an alleged night of hard partying and probably a lot of crying.
Jeanne, she is actually facing two felonies, the first is for possession of cocaine. That’s always a felony charge; however, most first time offenders caught with such a small amount of cocaine are offered a diversion program which, when completed, results in the charge not being pursued. That’s what Bo did when he was caught with a similar amount of cocaine prior to AI. Maybe Jessica was offered a diversion program and refused because it really wasn’t her cocaine, or maybe she doesn’t qualify for some reason, or maybe the prosecution is being particularly hardcore in her case simply because of her minor celebrity. Guess we’ll find out eventually. As to the battery charge, I may be reading the statute entirely wrong but it seems like the case may rest on whether she caused “great” bodily harm, an apparent requirement in the felony charge, as opposed to mere harm (simple battery). The prosecution is probably claiming this fits in her case, but a few stitches over a cut that’s less than an inch on a guy who refused an ambulance doesn’t seem to meet that standard. The only thing I am sure of is she has a very good lawyer who knows what he’s doing. Jessica’s pleas are probably - or certainly should be - the result of his advice.
joshy79
Jul 4, 2007 at 5:23 pm
thanks for telling me that Beth
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