Tawny Kitaen Faces Felony Drug Charges

(CBS/AP)  Tawny Kitaen has been charged with felony drug possession after sheriff's deputies said they found cocaine in her apartment.

The 45-year-old actress, who co-starred in the 1984 comedy "Bachelor Party," is scheduled to be arraigned Dec. 18 at Harbor Justice Center in Laguna Niguel, said Susan Kang Schroeder, a spokeswoman for the Orange County district attorney's office.

If convicted, sentences could range from a drug diversion program to up to three years in prison, Schroeder said Tuesday.

Deputies responding to a request for a welfare check in May found 15 grams of cocaine in Kitaen's San Juan Capistrano apartment, authorities said. They said her two children were home at the time, and Kitaen had given deputies permission for the search.

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Photos: Celebrity Mugshots

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It wasn't immediately known whether Kitaen had retained a lawyer. An after-hours message left for an attorney who previously represented her wasn't immediately returned.

In 2002, Kitaen was arrested on charges she abused her then-husband, former Angels pitcher Chuck Finley. Finley was playing for the Cleveland Indians at that time.

She agreed to anger management and conflict resolution counseling in exchange for the dismissal of two misdemeanor counts of spousal abuse.

Kitaen, who was once married to Whitesnake lead singer David Coverdale, appeared in some of the band's music videos. The most memorable was 1987's "Here I Go Again" in which the scantily-clad actress writhed on top of the hood of a Jaguar.

[kjgal]

I think some of you are way too quick to judge. Yes, drugs are a no-no when children are in the home, but you have no idea what she has been through. I've followed her life pretty closely since her Whitesnake days and she hasn't had it easy. David Coverdale dumped her for no obvious reason. She was young, very infatuated with that lifestyle, and very much in love with him. She's had no real career since those videos, and from what I understand, her baseball player husband was no angel. I'm sure it's hard going from all that limelight and luxury to nothing. Sure, she's had money, but money doesn't buy happiness. It can buy good drugs that temporarily substitute for love and happiness. After watching the Surreal Life on VH1 it was quite obvious she has emotional problems and she needs help. Maybe now she'll get the help she deserves and needs. She has never abused her kids. She's surely not the only celebrity drug addict who happens to be a mother. I can
personally sympathize with what she's going through. Those without sin cast the first stone! I'm pulling for you Tawny!! You are still young and beautiful. Don't give up!

[roblin2005]

Here's a 2002 mugshot:
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/kitaen1.html

[roblin2005]

I don't think that is her police mug-shot. She deserves a spot in the police line-up along side Robert Downey Jr., Mel Gibson, and Yasmine Bleeth.

[warlance-2009]

She should go to jail and lose her children. She is evidently an unfit parent. But of course, she will probably get off lightly.

[olebd]

I would have guessed steroids. She looks kind of horse-like to me.