Boy George Guilty Of False Imprisonment

(AP)  Boy George, the flamboyant former Culture Club frontman, 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.

[timothyone-2009]

"Boy" George is a pathetic thing who couldn''t handle being rich and famous. I hope he is only made to serve a moderate time, and that this time will be spent helping others. He needs to be forced to get back in touch with reality. His easy life as a wealthy star who can pay to abuse others should be forced from his consciousness by the harsh realities other less famous gay men face. If compassion and empathy can''t be forced into his soul he should be left in jail. Sorry George, but you ain''t been right in a long time.

[babooph]

The US "boy George"s guilty of torture & war crimes,is more cowardly than Brtians & will never be charged.

[smurfcrusher]

HAhahahahaha !!!!! you guys are killing me!! ROFL!!

[rushman71]

Boy George will have to re-word a song on his appeal to the judge,"Do you really want to jail me? Do you really want to make me fry."