Redmond O'Neal pleads not guilty to drug possession, gun charges
(CBS/KCBS/AP) LOS ANGELES - Redmond O' Neal, the son of the late Farrah Fawcett and Ryan O'Neal, pleaded not guilty on Thursday to felony heroin possession two days after his arrest during a traffic stop.
Police say they arrested O'Neal on Tuesday when a motorcycle officer pulled him over after he ran a red light near Olympic and Lincoln boulevards in Santa Monica, reports CBS station KCBS. The officer then discovered the heroin after searching the vehicle.
When police searched O'Neal's apartment after the arrest, they reportedly uncovered a .9mm handgun. The 26-year-old also pleaded not guilty to a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
This arrest comes as nothing new to O' Neal, who has battled addictions since his teens. He has also been in and out of jail and rehab centers for crimes related to substance abuse.
District Attorney Spokeswoman Jane Robison says O'Neal is due in court on Aug. 24 for a probation violation hearing. If convicted, O' Neal faces up to four years in prison. However, his attorney Richard Pintal said he is hopeful a judge will order his client to receive additional treatment.
"We remain cautiously optimistic and hopeful that there remains a possibility that a resolution can be structured that allows Mr. O'Neal to receive treatment rather than custody," Pintal said.
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