Idol's Sierra Gets TV Treatment

Onetime American Idol finalist Jessica Sierra has discovered a new way to stretch out her 15 minutes of fame.

The would-be singer, who has been in a drug-treatment program in California after pleading no contest to cocaine possession, will be the subject of an episode of VH1's upcoming reality series Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, premiering Jan. 10.

She is one of nine participants on the show, which will be hosted by Loveline's Dr. Drew Pinsky; others include Andy Dick, Tom Sizemore and former wrestler Chyna.

Sierra, 22, was arrested Apr. 29 at a Tampa nightclub after hitting a fellow bar patron in the head with a glass.

Wisam Hadad said he had never met the singer; she in turn claimed he spat at her but later acknowledged she may have been mistaken.

She was sentenced Monday to 12 months' probation and random drug screening after pleading no contest to charges of drug possession and assault stemming from a barroom scuffle back in April.

Circuit Judge Gregory Holder also ordered her to complete her drug-rehab aftercare program and to follow it up with a second component.

Additionally, she was ordered to pay restitution to Hadad, who also has filed a separate lawsuit against her.

Sierra had hoped to enter a first-time offender diversion program, where the charges against her would be dropped after completion of her sentence, but Hadad objected, making her ineligible for the program.

Instead, the judge withheld a finding of guilt, meaning that the criminal charges will remain on Sierra's record, but she will not be considered a convicted felon as long as she completes her sentence without incident.

Sierra's attorney John Fitzgibbons said he was satisfied with the resolution of the case.

"It's a very typical resolution for a first-time offender with no criminal history," he told the AP.

In addition to appearing on Celebrity Rehab, Sierra is slated to perform at a Washington, D.C., concert for disabled veterans next month—provided her probation officers approve her travel plans.

source: http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=ceefacb0-c7be-4373-9794-b2ed283b5a36&sid=fd-news