Anna Nicole Smith's former boyfriend Howard K. Stern has accused prosecutors of "destroying" his life by dragging him to court to face charges relating to the late model's drug habit - calling the last four years "a living hell".
The model/reality TV star passed away in 2007 after suffering an accidental overdose and her prescriptions subsequently became the focus of a criminal investigation involving Stern and two of Smith's doctors.
Late last year, Stern was found guilty on two charges of conspiracy, for giving false names and acting by fraud to obtain prescriptions for Smith, but he fought the convictions and a judge overturned the charges on Thursday.
Dr. Khristine Eroshevich, who was accused of conspiracy charges and unlawfully prescribing a controlled substance, had all but one of her convictions quashed, while the remaining count was reduced to a misdemeanour. She was sentenced to a year of probation and a fine of $100 (£67). Another medic, Dr. Sandeep Kapoor, was previously cleared.
Stern has now spoken out about the long-running legal battle, calling the case a waste of time and insisting the stress made his life a misery.
He told reporters, "It’s been a living hell. From the day Anna passed away, these last four years - there’s no way to put it into words how difficult they’ve been...
"A lot of this was done for publicity. They (prosecutors) didn't care at what cost, they didn't care whose lives they destroyed in the process... This case never should have been brought. It has been four years of my life."
While Stern also revealed he was glad Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Robert Perry acknowledged Smith was not a drug addict, but a victim of chronic pain, adding, "I was looking up in the sky and thinking, she's vindicated."...
The model/reality TV star passed away in 2007 after suffering an accidental overdose and her prescriptions subsequently became the focus of a criminal investigation involving Stern and two of Smith's doctors.
Late last year, Stern was found guilty on two charges of conspiracy, for giving false names and acting by fraud to obtain prescriptions for Smith, but he fought the convictions and a judge overturned the charges on Thursday.
Dr. Khristine Eroshevich, who was accused of conspiracy charges and unlawfully prescribing a controlled substance, had all but one of her convictions quashed, while the remaining count was reduced to a misdemeanour. She was sentenced to a year of probation and a fine of $100 (£67). Another medic, Dr. Sandeep Kapoor, was previously cleared.
Stern has now spoken out about the long-running legal battle, calling the case a waste of time and insisting the stress made his life a misery.
He told reporters, "It’s been a living hell. From the day Anna passed away, these last four years - there’s no way to put it into words how difficult they’ve been...
"A lot of this was done for publicity. They (prosecutors) didn't care at what cost, they didn't care whose lives they destroyed in the process... This case never should have been brought. It has been four years of my life."
While Stern also revealed he was glad Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Robert Perry acknowledged Smith was not a drug addict, but a victim of chronic pain, adding, "I was looking up in the sky and thinking, she's vindicated."...
- 1/7/2011
- WENN
Los Angeles - A judge on Thursday dismissed two conspiracy charges against Howard K Stern, the former manager, partner and lover of Anna Nicole Smith, who had been charged with obtaining drugs for her under false names. Smith, a reality TV personality who was previously married to an octogenarian oil billionaire 62 years her senior, died from an accidental drug overdose in February 2007. Stern was put on trial for allegedly supplying her with drugs and had been found guilty by a jury on two conspiracy counts last October. But at his sentencing hearing Thursday Judge Robert Perry said there was no legal basis for those convictions and dismissed all the charges against Stern on the grounds there was...
- 1/6/2011
- Monsters and Critics
Howard K. Stern, former "domestic partner" of the late Anna Nicole Smith, is one lucky guy. A judge dismissed drug conspiracy convictions against him.
Superior Court Judge Robert Perry concluded that Stern never intended to defraud anyone when using his name to get Anna Nicole prescriptions. The psychiatrist in the case, Dr. Khristine Eroshevich, still has one misdemeanor against her for having a role in Anna Nicole's death. She gets off with probation and a $100 fine.
read more...
Superior Court Judge Robert Perry concluded that Stern never intended to defraud anyone when using his name to get Anna Nicole prescriptions. The psychiatrist in the case, Dr. Khristine Eroshevich, still has one misdemeanor against her for having a role in Anna Nicole's death. She gets off with probation and a $100 fine.
read more...
- 1/6/2011
- by Sharon Tharp
- Celebsology
Good news for the hangers-on and Dr. Feelgoods of celebrities everywhere: Anna Nicole Smith’s lawyer/boyfriend and psychiatrist have been let off the hook for her lethal 2007 overdose. Howard K. Stern and Dr. Khristine Eroshevich were found guilty of conspiracy to “commit the crimes of prescribing, administering and dispensing controlled substances to an addict” by a jury last October, based on the fact that the 11 prescription drugs found in Smith’s body were prescribed by Eroshevich to Stern and some fake names, rather than Smith herself. The pair were in danger of losing their licenses, but Judge Robert Perry decided this morning to dismiss the conviction against Stern and reduce Eroshevich’s punishment to a year’s probation and a $100 fine. His logic? The pair were only trying to help their friend. “I don’t think there’s evidence that a layperson knows it’s illegal to write a...
- 1/6/2011
- by Anthony Miccio
- VH1.com
In a shocking slap in the face to the L.A. County District Attorney, the judge in the Howard K. Stern drug conspiracy trial just threw out the jury verdict -- making Stern a free and innocent man. The jury in the case -- in which prosecutors argued Stern and others conspired to fuel Anna Nicole Smith 's drug habit -- found Stern guilty of 2 counts of conspiracy, but not guilty on 7 other charges. The...
- 1/6/2011
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
Anna Nicole Smith's lover and lawyer Howard K. Stern has been spared jail time after he was found guilty of conspiring to use a false name to supply drugs to the tragic actress/model last year.
In court on Thursday, Los Angeles judge Robert Perry declared there was no evidence to suggest Stern intended to break the law and set aside a conviction.
Perry also set aside several felony convictions against doctor Dr. Khristine Eroshevich, who was charged for her role in the death of Anna Nicole Smith in 2007.
He reduced her conviction to a misdemeanour and ordered her to serve probation, as well as fining her $100 (£67).
Perry had had the option of sentencing the pair to up to three years and eight months behind bars.
The judgment brings an end to the nine-week trial and is a big success for the lawyers representing the Smith associates.
Stern's legal team filed a motion in court calling for the charges against their client to be overturned, claiming it is "common practice" to use false names on prescriptions for celebrities in Los Angeles "to protect privacy".
The motion, filed last year, stated Stern believed Smith's medic Eroshevich was right to prescribe medication to the late star under a different name.
Eroshevich was found guilty of two conspiracy charges, as well as one count of unlawfully prescribing a controlled substance and another of unlawfully obtaining a prescription by giving a false name.
Stern's lawyers asked for a reduction of his two convictions to misdemeanours.
Earlier this week (beg03Jan11), California prosecutors called on the judge to sentence Stern and the psychiatrist to felony probation and 300 hours of community service.
In court on Thursday, Los Angeles judge Robert Perry declared there was no evidence to suggest Stern intended to break the law and set aside a conviction.
Perry also set aside several felony convictions against doctor Dr. Khristine Eroshevich, who was charged for her role in the death of Anna Nicole Smith in 2007.
He reduced her conviction to a misdemeanour and ordered her to serve probation, as well as fining her $100 (£67).
Perry had had the option of sentencing the pair to up to three years and eight months behind bars.
The judgment brings an end to the nine-week trial and is a big success for the lawyers representing the Smith associates.
Stern's legal team filed a motion in court calling for the charges against their client to be overturned, claiming it is "common practice" to use false names on prescriptions for celebrities in Los Angeles "to protect privacy".
The motion, filed last year, stated Stern believed Smith's medic Eroshevich was right to prescribe medication to the late star under a different name.
Eroshevich was found guilty of two conspiracy charges, as well as one count of unlawfully prescribing a controlled substance and another of unlawfully obtaining a prescription by giving a false name.
Stern's lawyers asked for a reduction of his two convictions to misdemeanours.
Earlier this week (beg03Jan11), California prosecutors called on the judge to sentence Stern and the psychiatrist to felony probation and 300 hours of community service.
- 1/6/2011
- WENN
So all that was for nothing. A judge this morning surprisingly dismissed two drug conspiracy charges against Howard K. Stern, who was convicted of both last fall in the seemingly neverending trial into Anna Nicole Smith's death. "I'm ecstatic," Stern told E! News after the hearing. No doubt. But what about his alleged partner-in-crime? Along with Stern, Dr. Khristine Erosevich was also in court this morning, as both were requesting the dismissal of the charges against them and filing motions requesting new trials. For Stern's part, he had no need to follow through on the second request, as Superior Court Judge Robert Perry dismissed all charges against Smith's longtime...
- 1/6/2011
- E! Online
California prosecutors have called on a Superior Court judge to sentence Anna Nicole Smith's former lover and lawyer and her psychiatrist to felony probation and 300 hours of community service as punishment for supplying her with a pharmacy of prescription drugs.
Howard K. Stern and Dr. Khristine Eroshevich were found guilty of obtaining drugs for the actress/model last year, but Los Angeles District Attorney's officials have suggested the two should not be sentenced to jail as Judge Robert Perry weighs up his options.
Judge Perry, who presided over the pair's nine-week trial, has the option to sentence them to up to three years and eight months behind bars at a hearing on Thursday, January 6. Deputy District Attorney Sean Carney has advocated sentencing both Stern and Eroshevich to five years of supervised felony probation and 300 hours each of community service - and fining them $5,000 apiece.
Lawyers for Stern and Eroshevich...
Howard K. Stern and Dr. Khristine Eroshevich were found guilty of obtaining drugs for the actress/model last year, but Los Angeles District Attorney's officials have suggested the two should not be sentenced to jail as Judge Robert Perry weighs up his options.
Judge Perry, who presided over the pair's nine-week trial, has the option to sentence them to up to three years and eight months behind bars at a hearing on Thursday, January 6. Deputy District Attorney Sean Carney has advocated sentencing both Stern and Eroshevich to five years of supervised felony probation and 300 hours each of community service - and fining them $5,000 apiece.
Lawyers for Stern and Eroshevich...
- 1/6/2011
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
California prosecutors have called on a Superior Court judge to sentence Anna Nicole Smith's former lover and lawyer and her psychiatrist to felony probation and 300 hours of community service as punishment for supplying her with a pharmacy of prescription drugs.
Howard K. Stern and Dr. Khristine Eroshevich were found guilty of obtaining drugs for the actress/model last year, but Los Angeles District Attorney's officials have suggested the two should not be sentenced to jail as Judge Robert Perry weighs up his options.
Judge Perry, who presided over the pair's nine-week trial, has the option to sentence them to up to three years and eight months behind bars at a hearing on Thursday.
Deputy District Attorney Sean Carney has advocated sentencing both Stern and Eroshevich to five years of supervised felony probation and 300 hours each of community service - and fining them $5,000 (£3,330) apiece.
Lawyers for Stern and Eroshevich are seeking a dismissal or a reduction of their clients' convictions to misdemeanours.
Smith died from a drug overdose in 2007.
Howard K. Stern and Dr. Khristine Eroshevich were found guilty of obtaining drugs for the actress/model last year, but Los Angeles District Attorney's officials have suggested the two should not be sentenced to jail as Judge Robert Perry weighs up his options.
Judge Perry, who presided over the pair's nine-week trial, has the option to sentence them to up to three years and eight months behind bars at a hearing on Thursday.
Deputy District Attorney Sean Carney has advocated sentencing both Stern and Eroshevich to five years of supervised felony probation and 300 hours each of community service - and fining them $5,000 (£3,330) apiece.
Lawyers for Stern and Eroshevich are seeking a dismissal or a reduction of their clients' convictions to misdemeanours.
Smith died from a drug overdose in 2007.
- 1/5/2011
- WENN
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.