Al Gore III, right, appears with his father, former Vice President Al Gore, and mother, Tipper, at the Oscars in February.
LOS ANGELES (CNN) – Al Gore III pleaded guilty Monday to felony and misdemeanor drug possession charges stemming from his arrest earlier in July when he was pulled over for allegedly driving more than 100 mph in a Toyota Prius.
An Orange County Sheriff's deputy reported that he could smell marijuana when he approached the car. After conducting a search, the deputy found a small amount of marijuana and prescription pills - including Adderall, Vicodin, Xanax and Valium - all without a prescription.
Gore, 24, was charged with two felony counts of possession of a controlled substance, two misdemeanor counts of possessing a controlled substance without a prescription, one misdemeanor count of possession of marijuana and a traffic infraction.
Farrah Emami of the Orange County District Attorney’s Office said the son of former Vice President Al Gore agreed to enter a 90-day residential drug treatment program.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Jaime Coulter told the Associated Press that if Gore successfully completed the drug treatment program the sentencing could be continued for another year and that charges may be dropped in 2009.
"At that point, he will be able to withdraw his guilty plea as if he never entered it," Coulter told the AP.
Gore’s next court date is scheduled for February 7, 2008.
– CNN Assignment Editor Karan Olson
From CNN Politics
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
how many chances is this kid going to get? all he has to do is enter some drug program that obivously doesnt work and his slate is wiped clean. how many other people get this type of deal? no one who isnt the son of a vice president of the US....
At least he was driving a Prius.
Why should his charges be dropped? My son was arrested in 2003 for drugs, he went to jail, lost his license and has a felony charge. He was released in November, 2006 and has completed all the meetings and drug screens. He has a job, truck and finally drivers license. The cost was out of sight and the (I call it) The Road Home was a rocky and treacherous one. Everytime we got one thing straight they would inform me I had to pay another fine or fee. Government employees are rude and could not care less if they help you. You are just lucky to find one that can answer the phone much less give you the information you need. Now we are paying restitution to the Great State of Alabama. Which includes paying the "court appointed attorney". Had I known we would have to pay for a court appointed attorney, I would have hired one in the first place. At least I would feel I had gotten something for my money. I guess I can answer the question about the Gore's. My son and I are working class americans.
Just exactly why does CNN think this is news? Do they report every single drug/traffic violation that occur in the US every day or what?
If not why do they report when Gore III is involved? It's not that he is a public figure.
The same question applies to Jeb Bush's daughter or the Bush twins.
Why were those cases "news"?
Merely an inconvenient truth
All men are created equal but it seems
the rich and powerful are treated with different laws than the normal
people of this country.
The acorn doesn't fall far from the tree.
This is a disgrace – the kid is basically a convicted felon. However, b/c his daddy was once VP of the USA, he has the chance to completely wipe this occurrence from the record. Let me ask you this, are the same opportunities offered to inner-city kids who get caught with the same drugs?
That's a load of crap. Just because your the son of a politician doesn't mean you should get a slap on the wrist everytime you get busted with drugs. This makes two times for this punk. He needs to spend time in jail like every other American would if he was busted for drugs. He was caught red-handed. Just goes to show our legal system is willing to bend the rules when it comes to matters concerning high powered politicians. Al Gore you should be ashamed of yourself for helping with this deal. And for all of those people out there, I am a Democrat so don't give me any crap.This matter is plain and simple, If you do drugs you should pay the consequence. This article enrages me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can you say double standard? He gets caught, completes drug counseling, and charges are dropped. He gets caught again, and all he has to do is complete substance avoidance treatment (whatever that means). In other words, if you are a rich celebrity, or the son of a former politician, you get off scot free. For the rest of us, we'd be sitting in jail..
It's so nice to see this repeat drug offender, little Al, being given the HARSH sentence of a 90-day drug treatment program...and then later have the "guilty" pleas withdrawn.
John Edwards is right... there ARE 2 Americas! The Rich/Famous (get-off easy) – and the rest of us.
Unlike many of you that took great pleasure in hammering the Bush girls for having a few drinks with genius lines like "the apple don't fall far from the tree" etc, etc, I will take the high road and hope his son get's the help that he needs.
Charges dropped off his record.... what a luxury... how convenient... wouldn't want to tarnish a bright future in 'philanthropy' with GOOD magazine.
When his less-priveledged peers are hooked on the stuff he's supporting, Al Gore III will be able to attend top rehabs quietly and privately, have pre-canned PR ready to retain his image, and continue his 'humanitarian efforts' in the eyes of the public.
The rest of our children exhibiting the same behavior will acquire criminal records, no future, scapegoating and the lowest possible denominator that America has to offer.
Young Al, being prepped for leadership, would be able to offer America more someday if allowed to experience what other Americans experience in the legal system.
No matter who you are, anyone who "fullfills" a treatment program to settle their case, will never get better, and will continue a self destructive path, because they are doing it for others...They have to hit their OWN rock bottom...Unfortunately, that may be as low as their own death or the death of someone else due to their action(s)...Or their very first ticket or experience...I see this decision by the judge as wanting to "help out" someone, perhaps, because of who he is...But in reality, that is actually going to hurt him and hinder him...Obviously, there is a pattern here that he is learning very quickly, and that is that treatment is merely to keep from taking responsibility for his own choices and actions...When in reality, treatment should be viewed as a tool, to get one's self better, so they can go through life making good choices and being a positive contributing member of and to society...Until that happens, there will be nothing but a continuing viscious cycle...
"family values" are a stupid right wing slogan huh? maybe the inconvienent truth is you spend more time pushing global warming bunk than being a father to your son.
I'm impressed that his Prius would go 100 miles per hour!
Supposedly, speeding in hybrids is common in LA. For now, I'm waiting for Gore-lovers to defend Al #3 saying he was at least driving a hybrid and that we should all follow his lead AND that if all drugs were legal, he would not be in trouble. Anytime now...
Why is this newsworthy? Al Gore's son has never sought to be in the public spotlight. Thanks for once again pandering to the lowest common denominator CNN. Journalism at its finest.
where is the media outrage? He was driving 100mph high on drugs! Speed, opiates and marijuana. This makes Lindsay Lohan look like an amateur. The left kisses Gore's rear-end so much it makes me sick.
I didn't know the Prius could go 100mph ?!..I thought it maxed out at 70...tops!
Curious how young Gore, with all of his profligate substance-abusing, just happens to get pulled over mere days before his father's worldwide global warming awareness event.
And how did the cop "smell" marijuana if it was a "small amount". Was Gore smoking? If so, why wasn't he charged with DWI?
What a crock.
I can't get over this. All he gets is a slap on the wrist. Do they realize how many "different" narcotics this screwed up kid had on him? I mean come on. This is NOT his 1st offense driving like an idiot, so fast either.
And all he gets is re-hap. Give me a break! That's why the system is so screwed UP, because idiots like him and his family ABUSE it.
A Prius can go 100mph?
Al Gore (father) should not participate at any political act or ane global warming event until he clarifies where and how his son got the marihuana and drugs without prescription he got when he was arrested.
Good luck on your treatment.
"Superman wears Al Gore pajamas"