New York:
A judge called the son of actor Michael Douglas reckless and irresponsible as he nearly doubled his prison sentence on Wednesday from five years to 9½ years for repeated drug offenses.
US District Judge Richard Berman in New York cited Cameron Douglas' "history of reckless behavior" as he imposed a new punishment that was more than double what prosecutors were seeking. Douglas pleaded guilty to drug charges that arose from his successful efforts to smuggle drugs into prison.
The judge criticised the government for being too lenient on Douglas after he repeatedly violated prison rules by arranging to get drugs, including four instances in which a lawyer smuggled anti-anxiety prescription drugs into prison for Douglas in her bra.
Douglas last year also pleaded guilty in connection with his sales of methamphetamine in July 2009 from a high-end Manhattan hotel.
The judge said he had never had a case in which a defendant "has so recklessly, wantonly, flagrantly and criminally acted in such a destructive and manipulative fashion."
Douglas' life has been derailed by drugs and mental troubles stretching into his teenage years.
The 33-year-old Douglas asked the judge to give him another chance at treatment.
"I cannot seem to find comfort within my own skin," he said. "I feel ashamed. I feel defeated." He asked Berman to give him "the room to deal with this situation medically."
His lawyer also requested leniency, saying that efforts to get drugs in prison were not unusual for a drug addict who had not been rehabilitated.
The judge noted at one point that Michael Douglas had told probation authorities that his son had been treated six or seven times for drug addiction but had not completed the treatments.
Berman recommended that Cameron Douglas be sent to a prison facility that can offer him drug treatment and mental health care, although the final decision is let up to the Bureau of Prisons. He also recommended that Douglas be allowed family visits, which have been disallowed since he has been held in solitary confinement for 11 months for violating prison rules.
Douglas has said he had been addicted to heroin for five years before his 2009 arrest.
US District Judge Richard Berman in New York cited Cameron Douglas' "history of reckless behavior" as he imposed a new punishment that was more than double what prosecutors were seeking. Douglas pleaded guilty to drug charges that arose from his successful efforts to smuggle drugs into prison.
The judge criticised the government for being too lenient on Douglas after he repeatedly violated prison rules by arranging to get drugs, including four instances in which a lawyer smuggled anti-anxiety prescription drugs into prison for Douglas in her bra.
Douglas last year also pleaded guilty in connection with his sales of methamphetamine in July 2009 from a high-end Manhattan hotel.
The judge said he had never had a case in which a defendant "has so recklessly, wantonly, flagrantly and criminally acted in such a destructive and manipulative fashion."
Douglas' life has been derailed by drugs and mental troubles stretching into his teenage years.
The 33-year-old Douglas asked the judge to give him another chance at treatment.
"I cannot seem to find comfort within my own skin," he said. "I feel ashamed. I feel defeated." He asked Berman to give him "the room to deal with this situation medically."
His lawyer also requested leniency, saying that efforts to get drugs in prison were not unusual for a drug addict who had not been rehabilitated.
The judge noted at one point that Michael Douglas had told probation authorities that his son had been treated six or seven times for drug addiction but had not completed the treatments.
Berman recommended that Cameron Douglas be sent to a prison facility that can offer him drug treatment and mental health care, although the final decision is let up to the Bureau of Prisons. He also recommended that Douglas be allowed family visits, which have been disallowed since he has been held in solitary confinement for 11 months for violating prison rules.
Douglas has said he had been addicted to heroin for five years before his 2009 arrest.
