DEVELOPING NEWS: Redmond O'Neal Formally Charged On Felony Drug Count; Dad Not There
Apr. 7 2009, Published 5:05 a.m. ET
Redmond O’Neal, the troubled son of Ryan O’Neal and ailing Farrah Fawcett, was formally charged Tuesday with a felony count of drug possession stemming from his arrest this weekend, a story RadarOnline.com exclusively broke this past Sunday. O’Neal was accompanied only by his attorney – his father was not there.
His attorney asked for Redmond’s bail to be reduced, but the judge denied that and bail is $75,000
The 24-year-old O'Neal -- wearing a prison blue jumpsuit and looking tired -- appeared at the Newhall Municipal Court in Santa Clarita, California to face charges that he was carrying heroin and xanax on him when he was visiting a friend at a county jail Sunday.
He is due in a Malibu courtroom Wednesday in connection with a probation violation related to leaving rehab last week, a story first reported by RadarOnline.com.
O'Neal’s father Ryan, who has appeared with him in court in the past, was noticeably absent Tuesday. His mother Farrah Fawcett has been hospitalized in her ongoing battle with cancer. One of her doctors announced this week that the cancer has spread to her liver.
Prior to today's hearing, the younger O'Neal had been held at a local jail under $25,000 bail. On Tuesday morning, bail was raised to $75,000. He remains in custody.
Redmond has been in and out of drug rehab several times and fled from one last week. He was arrested at 9:30 a.m. Sunday in the visitors parking lot of the Pitchess Detention Center in Castaic, California and charged with possession of a controlled substance. While police can -- and do -- routinely search the cars of visitors to the Pitchess Detention Center, sources close to the situation told RadarOnline.com that Redmond, who was driving, was acting erratically and drew attention to himself.
While some reports have said he was accompanying friends who were visiting a buddy in jail, RadarOnline.com learned that Redmond was also visiting the man, who is a friend of his.
Meanwhile, Redmond’s mother, Farrah Fawcett, was hospitalized in the Los Angeles area, suffering a serious setback in her battle against cancer. RadarOnline.com was first to report Farrah’s hospitalization. Police could not confirm to RadarOnline.com if Redmond O’Neal would be released from jail if his mother’s condition worsened today -- she is being treated for anal cancer.