Date: 16th June 2003

Nolte Faces Judge Again


Hellraising actor Nick Nolte appeared in court again Friday to address allegations of a possible probation violation - following his conviction for a drugs and driving offense last September. The nature of the latest allegations against the Cape Fear star - who pleaded no contest to driving under the influence of an illegal drug - are unclear. Nolte's lawyers have also refused to shed any light on the allegations, and Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Lorraine Peterson said only that prosecutors were investigating "a potential probation violation that had just been brought to our attention." It stems from a hearing in Los Angeles County Superior Court in Malibu yesterday where Nolte's lawyer, Mark Werksman, was required to present a progress report on the 62-year-old actor.

But Judge Lawrence Myra postponed proceedings until the following day, and ordered the actor to appear to determine whether a formal probation violation hearing was warranted. The syndicated American TV show Celebrity Justice claim court officials received an anonymous telephone call on Wednesday claiming Nolte had purchased liquor at a store in the San Francisco Bay, California area, appeared to be drunk and was seen driving off in a car with a passenger inside. Defense lawyer Werksman categorically denied any probation violation, adding, "We're confident that the court will find that Mr Nolte has absolutely, 100 per cent complied with all the terms and conditions of probation, and that he's sober and doing great since this incident last September."

Source: Press Release