Poundstone Jailed Briefly for Violating Probation

By Jorge Casuso

Nov. 13 -- Actress and comedian Paula Poundstone, a Santa Monica resident, was briefly sent back to jail Tuesday after a judge found she had violated probation by taking a prescription drug that was not part of her rehabilitation.

District Attorneys spokeswomen Jane Robison said that the drug was forbidden during her treatment at a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center where she was sent after pleading no-contest to child endangerment. The type of drug Poundstone took was not identified.

"The judge wanted to send the message that she needed to comply," Robison said.

Poundstone was escorted from the courtroom in handcuffs after she admitted violating probation. She was brought back to court later in the day and released.

"You've been in for half a day and I always let people have a break on the first violation," Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Bernard Kamins told her. "To me, this is a relapse rather than just a slip."

The judge's actions are not considered uncommon. Poundstone's attorney Steven Cron said he was confident his client would successfully complete rehabilitation.

Poundstone spokesman Alan Mayer said that Poundstone used a medication that had been prescribed to her previously, according to news wire reports.

Kamins was alerted of Poundstone's relapse in a report sent by the Malibu-based residential treatment program Promises. Kamins said Pounstone should have notified the program even if the medication was a prescription drug.

Poundstone was arrested on June 27 in Malibu and charged with three counts of committing a lewd act on a girl under age 14 and endangering two other girls and two boys.

Poundstone pleaded no-contest on Sept. 12 to felony child endangerment and misdemeanor inflicting injury on a child, and the lewd conduct charges were dropped. Poundstone blamed drinking for some of her problems but insisted there was no lewd conduct.

Last month the comedian was sentenced last month to 180 days at Promises, including the 125
days she had already voluntarily spent there.

News wire dispatches contributed to this report.