Speaking to reporters outside the Los Angeles Superior Court, the 'Love Story' star places the blame for Redmond's troubles on Farrah Fawcett's death.
- August 5, 2011
AceShowbiz -
Ryan O'Neal has spoken out about his troubled son. After Redmond O'Neal pleaded not guilty to felony heroin possession and illegally possessing a firearm charges on Thursday, August 4, the "Love Story" star suggested that Farrah Fawcett's death in 2009 has something to do with the 26-year-old's troubles.
The 70-year-old actor told reporters outside the Los Angeles Superior Court, "He never recovered from the loss of his mother. That's the part that hurts the most. He doesn't know how to resolve it for himself so he gets in trouble." He also agreed with Judge Keith Schwartz's comments that his son needed "tough love", saying "He said all the right things."
Redmond was arrested on August 2 after heroin and marijuana was found in his car when he was pulled over for running a red light. Following his arrest, police went to search his home and discovered a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun, which he is not allowed to own because of his probation for a 2009 drug conviction.
Redmond is currently being held in jail without bail, and a hearing for probation violation is scheduled for August 24. He is facing up to three years, eight months in prison for the charges. His defense attorney Richard Pintal has pleaded for leniency, telling the judge, "All of this is because of narcotics. What he have here is a relapse ... It's the nature of the disease."
