Feldman Pleads Not Guilty in Drug Case

Actor Corey Feldman, who missed a court appearance last week because he is enrolled in a round-the-clock drug program, took time off from the program Monday to plead not guilty in a separate case stemming from his arrest in North Hollywood on a heroin possession charge.

The 19-year-old actor, who has appeared in such films as “Stand by Me” and “Gremlins,” appeared for the arraignment in Van Nuys Municipal Court despite suffering from withdrawal since entering the drug program after his Sept. 20 arrest, said Santa Monica attorney Michael D. Nasatir.

“He wasn’t feeling too good” during the court appearance, Nasatir said. “He’s a very sick kid. He’s addicted to heroin, which is one of the saddest things in life.

“He’s got to deal with it, and he’s dealing with it right now,” Nasatir said.

Feldman was arrested on the heroin possession charge after police, who had initially arrested him on traffic warrants, discovered two balloons containing a total of a third of a gram of heroin, worth about $20, in his socks. In March, he was arrested after police found 25 balloons of heroin and cocaine in his car.

At Monday’s arraignment, Judge Rebecca Omens-Rochman denied a request by the district attorney’s office to increase Feldman’s bail from $5,000 to $25,000. Feldman has been free since posting the bail.

Deputy Dist. Atty. David Campbell said he sought the increase because Feldman was out on bail on the March drug case when he was arrested last month. Campbell also said Feldman might endanger others if he drives while under the influence of drugs.

“He is an irresponsible person,” Campbell said outside the courtroom. “It’s an accident waiting to happen.”

Nasatir said the district attorney’s office asked for the higher bail only because Feldman is a celebrity, a charge that Campbell denied.

“Because Corey Feldman is a celebrity, he’s getting special treatment,” Nasatir said. “In this case, the guy’s fame almost hurt him.”

But Omens-Rochman said bail should not be increased as long as Feldman promises to report to the court when he completes the drug rehabilitation program. Nasatir said he believes the program lasts 30 days. Feldman’s publicist, Jeff Sullivan, said Monday that the actor plans to enroll in a longer-term program as soon as he completes the intensive program.

Omens-Rochman set a preliminary hearing for Nov. 9 in Van Nuys Municipal Court. Feldman also is scheduled to appear Oct. 31 in Los Angeles Superior Court for his arraignment in the earlier case.