Downey Freed From Jail for Drug Rehabilitation

Actor Robert Downey Jr., who caused a stir when he was escorted from jail to work on a movie, was released Tuesday to complete his 180-day sentence at a drug rehabilitation center.

Downey left the downtown Men’s Central Jail shortly after 5:30 p.m., said Sheriff’s Deputy Angie Prewitt. Officials said Downey has completed 113 days of his sentence. He will spend the next 67 days at the treatment center.

Downey was serving a six-month jail sentence for violating terms of his probation and using drugs. He had been set for release on March 29, but three days were added to make up for controversial work-release days Downey was given out of jail to work on a film.

Sheriff Sherman Block, upset over the work-release days, said Downey was given special treatment by a judge. Judge Lawrence J. Mira reinstated the time and said Downey would get no more days off from jail.

Downey was initially arrested in June 1996 after police stopped his pickup truck for speeding and found the truck contained cocaine, crack, heroin and a pistol.