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Whitney Houston
fined for pakalolo
possession

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By Rod Thompson
Star-Bulletin

KEALAKEKUA, Hawaii -- District Judge Joseph Florendo has sentenced singer Whitney Houston to pay $4,025 in fines for marijuana possession and will clear her record in three months if she follows certain requirements.

A handbag believed to belong to Houston was found with about half an ounce of marijuana by Kona International Airport security personnel as Houston was boarding a plane for the mainland on Jan. 11. She left without the handbag.

Through her attorneys, Bryan Blaney of New Jersey and Brook Hart of Hawaii, Houston entered a no-contest plea yesterday to a charge of promoting a detrimental drug in the third degree, a petty misdemeanor. Houston was not present.

Judge Florendo ordered Houston to pay a $1,000 "contribution" to the state General Fund, $3,000 to a youth group called Big Island Wave Riders Against Drugs and $25 to the Criminal Victims Compensation Fund.

He also agreed to defer accepting Houston's no-contest plea for three months if she undergoes a drug assessment on the mainland and follows whatever recommendations the assessment makes.

If she does that and remains free of other charges for three months, the present charge will be removed from her record.

Hawaii County Deputy Prosecutor Charlene Iboshi noted that Houston has no prior offenses in Hawaii or elsewhere. She said that Houston's plea shows she acknowledges responsibility for her action.

"We're satisfied with the outcome," Iboshi said.