Richard! Say it ain't so!
 

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/20...s-drug-charge/

Meth. How low-rent.

Oh, how sad:(

Yikes, one of FT's own, not to mention his international profile.

:(

More here from TV industry blog TVNewser:

http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/...rges_82770.asp

Jeeze, you think you know a person. :(

And what is anybody doing in Central Park at 3:40 am?

Well, that's pretty explanatory.

Somehow I'm not surprised.

I feel for the guy. As one of the blogger commentors said, "It's just a detour on Life's path."

Sad indeed; I remember his ostentatious report of the A380 SQ debut a few months ago...

Sounds like deportation on conviction for our Richard. Seems we'll have to have him back in the UK after all.:td:

Here is one thing I am not getting: Why did he actually tell the cops about his drug possession?

Just sad. Just goes to show that anyone can get hooked on stuff, even if they have a good job and life.

Much like with a guilty plea (vs. not guilty) it looks a lot better at sentencing time. It's quick thinking on his part if he realized that they were going to search him (and most likely find his dope) anyway.

A perfect example of the utter wrong-headedness of Prohibition. Other than the misdemeanor of allegedly being in the Park after hours, he wasn't doing anything wrong, certainly nothing that harmed other people. Now he faces deportation and possibly being banned from entering the United States (plus whatever CNN does with his career). Reefer madness? The law is madness.

N.B. This update from the NY Times indicates that some sense may have prevailed. Reportedly, the drug charge will be dismissed if he completes counseling, which would likely mean no loss of his ability to travel to the US. A non-horrible result, it's still law-induced insanity.

Agreed.. it's terrible, terrible stuff.

Guess he's going to get fired from CNN....

I would think that he'd know a lot better than to take meth but YMMV on one's intelligence.

I guess his thought on admitting he had meth was that if he told the cops, he could get a plea and a better case for being cooperative but assuming he's not a US citizen, I think his days here are done.

Or he was wanting help.

Well, I've always liked his reports, when I'm traveling outside the US it was something to look forward to on an otherwise bland CNN report.