A judge called the imprisoned son of actor Michael Douglas reckless and irresponsible as he nearly doubled his prison sentence yesterday from five years to 9½ years for repeated drug offenses. Southern District Judge Richard Berman in Manhattan cited Cameron Douglas’ “history of reckless behavior” as he imposed a new punishment that was more than double what prosecutors were seeking for Mr. Douglas’ guilty plea to drug charges that arose from his successful efforts to smuggle drugs into prison. The judge added 4½ years to the five-year term he gave Mr. Douglas last year for his guilty plea in connection with his sales of methamphetamine in July 2009 from a high-end Manhattan hotel. The judge said he had never had a case before in which a defendant “has so recklessly, wantonly, flagrantly and criminally acted in such a destructive and manipulative fashion as Cameron Douglas has.”
Judge Berman reminded Mr. Douglas’ lawyers that he had warned at the earlier sentencing that it was the defendant’s last chance to turn around a life derailed by drugs and mental troubles stretching into his teenage years. The judge also criticized the government for being too lenient on Mr. Douglas after he repeatedly violated prison rules by arranging to get drugs. The judge said the violations included four instances in which a lawyer smuggled anti-anxiety prescription drugs into prison for Mr. Douglas in her bra. The lawyer entered into a deferred prosecution agreement that enabled the charges against her to be dropped if she stayed out of trouble for six months.
