Scott Stapp Avoids the Rap

Wed., Mar. 8, 2006 5:40 PM PST by Natalie Finn

Scott Stapp just got a doozy of a belated wedding gift.

The Los Angeles City Attorney's office will not be filing charges against Stapp for allegedly being publicly intoxicated hours after his Feb. 10 nuptials, spokesman Frank Mateljan confirmed Wednesday.

The former Creed frontman and beauty queen Jaclyn Nesheiwat, 25, were married in Miami and en route to a Hawaiian honeymoon via L.A. when he was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport on suspicion of being drunk in public. Stapp requested a blood-alcohol test, which he received--and promptly registered a 0.18, twice the legal limit, according to airport police. The singer was then booked and released on $250 bail.

But prosecutors declined to press the case. Stapp received the good news that he wouldn't be charged Tuesday at an informal hearing he attended at the city attorney's office. His arraignment was originally scheduled for Wednesday.

"As many are aware, while en route to Hawaii for my honeymoon I was delayed at LAX. No charges have been filed by the L.A. County District Attorney's office, and for that I am appreciative," Stapp said in a statement.

"I have said it before, but we all make mistakes, and the day will come soon enough where you no longer read of mine in the tabloids."

Until then, the singer can look forward to the courtroom experience in another case. He's been sued by a woman who was allegedly videotaped engaged in a sexual romp with Stapp and musician Kid Rock on a tour bus in 1999. The plaintiff has sued Stapp and the Internet company that wanted to sell the video for invasion of privacy, unauthorized use of her likeness and emotional distress. She also accuses Stapp of leaking the tape to boost album sales.

For his part, Stapp has blamed an unknown "someone" for stealing and releasing the tape.

Kid Rock, however, is not standing by his fellow man, publicly calling Stapp an "idiot" for losing the tape and joking to reporters that maybe he should thank Stapp for the free publicity. Kid Rock's new album, Live Trucker, was released last week and just debuted at number 12 on the Billboard album chart.

Meanwhile, the LAX arrest was not the first stop on Stapp's wild ride. On Thanksgiving, Stapp got into a barroom scuffle with members of the band 311 in a Baltimore hotel. No charges were filed, but 311 claimed that Stapp made lewd comments to the wife of band member Douglas "SA" Martinez and sucker-punched drummer Chad Sexton.

Stapp later told Rolling Stone that the incident prompted him to enter rehab.

Things may be looking up now for the "Higher" singer. Stapp has been on a club tour promoting his solo effort, The Great Divide. His road trip is scheduled to wind up Mar. 18.

And then maybe it's time for a second honeymoon.