Sizemore Tagged with Felony Drug Counts

Tue., May. 22, 2007 4:35 PM PDT by Josh Grossberg

Saving Tom Sizemore just got a little harder.

The trouble-prone actor pleaded not guilty Tuesday in a Bakersfield, California, court to five felony drug counts stemming from a crystal meth-fueled arrest earlier this month—charges that could land the Saving Private Ryan star behind bars for a long time.

Sizemore, 45, was charged with transportation of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine and three counts of possessing a controlled substance without the proper prescriptions, according to Kern County Deputy District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer.

Sizemore and his assistant, Jason Salcido, in town on a movie shoot, were arrested May 8 as they attempted to check in to the Four Points Sheraton Hotel. After being informed that their reservation wasn't in the system, Salcido allegedly challenged the front desk clerk to a fight.

Hotel staff consequently called the cops, who found the duo outside holed up in a car.

A search of the 2004 Ford Mustang turned up two bags of crystal meth and accompanying paraphernalia, including a pipe in the possession of Salcido, and three drugs for which Sizemore did not have a prescription: Vicodin, Klonopin and Valium.

(Such substances are often used by meth users to relieve the anxiety created when the euphoria produced by the meth wears off.)

Additionally, Sizemore was charged with misdemeanor vandalism "from his stay at a hotel, when he burned up some bedspreads," Zimmer told E! Online. It was unclear whether the damage occurred at the Sheraton or somewhere else.

He faces up to six years in prison if convicted on all counts.

Salcido, 33, is facing similar charges, as well as disturbing the peace for trying to instigate a brawl.

Sizemore's drug woes are well documented. He was convicted in 2005 for possession of crystal meth; however, the judge agreed to suspend the actor's 16-month prison sentence if he stayed clean.

But probation was rescinded after Sizemore faked a drug test using a gadget called the Whizzinator and failed to submit to drug testing on eight other occasions.

A tearful Sizemore swore to Los Angeles Superior Judge Paula Adele Mabrey that he would clean up his act and entered rehab. His probation was reinstated and extended for another three years. Sizemore filmed his travails for a short-lived VH1 reality series called Shooting Sizemore that aired in March.

With the new charges against him, Los Angeles County District Attorney spokeswoman Jane Robison said prosecutors expect to file a probation-violation charge as early as Wednesday, which means Mabrey could send Sizemore back to prison for up to 16 months. That's on top of any time he'd get from the Kern County charges.

Sizemore—who's been working on a thrilller called Stilleto costarring Tom Berenger, Michael Biehn and Heroes' Stana Katic—is also facing jail time stemming from 2003 conviction of domestic violence for allegedly striking former girlfriend and ex-Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss. Sizemore remains free while that case is on appeal.

Earlier this month, Sizemore settled a pair of lawsuits brought against him in 2004, including one filed by Fleiss in which she claimed to have suffered emotional distress after an altercation with the actor.

Sizemore is due back in court in Kern County on June 18.