Ryan O'Neal son in court on drug and gun charges
The son of actors Ryan O'Neal and Farrah Fawcett has pleaded not guilty to possessing heroin and a firearms charge.
Redmond O'Neal, 26, will remain in custody until a hearing in Los Angeles this month. He faces nearly four years in prison if convicted but his lawyer Richard Pintal said he hoped to reach a deal with prosecutors that included additional treatment for his client rather than custody.
O'Neal was arrested by Santa Monica police after they saw his car jump a red light. They said a search found drugs in the car and a later search of O'Neal's apartment found a 9mm handgun. O'Neal has denied a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. His father and half-sister, actress Tatum O'Neal, attended yesterday's hearing.
Redmond O'Neal was on probation after being caught taking drugs to a detention centre near Los Angeles. He was in jail in June 2009 when his mother died from cancer and was briefly released for her funeral.
