
Courtney Love pleads not guilty to felony drug possession charges
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — Rocker Courtney Love pleaded not guilty Friday to felony charges that she illegally possessed prescription painkillers.
Superior Court Judge Elden Fox set a hearing for June 4, when a trial date could be set.
Love, 39, came to court in a black trench coat, black pants and gray top. She sat quietly and read a book before she was called before the judge.
Asked if she agreed to the plea, she said, "Yes."
Love has been more boisterous during past appearances, chatting with reporters and talking out of turn in court.
She is charged with two felony counts of possession of controlled substances — the painkillers hydrocodone and oxycodone. She could face up to three years and eight months in prison if convicted.
Love is the widow of grunge rocker Kurt Cobain and former lead singer of the rock band Hole. Her films include "The People vs. Larry Flynt" and "Man on the Moon."
Outside court, Love's lawyer, Michael Rosenstein, said he believes the charges will be dropped because Love had prescriptions for the pills.
"These are just prescription drugs, and we will be presenting evidence of prescriptions," he said.
Fox ruled on April 15 that there was probable cause to try Love on the charges after Deputy District Attorney Jeffrey Stodel called a police officer to testify.
Officer Douglas Trerise testified that he and two other officers went to Love's home on Oct. 2, 2003, after she called police. He said Love handed a small plastic bag of pills to one of the officers.
"She said it was her stash. She said it was Percocet and `I don't do that anymore and it's illegal,"' Trerise testified. Percocet is a painkiller.
Trerise said the baggie contained oxycodone and hydrocodone.
Earlier that night, Love was arrested by Los Angeles police after allegedly trying to break into the home of a former boyfriend.
In that case, she faces misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and being under the influence of a controlled substance. Those charges are being heard separately from the felony case.