Good news for the hangers-on and Dr. Feelgoods of celebrities everywhere: Anna Nicole Smith‘s lawyer/boyfriend and psychiatrist have been let off the hook for her lethal 2007 overdose. Howard K. Stern and Dr. Khristine Eroshevich were found guilty of conspiracy to “commit the crimes of prescribing, administering and dispensing controlled substances to an addict” by a jury last October, based on the fact that the 11 prescription drugs found in Smith’s body were prescribed by Eroshevich to Stern and some fake names, rather than Smith herself.
The pair were in danger of losing their licenses, but Judge Robert Perry decided this morning to dismiss the conviction against Stern and reduce Eroshevich’s punishment to a year’s probation and a $100 fine. His logic? The pair were only trying to help their friend. “I don’t think there’s evidence that a layperson knows it’s illegal to write a prescription in another name for a celebrity,” he explained. Hear that, entourage members? Looks like there’s nothing wrong with funneling piles of prescription meds to your famous star as long as you have their best interests at heart.
[Photo: Getty Images]
