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CNN Live Today
Noelle Bush Goes to Jail
Aired October 17, 2002 - 11:12 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: A daughter from a famous family in the legal spotlight, the president's niece and the Florida governor's daughter, is ordered to jail in connection with a drug case.
Our John Zarrella is following the story for us. He's standing by now. We're in Orlando, Florida -- John.
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Jeb Bush has more to worry about today than just his re-election, and the fact that his brother is going to be down New Smyrna Beach over on the east coast late this afternoon.
We are here at the Orange County Courthouse where about two-and- a-half hours ago, Judge Reginald White had sent Noelle Bush, the governor's daughter, to jail for 10 days for contempt of court.
Now, it all stems from last month at her drug rehabilitation center, where allegations came out that they had found crack cocaine, a small amount of crack cocaine while she was at the center, in her shoe.
Well, today when she appeared in court, she apologized to the judge.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NOELLE BUSH, GOV. BUSH'S DAUGHTER: Judge White, I sincerely apologize for what happened, and I promise to do well at the center for drug (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ZARRELLA: Now all of this started, of course, last January in Tallahassee, where she was arrested for trying to use a phony prescription to buy the antianxiety drug, Xanax. In February, she entered a drug treatment facility here in Orlando.
In July, he she was found to be in possession of prescription drugs, unauthorized. She was sent by Reginald Whitehead for 48 hours, two days at the Orange County jail, when she appeared in court, then she apologized and said none of this would happen again.
But then in September, latest incident, now while she did not admit to having this cocaine, it's clear that the judge would not have sent her back to jail for 10 days for having a tea party at the rehabilitation center. In fact, in court today, what he told her what he could have sentenced her to could have been worse than what she got.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JUDGE REGINALD WHITEHEAD, ORANGE CO. CIRCUIT COURT: Don't look at the worst part of this, but look at the overall situation. The situation could have been worse than what it is. You could have very easily been charged with a new felony offense. And if you were charged with that, you would automatically be put out of drug court, and you would be facing two felony charges, and I don't think that's what you want. This is a great opportunity for you to show yourself that you can do well. You don't have to show anybody else. Don't be concerned about anybody else. But drug court is about being accountable for your actions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ZARRELLA: Now, Judge Whitehead said that he was not giving up on Noelle Bush, and that that was one of the reasons why he only gave her the 10 days. He could have given her between seven and 10 days in the graduated penalty phase. He did give her 10 days, a pretty stiff penalty for Governor Jeb Bush's daughter -- Leon.
HARRIS: All right, John, thank you very much. John Zarrella, reporting live this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired October 17, 2002 - 11:12 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: A daughter from a famous family in the legal spotlight, the president's niece and the Florida governor's daughter, is ordered to jail in connection with a drug case.
Our John Zarrella is following the story for us. He's standing by now. We're in Orlando, Florida -- John.
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Jeb Bush has more to worry about today than just his re-election, and the fact that his brother is going to be down New Smyrna Beach over on the east coast late this afternoon.
We are here at the Orange County Courthouse where about two-and- a-half hours ago, Judge Reginald White had sent Noelle Bush, the governor's daughter, to jail for 10 days for contempt of court.
Now, it all stems from last month at her drug rehabilitation center, where allegations came out that they had found crack cocaine, a small amount of crack cocaine while she was at the center, in her shoe.
Well, today when she appeared in court, she apologized to the judge.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NOELLE BUSH, GOV. BUSH'S DAUGHTER: Judge White, I sincerely apologize for what happened, and I promise to do well at the center for drug (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ZARRELLA: Now all of this started, of course, last January in Tallahassee, where she was arrested for trying to use a phony prescription to buy the antianxiety drug, Xanax. In February, she entered a drug treatment facility here in Orlando.
In July, he she was found to be in possession of prescription drugs, unauthorized. She was sent by Reginald Whitehead for 48 hours, two days at the Orange County jail, when she appeared in court, then she apologized and said none of this would happen again.
But then in September, latest incident, now while she did not admit to having this cocaine, it's clear that the judge would not have sent her back to jail for 10 days for having a tea party at the rehabilitation center. In fact, in court today, what he told her what he could have sentenced her to could have been worse than what she got.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JUDGE REGINALD WHITEHEAD, ORANGE CO. CIRCUIT COURT: Don't look at the worst part of this, but look at the overall situation. The situation could have been worse than what it is. You could have very easily been charged with a new felony offense. And if you were charged with that, you would automatically be put out of drug court, and you would be facing two felony charges, and I don't think that's what you want. This is a great opportunity for you to show yourself that you can do well. You don't have to show anybody else. Don't be concerned about anybody else. But drug court is about being accountable for your actions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ZARRELLA: Now, Judge Whitehead said that he was not giving up on Noelle Bush, and that that was one of the reasons why he only gave her the 10 days. He could have given her between seven and 10 days in the graduated penalty phase. He did give her 10 days, a pretty stiff penalty for Governor Jeb Bush's daughter -- Leon.
HARRIS: All right, John, thank you very much. John Zarrella, reporting live this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
