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Actor Robert Downey Jr. in trouble with law again

Robert Downey Jr., shown in a file photo, was arrested on Saturday night in Palm Springs, California

In this story: Jailed on drug charges Earlier brushes with law RELATED STORIES, SITES

From staff and wire reports

LOS ANGELES, California -- Actor Robert Downey Jr., who was released from prison three months ago, spent the night in jail on drug charges, police said.

The 35-year-old Downey, who has a recurring role on the popular Fox television show "Ally McBeal," walked out of the Palm Springs jail at 6:30 a.m. after posting $15,000 bond.

Jailed on drug charges

Downey was charged with possession of cocaine, possession of methamphetamine and being under the influence of a controlled substance.

Police arrested Downey after receiving an anonymous 911 call that drugs and guns were in his hotel room at the Merv Griffin Resort in Palm Springs, said Sgt. Don Crager of the Palm Springs Police Department. Police said the amount of drugs found was "consistent with personal use." The actor, who was alone, was taken into custody at 9 p.m. local time without incident, police said.

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Crager said the case will go to the district attorney's office Monday and that Downey will likely be arraigned December 27 at the Indio, California, courthouse.

Earlier brushes with law

Downey was arrested three times in 1996, including a June 23 arrest in which his urine tested positive for morphine, heroin, marijuana, Valium and cocaine, according to court papers. Less than a month later, the actor was arrested after wandering into a neighbor's Malibu, California, home, where he was found unconscious. He refused to be treated or provide a urine sample.

In June 1999, Downey admitted violating his probation by failing to submit to drug testing. He received a three year sentence at the California State Prison in Corcoran.

Last August, Downey was freed on $5,000 bail after an appeals court ruled a lower-court judge had erred in sentencing him and that Downey had served more than enough time to fulfill his prison term for drug possession.

Downey immediately checked himself into a residential "after-care treatment" program at an undisclosed Southern California facility outside Los Angeles.

Downey earned an Oscar nomination for his performance in the title role of "Chaplin" in 1992. He had planned to star in a Los Angeles stage run of "Hamlet" in January.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Actor Robert Downey Jr. released from jail
August 2, 2000

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