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Judge grants continuance in Downey drug case

From CNN Correspondent Paul Vercammen

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INDIO, California -- Actor Robert Downey Jr. won a continuance Wednesday from a judge who gave both sides more time to prepare for a court case on drug charges.

Riverside County Superior Court Judge B.J. Bjork continued the case until March 15.

Robert Brookman, Downey's lawyer, told the judge that prosecutors and Downey's legal team are making progress in their efforts to settle the case out of court.

Downey, 35, was not in court Wednesday. He's free on $50,000 bond.

Downey was arrested Thanksgiving Day at a luxury hotel in the California desert resort of Palm Springs.

Downey is charged with possession of cocaine, felony possession of Valium and a misdemeanor count of being under the influence of a controlled substance. If convicted on all three counts, he faces a maximum sentence of four years and eight months in state prison.

He entered a plea of not guilty to the drug charges last month.

If no out-of-court deal is reached, a preliminary hearing will be held to determine if there's enough evidence to try Downey on the charges.

Downey, featured in recent episodes of the Fox show "Ally McBeal," was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in the 1992 movie "Chaplin."

Robert Downey drug case continued until February 21
Downey sentenced to prison for three years

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