WORLD CELEBRITIES NEWS & EVENTS

Boy George nabbed on narcotics charge

Photo: George O'Dowd, a.k.a. Boy George attends a news conference in New York.

NEW YORK- Boy George was arraigned on drug charges early Saturday, nearly 24 hours after calling the police emergency line to report what he said was a burglary in his Manhattan apartment, authorities said. The British singer, whose real name is George O'Dowd, claimed his home had been burglarized around 3 a.m. Friday, said Detective Kevin Czartoryski, a police spokesman. Officers arrived at O'Dowd's apartment and discovered a small amount of cocaine next to a computer, police said. Police were continuing to investigate. The singer was released Saturday without bail after being charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, allegedly more than five grams of cocaine, said Barbara Thompson, a spokeswoman for the Manhattan District Attorney's office. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five to 15 years in prison. Calls to the office of O'Dowd's lawyer went unanswered early Saturday. It is not the first time that Boy George has had problems with drugs. In 1986, the singer was convicted for heroin possession in England. Two of his friends overdosed in the incident and O'Dowd was forced into a rehabilitation program. The conviction led to the disintegration of his group, Culture Club, one year later. Boy George, famous for his androgynous persona, and Culture Club had hits including "Karma Chamo LOGWSeleon" and "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me."