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Former American Idol Contestant Arrested In Ybor

JAY NOLAN/Tampa Tribune

Attorney John Fitzgibbons stands next to Jessica Sierra July 2 after her arraignment on charges stemming from an April 2007 nightclub incident.

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TBO Staff

Published: December 1, 2007

Updated: 12/01/2007 09:34 pm

Editor's note: Earlier versions of this report contained an error. See the correction at the end.

TAMPA - Former American Idol contestant Jessica Sierra is facing more charges today after Tampa police arrested her in Ybor City early this morning.

Police arrested Sierra at 2:10 a.m. on disorderly intoxication and resisting arrest without violence charges, according to Tampa police. She also faces a violation of probation charge.

Jessica Sierra

Just two weeks ago, the 22-year-old singer pleaded no contest to charges of cocaine possession and felony battery for hitting a man with a glass at a bar last April.

Sierra is being held in jail this morning without bail.

Her attorney, John Fitzgibbons, declined to comment on the matter when reached at his office Saturday.

"I've just heard about this, and I don't have any information at this time,'' he said.

According to a criminal report affidavit, Sierra was raising a disturbance inside the Full Moon Saloon, 1612 E. Seventh Ave. She was escorted from the club and walked across the street and then began fighting with a friend. Sierra walked away and then began pushing people who were walking on the sidewalk in front of the club, yelling and screaming at them, the affidavit said.

She was arrested after pushing away a police officer who tried to restrain her. The affidavit said Sierra had a strong smell of alcohol from her breath, was unsteady and had glassy eyes.

On April 29, Sierra was arrested at Hyde Park Cafe, where she was accused of picking up a glass and striking Wisam Hadad above the eye. Hadad said he had never met the singer. She claimed he spat on her but later said she may have mistaken Hadad for someone else.

Circuit Judge Gregory Holder sentenced Sierra on Nov. 19 to 12 months' probation and random drug screening. She was to complete her current drug-rehab after-care program and follow up with a second component to that program.

Correction: Sierra was not arrested Saturday on a cocaine possession charge, as an earlier version of this story reported.

Reporter Carlos Moncada can be reached at (727) 451-2333 or cmoncada@tampatrib.com.

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