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'Idol's' Sierra Offered Sex For Freedom, Tampa Police Say

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By KEITH MORELLI, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 3, 2007

Updated: 12/03/2007 05:38 pm

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TAMPA -- Jessica Sierra blamed four or five vodkas and an empty stomach.

Before her tirade was over, Tampa police said, Sierra fought police trying to keep her out of an Ybor City club, scrapped with a friend on the street outside, vomited in a patrol car then vomited again, threatened action by the mayor, kicked one officer and propositioned another, and, still combative, ended up in isolation at the jail.

Jessica Sierra

Sierra, the 22-year-old former contestant on "American Idol," was being held without bail following a run-in with three officers early Saturday that is detailed in police reports released today.

The Tampa woman, who listed her occupation as self-employed singer, was a Top 10 contestant on the Fox TV talent show in 2005. Following an earlier bar altercation, Sierra entered a California rehab center, an experience recorded for broadcast in early 2008 on VH1's "Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew."

Production wrapped in August, according to a statement Monday from VH1 publicist Lori Bogin.

"As viewers will learn from Dr. Drew Pinsky throughout the course of the series," the statement says, "maintaining sobriety is a day-to-day struggle as with most addicts and rehabilitation is an ongoing process. VH1 continues to support Jessica in her recovery and wishes her the best during this difficult time."

Police arrested Sierra at 2 a.m. Saturday outside the Full Moon Saloon, 1613 E. Seventh Ave. She was charged with disorderly intoxication, resisting arrest without violence and violating probation.

The police reports gave this account.

Officer Christopher Cornelius and Officer John Angelakopoulos were working an off-duty detail at the dance club when they saw club security officers kicking Sierra out. She tried to walk back in through another door, Cornelius wrote, but again was escorted out.

Sierra became combative, and began fighting with a friend who was trying to calm her.

When Cornelius approached, she got up and began to walk away, then whirled around and returned, pushing and shoving pedestrians on the sidewalk, the officer wrote.

Then she started screaming profanity.

"Her violent behavior caused people to stop from walking in that area," Cornelius wrote. Cornelius and Angelakopoulos tried to restrain Sierra, and she pushed and pulled, trying to get away.

She was placed in the back of Angelakopoulos' patrol car, and started vomiting. Officers determined she was intoxicated based on a strong odor of alcohol, glassy eyes and unsteadiness, Cornelius wrote.

Paramedics arrived to check on her and as the car door opened, Officer Desiree Ayo fell into the back seat, her report says. Ayo urged Sierra to remain calm but added that she thinks Sierra kicked her.

Angelakopoulos wrote that Sierra "continued her disorderly tirade, screaming and yelling that her aunt is the mayor and that I would be out of a job."

The niece of Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio's husband once was married to Sierra's father, said Liana Lopez, a spokeswoman for the mayor's office. Lopez said the mayor has not spoken with Sierra in at least two years.

Angelakopoulos said Sierra would be apologetic one moment and combative the next.

She vomited again, and the officer opened the door and rolled down windows to give her some fresh air, he said. She told paramedics she drank four or five shots of vodka on an empty stomach.

"As I began my transport to central booking, Angelakopoulous wrote, "Ms. Sierra began to beg me not to take her to jail and that this would ruin her life. She then told me that she would do anything for me to let her go."

She then propositioned Angelakopoulous, he said, offering oral sex for her release. He refused and she cursed him, he said, using a racial slur.

Upon reaching the jail early Saturday morning, she continued to be disorderly, the officer said, and had to be placed in a holding cell separated from other inmates.

John Fitzgibbons, Sierra's attorney, offered words of support for his client.

"Jessica's most recent problems show once again the wretched curse of drug and alcohol addiction," he said. "It is a horrific disease that has literally destroyed the lives of countless talented and well-known athletes, singers and movie stars as well as countless other people who are not in the public spotlight.

"There are no easy solutions to addiction, and the prognosis is often poor for someone in Jessica's position. But we will continue to do our best to get her additional help."

Sierra was denied bail during a weekend appearance before Circuit Judge Gregory Holder, who just two weeks earlier had sentenced her to 12 months probation, random drug screening and a rehab program for an April 29 altercation at Hyde Park Cafe.

In that incident, Sierra picked up a glass and struck Wisam Hadad above the eye. She claimed he spat on her but later said she may have mistaken Hadad for someone else.

Reporter Thomas Krause contributed to this report. Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760 or at kmorelli@tampatrib.com.

Reporter Thomas Krause contributed to this report. Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760 or at kmorelli@tampatrib.com.

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