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Sierra Hopes Media Gag Order Will Be Lifted

Tribune file photo by JULIE BUSCH

Jessica Sierra appears with her attorney John Fitzgibbons outside of the Courthouse Annex in March.

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By THOMAS W.  KRAUSE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 4, 2008

  Jessica Sierra

TAMPA - Former "American Idol" finalist Jessica Sierra – and one of the stars of the VH1 program "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew" – wants to continue her drug and alcohol treatment as well as her reality-television career.

She hopes to join the upcoming sequel "Celebrity Rehab II," her attorney said.

There's a bit of a snag, though.

In January, while Circuit Judge Daniel Perry was hearing Sierra's violation of probation case, he scolded her for speaking to the media and ordered her to stay at least 100 yards from microphones and cameras.

Sierra's attorney, John Fitzgibbons, has filed papers asking for another judge's help.

Now that Sierra's probation violation case is complete, her case has returned to the court division run by Circuit Judge Greg Holder.

Fitzgibbons has filed a request with Holder to set aside Perry's order.

On Thursday, Fitzgibbons will appear before Holder with the host of the VH1 program, Dr. Drew Pinsky. Sierra will not attend.

Fitzgibbons said Sierra is continuing her treatment and the second round of the celebrity rehab show will help her continue to stay clean and sober.

Sierra's treatment was ordered after an arrest in Ybor City late last year. She was charged with misdemeanor disorderly intoxication and resisting an officer without violence.

The incident also was a violation of Sierra's probation. She was previously arrested in a separate incident at a Hyde Park nightclub, where she was charged with a felony for throwing a glass at another customer.

Reporter Thomas W. Krause can be reached at (813) 259-7698 or tkrause@tampatrib.com.

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