Jessica Sierra Ordered to Stay Away From Press

Jessica Sierra Ordered to Stay Away From Press 1/11/08

Former American Idol contestant Jessica Sierra has been banned from talking about her legal woes, after ignoring a judge's advice to stop courting the media.

The 22-year-old was released from a Florida jail on Wednesday (09Jan08) to fly to a Pasadena recovery centre after a judge on Monday (07Jan08) sentenced her to complete one year at the California clinic to kick her cocaine habit.

But the star was refused treatment by the California Department of Probation and returned to a Tampa, Florida court on Thursday (10Jan08) to hear a decision on her fate.

And Sierra - who was ordered to keep away from the press on Monday - decided to go against the judge's warning and speak to the press waiting outside the courthouse, reports TMZ.

She said, "I just want to thank my lawyer for being there and of course Dr. (Drew) Pinsky for coming to speak on my behalf."

As a result, Sierra has been barred from further TV and press appearances, with the judge telling her: "Those mics are like a magnet to you, so I tell you what - you're not allowed within 100 yards of a mic or a TV camera."

Sierra was charged with disorderly intoxication, drug possession, resisting arrest and violating conditions of her parole on earlier felony battery and possession charges after her arrest following a drunken bar brawl in December (07).

A Tampa judge on Monday agreed to give Sierra a break by placing her on three years' probation and sentencing her to one year's treatment at the California rehab clinic.