Ex-'Idol' Finalist In Rehab

Tampa resident and former 'American Idol' top-10 finalist Jessica Sierra is in rehab - and doing it California-style.At a court hearing Wednesday morning, Sierra's attorney said she was seeking help at a California establishment but declined to say where. About 5 p.m., VH-1 spokesman Scott Acord said the singer will be one of the stars of a new reality TV show called 'Celebrity Rehab.'
Although VH-1 has not disclosed all of the stars, Internet bloggers have mentioned names such as former female pro-wrestler Chyna, embattled movie star Tom Sizemore and TV nerd Andy Dick.

No broadcast date was given.
Sierra's prosecution on charges of felony battery and possession of cocaine has been postponed for a month or two while she completes treatment.
'I don't want to get into the precise issues, but it is very helpful to her,' her attorney John Fitzgibbons said after the hearing Wednesday. 'From all accounts, she is doing very well.'
Fitzgibbons declined to say what type of treatment Sierra is receiving but did say that the program handles rehabilitation for dependency on drugs and alcohol.
Circuit Judge Greg Holder told The Tampa Tribune that he could not discuss an ongoing case and would not comment on the show or Sierra's treatment.
Bar Patron Files Lawsuit
The 21-year-old singer has pleaded not guilty to a felony battery charge stemming from an arrest April 29 at Hyde Park Cafe. Bar patron Wisam Hadad said Sierra threw a glass at him. Police reports stay he had a 3/4 -inch gash over his right eyebrow. Hadad told reporters he assumed Sierra thought he was someone else.
Sierra told police that Hadad spat on her but later clarified that she could not be sure it was Hadad. Hadad filed a lawsuit against the nightclub and Sierra. The lawsuit is pending.
When police booked Sierra into jail, her legal problems worsened. Police said she had 0.8 grams of cocaine in her purse and added charges of cocaine possession and introduction of contraband into a detention facility.
She is out of jail on $11,500 bail pending trial.
Fitzgibbons said he hopes prosecutors and the judge take Sierra's treatment into account as her case progresses.

Struggles In Public Eye
Sierra rose to fame two years ago as a finalist on Fox's hit reality show, where talent scouts rate wanna-be singing stars.
After Sierra's initial success, her career slowed and she hit several roadblocks. Last year, she dealt with a 59-year-old stalker who flew to Tampa from California because he thought she would marry him.
After the battery and cocaine charges were filed, she and a rental-car company had a rather public disagreement. Apple Rental Cars on Nebraska Avenue filed a complaint that said Sierra owed money on a rented 2004 Kia Optima after she kept it past the contract date. When the car was returned, managers of the rental shop said, it was filthy and the floor mats were missing.
Fitzgibbons said Wednesday that Sierra has paid the company $738.40 and the matter has been dropped.