WHITNEY HOUSTON FINED FOR PAKALOLO POSSESSION

KEALAKEKUA, Hawaii -- District Judge Joseph Florendo has sentenced
singer Whitney Houston to pay $4,025 in fines for marijuana
possession and will clear her record in three months if she follows
certain requirements.

A handbag believed to belong to Houston was found with about half an
ounce of marijuana by Kona International Airport security personnel
as Houston was boarding a plane for the mainland on Jan. 11. She left
without the handbag.

Through her attorneys, Bryan Blaney of New Jersey and Brook Hart of
Hawaii, Houston entered a no-contest plea yesterday to a charge of
promoting a detrimental drug in the third degree, a petty
misdemeanor. Houston was not present.

Judge Florendo ordered Houston to pay a $1,000 "contribution" to the
state General Fund, $3,000 to a youth group called Big Island Wave
Riders Against Drugs and $25 to the Criminal Victims Compensation
Fund.

He also agreed to defer accepting Houston's no-contest plea for three
months if she undergoes a drug assessment on the mainland and follows
whatever recommendations the assessment makes.

If she does that and remains free of other charges for three months,
the present charge will be removed from her record.

Hawaii County Deputy Prosecutor Charlene Iboshi noted that Houston
has no prior offenses in Hawaii or elsewhere. She said that Houston's
plea shows she acknowledges responsibility for her action.

"We're satisfied with the outcome," Iboshi said.