`WEST WING' CREATOR AARON SORKIN CHARGED WITH DRUG POSSESSION

BURBANK, Calif. (AP) -- Aaron Sorkin, creator of "The West Wing," was
charged Monday with possession of illegal hallucinogenic mushrooms, rock
cocaine and marijuana.

Sorkin was arrested at Burbank Airport on April 15 after security officers
found a small bag in his carry-on luggage containing paper bundles
suspected of containing drugs.

Prosecutors charged him with two felony counts of drug possession -- one
for hallucinogenic mushrooms and one for cocaine -- along with one
misdemeanor count for marijuana, the Los Angeles County district attorney's
office said in a statement.

Officers initially believed there were only mushrooms, but testing revealed
there was cocaine as well, district attorney's spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons
said. The marijuana also allegedly was found in his luggage.

Sorkin, 39, was schedule for arraignment Wednesday in Burbank Superior Court.

He has been free on $10,000 bail since shortly after his arrest.

Sorkin has acknowledged a freebase cocaine addiction that caused him to
check into the Hazelden Institute in Minnesota for treatment in 1995.

He issued a brief statement after his arrest.

"I am glad to be surrounded by such a supportive group of people and am
prepared to proceed as directed by my attorney and in the best interest of
my family," he wrote.

Sorkin wrote the Broadway and film versions of the military drama "A Few
Good Men," the screenplay for "The American President" and the TV comedy
"Sports Night."

"The West Wing," starring Martin Sheen as the president, won nine Emmys
last year, including one for Sorkin for best writing. Sorkin has addressed
the issue of drug abuse in the series, portraying the chief of staff as a
recovering addict.