JUDGE SENTENCES JEB BUSH'S DAUGHTER TO 10 DAYS IN JAIL

Judge: She Narrowly Missed Felony Charge

ORLANDO - Gov. Jeb Bush's only daughter was sentenced to 10 days in jail
and led away in handcuffs Thursday for violating the terms of her drug
treatment program.

Noelle Bush, 25, kissed her aunt Dorothy Koch before a sheriff's deputy
cuffed her hands behind her back. Her father was not at the hearing.

Bush apologized before she was sentenced by Circuit Judge Reginald Whitehead.

``I sincerely apologize for what happened and promise to do well at the
Center for Drug-Free Living,'' the treatment center where she has been
staying, Bush said.

Whitehead told Bush he was sending her to jail because he was aware of
allegations that crack cocaine had been found in her shoe while she was at
the treatment center.

He told Bush he was disappointed in her, but believed she could complete
drug treatment successfully. He allowed her to stay in the treatment program.

``I want you to have some time to think and reflect on this,'' Whitehead
said. ``You should be disappointed that you let yourself down.''

Bush was placed in the drug court system after she was accused of trying to
use a fake prescription to buy the anti-anxiety drug Xanax in Tallahassee
in January. Bush, niece of President Bush, has been at the treatment center
since February as an alternative to more traditional punishment.

Thursday's hearing was to determine if she would stay in the program or be
returned to the regular criminal justice system for violating rules in the
drug treatment program.

Her attorney asked for leniency.

``I would ask on Noelle's behalf that the sanctions imposed be in the
mildest form,'' Peter Antonacci said. ``Although these are serious
allegations, we know that she has passed all of her tests.''

Whitehead rejected a request earlier this week from Bush's attorneys that
the press and public be banned from her drug court proceedings. He agreed
with attorneys for the Orlando Sentinel and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel,
who argued that drug courts were no different from criminal courts and
subject to the same openness.

Bush was sent to jail for two days in July after center workers found her
with unauthorized prescription pills. Last month, a caller told Orlando
police that Bush had a rock of crack cocaine in a shoe, but another judge
later ruled that workers at the center cannot be forced to testify about
Bush's case.