'DELL DUDE' ARRESTED ON DRUG CHARGE

NEW YORK - Dude, yer gettin' busted! The actor who gained fame and a cult
following as the slacker "Steven" in commercials for Dell computers was
arrested buying a small bag of marijuana, police said.

Benjamin Curtis, a 22-year-old New York University drama student, was
arraigned Monday on a misdemeanor drug possession charge. The charge
assumes a suspect is not carrying more than a "use amount" - enough to roll
several marijuana cigarettes.

Police said he was arrested Sunday night on the Lower East Side after
officers on a drug detail spotted him buying a small bag of marijuana from
Omar Mendez, 19. Mendez faces drug sale and possession charges.

Curtis' portrayal of a surfer type who proclaims, "Dude, yer gettin' a
Dell!" drove up computer sales and spawned T-shirts, caps, and backpacks,
along with Web sites and online fan clubs.

At the arraignment, Criminal Court Judge Ellen Coin advised Curtis that his
case will be dismissed, and his record expunged, if he avoids arrest during
the next year.

Asked if he understood, Curtis said, "Yes, ma'am."

Outside court, Curtis' lawyer, James Moschella, said: "We are confident
that at the appropriate time, the charges will be dismissed."

A spokesman for Texas-based Dell said no decision has been made on Curtis'
future promoting the company.

"We are following the situation and really trying to understand what
happened here," Venancio Figueroa said.