JUDGE DROPS CHARGES, ENDS ACTOR'S PROBATION

Drug charges against actor Robert Downey Jr. were dismissed Friday by a
judge who also ended his probation.

Riverside County Superior Court Judge Randall D. White made his ruling after
determining that Downey had stayed clean and sober for 14 months. Downey's
attorney Jim Epstein said his client was ``absolutely ecstatic and very
optimistic he'll be able to stay sober and get movie parts again.''

The actor was sentenced last July to a year at a live-in rehabilitation
center and three years probation after pleading no-contest to cocaine
possession and being under the influence.