NEWSMichael Douglas Pens One More Plea for Son
April 20 2010, Published 6:24 a.m. ET
In an attempt to lessen the length of jail time his son could face in sentencing today, Michael Douglas wrote a personal letter to the judge explaining how his family's fame and substance abuse history has played a role in Cameron Douglas' struggles.
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Cameron will be sentenced to for dealing methamphetamine and cocaine in NYC, which has a minimum charge of 10 years behind bars.
He was arrested back in July at a Manhattan hotel and had pled guilty to drug charges, but his family and lawyers is asking for leniency.
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"I love my son, but I'm not blind to his actions... I don't want to see him break," Michael wrote in a handwritten letter made public Monday, the Associated Press reports.
The actor wrote a five-page letter to the federal judge; his father Kirk Douglas, wife Catherine Zeta-Jones and NBA executive Pat Riley have also written letters suppoting Cameron.
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"I have some idea of the pressure of finding your own identity with a famous father," Michael wrote. "I'm not sure I can comprehend it with two generations to deal with."
"Cameron found his family in the gang mentality," Michael wrote about being the child of a "bad marriage" between him and his first wife Diandra Douglas.
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Michael said his son developed a substance abuse problem at 13. Cameron's lawyers say he spiraled into a heroin addiction and started dealing meth in 2006 to support himself after his family cut him off financially after he refused to go to treatment.
The Wall Street actor also brought up other family members who have struggled with addiction. Cameron's half-brother, Eric Douglas, died in 2004 after an accidental overdose of prescription pills and alcohol.
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While Cameron has been at the Manhattan federal jail for eight months, Michael says he has appreciated his two-hour visits each week because his son has been sober.
He wrote, "I get to witness the wonderful young man he can be."
