Robert Downey Jr Pardoned For Drug Convictions In California

Robert Downey Jr has been pardoned for his drug convictions in the 1990s as Gov. Jerry Brown just made Christmas a little merrier for him.


Downey was arrested multiple times from 1996-2001, first for possession of heroin, cocaine and a handgun while driving in Hollywood. Soon after, he was busted for breaking into a neighbor’s home while intoxicated and on parole. The actor was given probation but was jailed in Los Angeles for missing a court-ordered drug test. He was arrested in 1999 after missing another drug test and sentenced to three years in state prison. He was granted early release the following year.

By completion of his sentence and good conduct in the community of his residence since his release, Robert John Downey, Jr. has paid his debt to society and earned a full and unconditional pardon,” reads the declaration. Downey’s official forgiving was one of 91 issued by Brown, who has a made the pardons a December 24 habit. Back in October, Downey was inducted into the California Hall of Fame. “I think I might be first inductee who’s been in the correctional system,” he later joked during a pre-Thanksgiving appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live..

Pardons mainly are symbolic and don’t erase a criminal record, but they can allow ex-convicts to own firearms, serve on jury duty or work in some government jobs. To be eligible, individuals must have been out of prison for at least a decade, committed no new crimes and received a court-granted Certificate of Rehabilitation if they still live in California.

Here is a full transcript of Downey pardon