Judge Nearly Doubles Douglas Sentence

Telling Cameron Douglas he was the most reckless defendant he'd ever had in his courtroom, a federal judge has nearly doubled his five-year prison term. Michael Douglas' 32-year-old son confessed to having heroin and pills smuggled into the prison where he was serving time for drug dealing. Judge Richard Berman—who described Douglas' original sentence as a last chance—gave him another 54 months, three times what prosecutors had recommended, the New York Daily News reports.

"I don’t believe that I have had another case ever of a defendant who has so recklessly, and flagrantly, and wantonly and criminally acted in as destructive and manipulative a fashion," Berman said, telling prosecutors it was time to stop coddling Douglas, who had "blown the biggest opportunity of his life." Because he agreed to help bust his supplier, Douglas' original sentence was half the mandatory minimum. "I feel ashamed," he said before sentencing. His father—who pleaded for leniency last year—was not at the hearing. (More Cameron Douglas stories.)