Jessica Sierra pleads not guilty in run-in

Her attorney asks the judge for more time to seek out rehab options for the 22-year-old.

By COLLEEN JENKINS, Times Staff Writer
Published December 7, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT Jessica Sierra coverage Special report: From celeb to slammer Audio: Hear the phone call [Ken Helle | Times] Jessica Sierra listens to her attorney, John Fitzgibbons, just before her bond hearing on Thursday.

TAMPA -- Former American Idol finalist Jessica Sierra will remain in jail at least a couple more weeks for her latest dust-up with police.

Sierra, 22, pleaded not guilty Thursday to misdemeanor charges of disorderly intoxication and obstructing an officer without violence. She also denied violating the probation she began Nov. 19.

Defense attorney John Fitzgibbons said he doesn't anticipate contesting the charges down the road but asked Hillsborough Circuit Judge Daniel Perry for more time to seek out potential rehabilitation options.

"There's a very significant drug and alcohol dependency issue here," Fitzgibbons said.

Perry set a hearing for Dec. 20.

Tampa police said Sierra was intoxicated early Saturday when she fought with a friend, spewed racial epithets and offered to perform a sex act on the police officer who arrested her in Ybor City.

Sobriety doesn't appear to have cleaned up her mouth.

The Hillsborough State Attorney's Office on Thursday released a recorded jail phone call that Sierra made to her aunt after her arrest. In it, she continued to curse police. She denied doing anything wrong.

Here's a transcript of the call:

Aunt: Hey.

Jessica Sierra: Hey.

Aunt: All right, so you going to settle in now?

Jessica: I guess so. Have you talked to my dad?

Aunt: Huh?

Jessica: Have you talked to my dad?

Aunt: Your dad's not talking to anybody.

Jessica: Why?

Aunt: Because he's livid.

Jessica: Why?

Aunt: Because, Jess.

Jessica: I need somebody to call my f------ attorney.

Aunt: We'll definitely put a call in to your attorney, but I'm sure he already knows.

Jessica: I'm sure he does, too, but I need somebody to talk to him so he's in court like tomorrow. I didn't do nothing so ...

Aunt: Well, that's not necessarily what really happened.

Jessica: I don't give a f--- what they say happened.

Aunt: Well you need to. You need to start caring about yourself.

Jessica: Why do I need to care that they arrest me for. ... I don't even know what they arrested me for.

Aunt: For fighting and...

Jessica: I didn't get into any no fights.

Aunt: You got into a fight with Danielle, honey.

Jessica: No, I did not.

Aunt: Yes, you did.

Jessica: Oh my God, Aunt Sheila. I've been talking to Danielle. They arrested me because they said that I was public intoxication.

Aunt: Right.

Jessica: That's bulls---. I was in Ybor. Everybody's intoxicated in Ybor. F--- them.

Aunt: Well, you're not supposed to be. And you're not supposed to be having a fight.

Jessica: I didn't fight nobody but the police, the little stupid f------ crackers.

Aunt: Well, I don't know Jess. I can't say what I don't know. I don't know. You know, I'm sorry this has happened. You need to call your ...

Jessica: All right, they're going to make me get off the phone because they're little d----.

Aunt: Call your attorney.

Jessica: All right.

Colleen Jenkins can be reached at cjenkins@sptimes.com or (813) 226-3337.

[Last modified December 7, 2007, 01:38:37]